Short Sea Shipping

This annotated bibliography and library is a work in progress. Please contact Matthew Tedesco at mptedesco@alum.mit.edu if you have suggestions or comments. These documents currently appear in no particular order. In the near future, documents will be re-organized by topic or key findings.

Joint High Speed Vessel Specs

Defines the performance requirements for the design development and construction of the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV).

Performance of Ports and the Intermodal Systems

MARAD provides an assessment of the conditions at commercial ports, and the movement of military cargo through the intermodal system during the Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) buildup. MARAD’s assessment includes the performance of the major components of the intermodal system: waterside, port/terminal intermodal interface, and landside movements

Public Benefits of the Short-Sea Intermodal System

This report represents the findings of the Study titled "Definition and Quantification of the Public Benefits of the Short Sea Intermodal System, (SSIS)". The Short Sea Cooperative Program (SCOOP) and the Federal Maritime Administration sponsored the study.

Freight Transportation: Short Sea Shipping Option Shows Importance of Systematic Approach to Public Investment Decisions

This GAO report describes (1) why SSS is being considered and factors affecting its viability, (2) the department’s role in the development of this option, and (3) issues that should be considered by public transportation decision makers when making investment decisions about this option or other types of projects for addressing freight mobility challenges. This report is based on a review of pertinent studies, federal activities, and an examination of two new SSS operations.

US Short-Sea Shipping: Prospects and Opportunities

This study conducts an economic analysis of short sea shipping examining the cost of building a mono-hull RoRo vessel and the resultant required freight for profitable operations. [ USMMA Nov 2004]

Short-Sea and Coastal Shipping Options Study

This project provided an opportunity for the Coalition and MARAD to more fully engage all of the short-sea shipping stakeholders in the Coalition region; identify the commodity types that could be attractive candidates for short-sea operations; more fully describe the infrastructure, operational, and policy challenges surrounding short-sea shipping; and make recommendations to guide the further development of MARAD’s short-sea shipping program and the role that the I-95 Corridor Coalition and its member agencies could play in addressing short-sea shipping issues.

Developing a Short Sea Container Shipping Facility & Service; Bridgeport's Experience

A GBRPA feasibility study in 2001 determined Bridgeport's proposed facility for shipping containers by barge to and from Bridgeport Harbor and the New York/New Jersey Port would be a cost effective and beneficial alternative to moving containers by trailer truck over I-95 through Fairfield County. The Bridgeport facility, managed and administered by the Bridgeport Port Authority (BPA), would have an estimated start up cost of about $7 million, including $906,000 for the first year, $500,000 for the second year and $5,600,000 in capital improvements to create a marine terminal. The service may be started within four months after obtaining final approvals and funding. It can be self-supporting within three years. [NOTE: Dated May 15, 2003 - will post follow-up results as well]

Short-Sea Vessel Service And Harbor Maintenance Tax

Feasibility studies indicate that short-sea vessel services could open, in selected markets, additional options for trucking industry; In terms of social costs, it is a far superior alternative mitigating negative externalities of transportation activities; and since a considerable share of the savings is in terms of social cost savings, public policy intervention may be necessary to establish socially desirable transportation alternatives. One of the problems with expansion of short-sea services is the requirement to pay Harbor Maintenance Tax (HMT) on domestic shipping. This report provides a comparison between the amount of HMT collected with private and external benefits attained by short-sea intermodal operations. In total, the domestic movement of containers contributes only about $1.7-1.9 million to the $880 million of HMT, collected in 2004, or 0.2% of total. Yet this tax creates an uneven playing field for new short-sea shipping service providers as truck and rail freight carriers do not have to pay HMT. Elimination of the HMT potentially generated by intermodal short-sea services cannot be identified as a loss because introduction of short-sea routes and their associated financial and external savings may be not feasible without this exemption. One of the reasons for this is the fact that major benefits are external advantages. These advantages, currently, do not directly assist potential operators. Accordingly, the introduction of short-sea services may be practically impossible in the existing framework of additional costs imposed by HMT. If HMT is to be withdrawn, short-sea services may generate $27.5 million in financial savings and $61 million in combined financial and external savings. [SCOOP, UNO; October 2005]

High Speed Ferry and Coastwise Vessels: Assessment of a New York / Boston Service

The overall conclusion is that the selected New York / Boston service would be feasible; it could provide a truck-like transport at a cost slightly lower than truck cost. In addition: (a) The vessels selected for the services are also military useful; and (b) Removing trucks from a highly congested coastal highway is environmentally beneficial. The feasibility assessment presumes changes in labor practices, mainly enhancement of operational flexibility of port labor and reduction in manning of coastal vessels. These conditions, while presently unavailable, are achievable in the near future, through mandated active involvement of the Federal and local governments, especially in the areas of certification and licensing. [CCDOTT, UNO, April 2003]

Short Sea Shipping in the United States: Identifying the Prospects and Opportunities

This paper provides an overview of short sea shipping. A decision model is introduced and is used to identify and explain the factors determining whether short sea shipping is viable for the port or not. The data from a study conducted on a port in the United States is analyzed and the results are presented in the context of the decision tool. [Mark Yonge, Lawrence Henesey, 11-14-2005, TRB 2006 Annual Meeting]

