New Jersey Department Of Transportation News

NY Waterway to Upgrade Ferries with Hybrid Propulsion

NY Waterway announced plans to repower four more of its older ferries, transitioning from traditionally diesel driven units to hybrid technology before eventually operating on pure electric.The private company, which runs ferry and bus service in the Port of New York and New Jersey and in the Hudson Valley, was awarded $7.298 million in grant funding for the project through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Passenger Ferry Grant program with the support of NJ TRANSIT.Each ferry upgrade consists of removing all main engines and generators…

Great Lakes Announces $107 Million in New Dredging Contracts

The United States' largest dredging contractor Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation on Wednesday announced the receipt of $107 million in new contract awards along the U.S. East Coast.The awarded dredging work includes: Norfolk Harbor Navigation Improvements Project (Capital, Virginia, $56.8 million), Charleston Lower Harbor Maintenance Dredging Project (Maintenance, South Carolina, $15.4 million), Tampa Harbor Maintenance Dredging 45-Foot Project (Maintenance, Florida, $13 million)…

New Algorithm Could Simplify Decisions for Ship Channel Dredging

A new decision-support tool could become a game changer in the dredging of ship channels. Millions of dollars are at stake every time a major ship channel is cleaned up. Delays in dredging can cost even more by triggering increased risks, repeated maintenance and lost revenue. In either case, the task cannot be put off indefinitely.All ship channels must be regularly cleared of sand, debris settled on the bottom (called shoal) and miscellaneous trash. That means ship channel management regularly faces the mighty task of dredging.

Mobile Dredging Bags Shark River Contract

The New Jersey Department of Transportation has awarded a $7.6 million contract to dredge the Shark River in Monmouth County after the effects of Superstorm Sandy created a greater need to complete the long-delayed project. Mobile Dredging and Pumping Co. of Chester, Pa. will remove approximately 102,000 cubic yards of sediment comprised of sand and silt to "restore the state channels to allow safe passage for recreational and commercial traffic," according to a state release. Crews will hydraulically dredge the sentiment and pump it through a secure welded pipeline to dewatering locations -- a portion of the Belmar Marina parking lot in Belmar and Seaview Island in Neptune and then truck it to the Monmouth County Reclamation Center for "beneficial use," the release says.

Sens. Menendez, Booker Urge Feds to Expedite Road Salt to NJ

NJDOT wants Jones Act Waiver. U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) have jointly sent a letter to both U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson and U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx requesting that they continue to assist New Jersey with receiving a critical supply of rock salt. They acknowledged both agencies’ role in securing maritime delivery of a 10,000-ton supplemental supply for the Garden State. “The State of New Jersey has been among the hardest hit states this winter season, with more than 70 inches of snow accumulated in some parts of the state,” wrote the Senators. “The Governor has issued at least four state of emergency alerts.

Dredging Smart Confined Disposal Facilities

In Hurricane SANDY’s roiled aftermath, NJ Port’s dredged materials management method becomes even more important. Summer has come and gone. So has hurricane SANDY. The latter event brought rain, flooding, destruction and misery to the greater NY/NJ waterfront, and beyond. Well before that, however, the Robbins Reef Yacht Club in New Jersey’s Newark Bay within the Port of New York/New Jersey was reporting upbeat conditions. “We saw a significant increase in boating activity this summer because our members were able to access us with ease…

Transport Secretary LaHood Names Maritime Industry Advisory Panel

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood today announced the appointment of 29 members to the new Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council (MTSNAC), established to advise the Department on matters relating to marine transportation. “Shifting some of our freight from the highways to open inland waterways is a fuel-efficient, cost-effective way to move goods and reduce roadway congestion,” said Secretary LaHood. The Department will task the MTSNAC with developing recommendations on establishing new marine highway services and port infrastructure development, among other issues. “The experience brought to bear by this diverse panel is impressive,” said Maritime Administrator David Matsuda. “These maritime experts have a lot to contribute.

Bruno Appointed Chairman of Marine Board, NRC

Dr. Michael Bruno, Dean of the Schaefer School of Engineering and Science at Stevens Institute of Technology, has been selected as Chairman of the Marine Board, under the auspices of the Transportation Research Board ( TRB ) and the National Research Council (NRC). The Marine Board identifies and responds to critical issues in the area of water transportation, port engineering and management, marine policy, offshore development and operations, naval architecture, and maritime economics.

Maritime Exchange Completes Enhanced Maritime Intelligence System

The Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay, a not for profit trade association representing the interests of maritime-related businesses in the tri-state region, announced the completion of a major project to convert its community based port information software to a new Internet-based platform. Known as Maritime On-Line (MOL), the system includes a collection of applications to assist maritime and law enforcement personnel with the day-to-day operations of vessel, cargo, and crew processing through U.S. seaports. The Maritime Exchange has been in the business of tracking vessel movements on the Delaware River since it was formed in 1872.

Maritime Exchange Provides New Port Security Tool

The Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay, a non- profit trade association representing port businesses in the tri-state region, announced yesterday the completion of a major Maritime Domain Awareness electronic reporting program. Known as eNOA/D On-Line, the electronic Notice of Arrival/Departure system serves as a link between vessels destined for the United States and the Department of Homeland Security and provides vessel operators with a user-friendly mechanism to comply with new Customs and Border Protection regulations which went into effect Monday. In April, Customs published a rule that requires all air and ocean carriers to transmit detailed crew and passenger information electronically…

NY/NJ Ferry Facilities to Receive Federal Funding

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will provide approximately $54.8 million for ferry-related projects in the New York City-Northern New Jersey metropolitan area to support the expansion of interstate ferry services due to the loss of Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) train service between New Jersey and Lower Manhattan on September 11, 2001. This funding for ferry-related projects supplements $100 million that was previously approved by FTA and distributed to the region for emergency transit capital improvements, and is a part of President Bush’s $20 billion commitment to rebuild and revitalize Lower Manhattan. “Under President Bush’s leadership, this administration has made its commitment to the New York metropolitan area abundantly clear.

NEWS:NY/NJ to Receive Federal Funds

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will provide approximately $54.8 million for ferry-related projects in the New York City-Northern New Jersey metropolitan area to support the expansion of interstate ferry services due to the loss of Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) train service between New Jersey and Lower Manhattan on September 11, 2001. This funding for ferry-related projects supplements $100 million that was previously approved by FTA and distributed to the region for emergency transit capital improvements, and is a part of President Bush's $20 billion commitment to rebuild and revitalize Lower Manhattan. "Today we are providing $54.8 million dollars in funding to support the much needed expansion of interstate ferry services," said Mineta.

First Phase of NJ Ship-to-Rail Facility Begins

Governor James E. Authority Marine Terminal. for international shippers," said McGreevey. storage. McGreevey. reconfigured Maher and APM terminals. handle up to one million containers a year when fully operational. quarter of 2004. built under a separate contract and be completed by the end of 2005. Maher Terminals. handling 228,000 containers. Coscia. residents. and off the port. highways. state. McGreevey. grow by 90 percent. by rail, but with improvements the volume will increase to 25%. Lettiere.