Coastal shipping helps economy, environment says IGMS report


Gloucester, Massachusetts, September 24, 2008 – The Institute for Global Maritime Studies (IGMS) today published a comprehensive study on the potential environmental, national security, and economic benefits of increased US coastal shipping.  The report, by John Curtis Perry, Scott G. Borgerson, and Rockford Weitz, can be downloaded at www.igms.org.

“Deep Blue Highway is a timely, revolutionary report, which shows that in many cases the greenest and cheapest way to ship goods is by sea, not by land,” said Fred Krupp, president of Environmental Defense Fund and author of The New York Times bestselling book, Earth: The Sequel: The Race to Reinvent Energy and Stop Global Warming.  “This sea change could benefit every American by reducing the cost of the goods we buy, cutting congestion on our clogged roads, making the air we breathe healthier and combating global warming pollution.”

The anniversary of 9/11 underscores the national security benefits of America again looking seaward.  “As it has since our nation’s founding, the sea can help protect America,” said Admiral Jim Loy, a senior counselor at the Cohen Group and former Coast Guard Commandant, TSA Director and Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security.  “Deep Blue Highway makes a timely and compelling case for why coastal shipping can provide an important layer of resiliency to the nation’s brittle landside transportation networks.  For those interested in protecting America but unfamiliar with coastal shipping I strongly recommend they read this study.  Coastal shipping is an idea whose time has come.”

In addition to coastal shipping’s environmental and national security benefits, praise has also been forthcoming about how it is also important for the US economy.  “Deep Blue Highway shows how coastal shipping could improve America’s economic competitiveness by reducing traffic congestion, air pollution, and infrastructure maintenance costs,” said Per Heidenreich, shipping industry leader and former CEO of Heidmar Inc.  “Even better, a revitalized marine highway is not only good for the country, but also makes good business sense.  Getting our highways moving again through coastal shipping will yield excellent returns.  It is a vision for the future that is good for us all and within our reach.”

America’s Deep Blue Highway includes specific recommendations on how the nation’s policymakers could endeavor to make coastal shipping a significant part of a national, perhaps even continental, transportation solution.

By Professional Mariner Staff