Potential Impact of Short Sea Shipping in the Southern California Region

International trade between Asia and the U.S. West Coast ports, transiting predominately through the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, or the San Pedro Bay ports in Southern California, is forecast to more than double in volume in the next fifteen years. These greater volumes of commercial traffic are adding to congestion and environmental pressures on landside transportation systems, particularly those associated with the major urban cluster regions on the West Coast, the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area serving as a case in point. Short Sea Shipping is being considered as a possible strategy for alleviating landside congestion stemming from commercial traffic in urban corridors, and this study evaluates the potential of Short Sea Shipping in the context of the West Coast. This evaluation finds that Short Sea Shipping could be a viable strategy within a regional port system. Focusing on specific commodity and market segments, a number of shipments could be shifted to short sea shipping movements. Specific opportunities in Southern California are found with the re-directing of empty container flows to secondary ports, as well as with international movements to and from the manufacturing areas on the U.S.-Mexico border. Consideration was given to which type of maritime and port operation might be best suited for these market segments, and the use of RO-RO vessels was determined to be suitable for initial operations. This study finds support for the implementation of Short Sea Shipping on the West Coast, and argues in favor of the establishment of regional port systems to provide an appropriate institutional apparatus for the coordination of public and private investments in Short Sea Shipping. [METRANS/CSULB Feb 2006]

Dual Use Short Sea Shipping Trimaran Trailership HSTT-180

This paper describes the concept design of a high-speed trimaran Ro-Ro designed for commercial cargo but readily convertible to military use. It is designed for a coastal express service such as Port Canaveral to Wilmington Delaware, so the emphasis is on speed, simplicity and reliability. All the Ro-Ro cargo is carried on the main deck, and there is room for a limited number of passengers to accompany their cargos. [Saal; Mizine; Deschamps; Thorpe]

High Speed Ferries and Coastwise Vessels

An assessment of smaller, higher speed vessels for SSS rather than larger monohulls. Concludes to be competitive with trucks on shorter routes, the coastal system should be based on faster and more frequent services. [UNO, CCDOTT, Nov 2001]

High Speed Ferries and Coastwise Vessels: Evaluation of Parameters and Markets for Application

A broad assessment of potential markets and vessel types. [National Ports and Waterways Institute (LSU), CCDOTT, June 2000]

Report to Congress on the Performance of Ports and the Intermodal System

In this report, MARAD provides an assessment of the conditions at commercial ports, and the movement of military cargo through the intermodal system during the Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) buildup. MARAD’s assessment includes the performance of the major components of the intermodal system: waterside, port/terminal intermodal interface, and landside movements. Particular emphasis is given to the ability of the nation’s commercial freight transportation infrastructure to handle an unexpected surge in cargo during a military deployment, such as OIF. [MARAD, June 2005]

Short Sea Shipping on the East Coast of North America: An analysis of opportunities and issues

An assessment of the potential for SSS operations between Atlantic Canada and key U.S. markets. Four markets along the eastern seaboard appear to have sufficient demand. Concluded that the distance to Maine is too short to make short sea competitive against truck. Three others merit further consideration: Massachusetts, the cluster of New York/New Jersey/Pennsylvania/ Maryland, and South Carolina. The last of these featured data discrepancies between the sources that indicated further investigation by a potential operator is required. Also concluded that the trade is unbalanced and, without the opportunity to engage in cabotage on the return leg, it is highly likely there will be poor capacity utilization northbound. A short sea operator from Atlantic Canada might find additional inbound feeder traffic destined for the Pennsylvania area to complement the existing demand. [Dalhousie Univ. March 2006]

Columbia Snake River System and Oregon Coastal Cargo Ports Marine Transportation System Study; Appendix C: Short Sea Shipping in the Columbia/Snake River System

Market forces have generated demand and the industry has responded with the development of successful short sea shipping services in the Pacific Northwest. Container-on-barge service and barging of solid waste are two prominent examples within the Columbia Snake River System. The shipment of petroleum products from California and Puget Sound to Portland is the most prominent coastwise example.

Four Corridor Case Studies of Short-Sea Shipping Services; Short-Sea Shipping Business Case Analysis

This study evaluates that opportunity on four potential traffic lanes as business case studies for the short-sea shipping concept in order to identify the potential for market viability of such services. The four domestic U.S. corridors selected on the basis of their respective volumes of potentially divertible truck traffic and geographic diversity were the following: Gulf to/from Atlantic Coast Corridor – between the ports of Beaumont, TX and Camden, NJ; Atlantic Coast Corridor – between the ports of Port Canaveral, FL and New Haven, CT; Pacific Coast Corridor – between the ports of San Diego and Oakland, CA, and Astoria, OR; Great Lakes Corridor – between the ports of Milwaukee, WI and Muskegon, MI. [August 2006, Global Insight, Reeve and Associates, DOT]

