The U.S. Maritime Administration today released a report detailing new designs for shipping vessels specifically engineered for America’s Marine Highways.
Production of these efficient, environmentally- friendly vessels could bolster the domestic shipbuilding industry by creating new jobs and strengthening regional economies.“This is another step in helping America’s Marine Highways move our economy and relieve congestion on our roads,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “The U.S. maritime industry is vital to our economy and our security. These vessel designs will bolster both in a way that maximizes efficiency while minimizing environmental impact.”
The new vessel designs also meet a portion of the U.S. military’s sealift needs in times of war or during national emergencies. Eleven designs have been created for new shipping vessels that can transport cargoes that would otherwise be trucked over congested roadways. The innovative designs focus primarily on roll-on roll-off vessels intended to carry wheeled cargo such as automobiles, trucks and trailers or railroad cars that are driven on and off the ship on their own wheels. The designs include six roll-on roll-off (RO/RO) vessels, three combination RO/RO-container carriers, a feeder container ship, and a RO/RO-passenger ferry. The RO/RO and RO/RO-container vessels carry various types of vehicles, but are primarily intended for tractor-trailers and stackable containers. The feeder container ship can support standard-sized containers stacked both below and above deck,and the RO/RO-passenger ferry can transport tractor trailers along with their drivers.