The US government has announced it will give another US$234.3 million to the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) aiming to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of the movement of goods in the country’s ports.

In particular, the US Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced that up to US$684.3 million is now available for PIDP grants, to be awarded on a competitive basis to port-related projects.

“This marks the most, annual funding for PIDP in history and will help improve our supply chains, speed up the safe, efficient, and reliable movement of goods, and ultimately work to make goods more affordable for Americans,” said MARAD in a statement.

On 23 February, MARAD issued a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) announcing the availability of US$450 million for the PIDP program under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The FY 2022 Appropriations Act appropriated an additional US$234.3 million in funding for the programme and this money has been added to the NOFO.

Applications for the grants continue to be due on 16 May, and previously submitted applications can be revisited due to the amendment following the increase in funding, according to a MARAD’s statement.

Copyright Container-news.com 2022

By Antonis Karamalegkos