This investment will help further strengthen our marine terminal and supports the national supply chain by making goods movement more resilient and efficient.
The Port of San Diego has been awarded $5.55 million in federal grant funding from the US Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) to support berth repairs at the National City Marine Terminal (NCMT), a key cargo-handling facility on the San Diego Bay.
The grant, which was awarded through the America’s Marine Highway (AMH) Program, supports efforts to expand waterborne freight service across the United States. Port of San Diego will use the funds to rehabilitate infrastructure critical to the Port’s maritime operations, long-term economic growth, and movement of goods like lumber and containers.
Danielle Moore, Chair Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners, said they are grateful to their federal and regional partners for the continued support and investment in maritime infrastructure. “The Port’s National City Marine Terminal is a vital resource to our region. This investment will help further strengthen our marine terminal and support the national supply chain by making goods movement more resilient and efficient.”
The award follows a collaborative effort between the Port, Caltrans, the Oregon Shipping Group, and the Port of Bellingham in Washington, who submitted a proposal to MARAD to designate a new coastal shipping corridor known as the West Coast M-5 Coastal Connector. These improvements will allow barge transportation for building materials, containers, and general cargo for the north/south route. The goal is to provide supply chain resiliency and reduce truck trips by introducing a coastal connector.
The grant is administered by MARAD and has undergone full review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Port has also allocated its $9.7 million local match, which was previously approved by the Board of Port Commissioners as part of its Economic Recovery Program in 2021. Moreover, the National City Marine Terminal is a key part of the Port’s cargo operations, handling automobiles and breakbulk commodities that support regional jobs and industry throughout the West Coast.