Bi-State Domestic Freight Ferries Study

This study, funded by the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, explores the feasibility of freight ferries as an alternative for domestic truck freight movements that cross the Hudson River via existing bridges and tunnels. The scope of this study is tightly focused on intra-harbor ferries that would carry domestic freight that would otherwise be transported by truck over the roadway network. In addition, this study concentrates on the key factors that have spurred freight ferry markets and use in other locations, rather than trying to identify specific routes or locations. Based on the team’s analysis, three central conclusions emerged: 1. Regulation or prohibition of certain truck movements for safety, security or environmental reasons will likely be needed as a precondition to create and shape requisite markets for future freight ferry services in this region; 2. Experience elsewhere suggests that niche market development, as opposed to approaches that would serve broad commercial traffic, are not only viable starting points, but are likely the best way to ensure local success of freight ferry systems; 3. Increased security, new emergency services alternatives, and increased service efficiency are potential regional benefits that may be derived from freight ferry system development. [Rutgers and Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center; September 2006]

High Speed Coastal Transport Emergence in the U.S.

Abstract: Over the past decade, high-speed passenger ferry craft have displaced conventional ferryboats. Their limited range and payload has restricted their use as high-speed cargo vessels. Nevertheless, they have opened the concept of high-speed cargo ships. This paper focuses on the emergence of cargo vessel designs, worldwide research and development on commercial and military transport craft, improvements in U.S. shipyards, and the idea of agile port development. Preliminary economic analysis indicates there is a savings from using 28 - 30 kt. Ro-Ro ships to carry trucks on gulf coast routes. The introduction of high-speed cargo ships will create many opportunities for future commercial and defense related support activities. [Latorre, Robert (University of New Orleans); Foley, Robert (University of South Alabama); 1999]

European Short Sea Shipping

Lessons learned and emerging concepts from Europe.

“The Development of Short Sea Shipping in the United States” at U.S. Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation hearing February 15, 2007

Testimony and documents related to the February 15,2007 hearing.

JOC 3rd Annual Short Sea Shipping Conference – April, 2006

White papers and presentations presented at the April 2006 JOC conference.

SNAME Panel O-36 Short Sea Shipping Workshop

Presentation materials from The Economics of Domestic Short Sea Shipping workshop jointly held on 28 September 2004 at the National Academies in Washington, D.C. with the Transportation Research Board / Marine Board of the National Academies.

Ship Operations Cooperative Program (SOCP) - Discussion Panel-North East Short Shipping Concepts & Implementation Hurdles, Buzzards Bay, MA – July 11, 2006

Video of round-table discussion related to alternative concepts and hurdles for Short Sea Shipping in the North East.

Analysis of the Potential Market for Short Sea Shipping Services over the Ports of Fall River and New Bedford

This reports contains the findings and conclusions from a project funded by the Massachusetts Department of Business and Technology and Seaport Advisory Council (MSAC) to assess the market potential for short sea shipping operations (coastal shipping) to connect the ports of Fall River and New Bedford (ports of Bristol County) with other U.S. ports that would provide a new mode of transportation for freight that is currently moving over the highway. [Reeve & Associates, Global Insight, KKO & Associates; March 29, 2006]

The U.S. Truck Driver Shortage: Analysis and Forecasts

The truck transportation industry in the U.S. is experiencing a national shortage of truck drivers that has become a limiting factor in the operations of many companies. This study takes a systematic look at the long-term structural problem of the availability of truck drivers relative to the future requirements for drivers that will be created by retirements of an aging driver workforce and by economic growth. [Global Insight, ATA, May 2005]

Minutes of the SNAME Panel O-36 SSS Workshop Sept 28, 2004

A summary of the presentations and discussion at from the workshop covering topics including economic framework, incubators for the market, financing, TOTE case study, and Bridgeport case study.

Financing the US Market Via MARAD's CCF Program

Discussion of the potential application of CCF funds to contiguous US shipping. [Clayton Cook, Marine Money]

Why German K/G Funds Can Now Lease U.S. Flag Assets

For many years U.S. citizen operators in our domestic trades seeking to acquire vessels in lease financing transactions have been limited to leasing companies that met the citizenship requirements of section 2 of the Shipping Act, 1916 (the“1916 Act”). This limitation prevented U.S. domestic operators from accessing many non-citizen banks and financing sources that were actively engaged in vessel leasing elsewhere in the world. Congress acted to remedy this situation in the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1996 (the “1996 Act”), amending section 12106 of title 46 U.S. Code, by adding a new subsection (e), that permitted foreign ownership of vessels that were demised to U.S. citizen operators for a period of at least three years lease financing transactions. [Clayton Cook, Marine Money, July/August 2004]

Clayton Cook Testimony Regarding Maritime Administration Title XI Loan Guarantee Program to Committee on Armed Services, March 15, 2007

United States House of Representatives, Committee on Armed Services, Subcomittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces -- Hearing on Maritime Administration Title XI Loan Guarantee Program March 15, 2007 [Clayton Cook, 03/15/07]

Feasibility Assessment of Short Sea Shipping to Service the Pacific Coast

The objective of the study was to demonstrate the preliminary market, economic, and technical feasibility of a commercial short sea service on the Pacific Coast that handles domestic and international (feeder) freight moving between major transportation hubs and population centers. The effort also addressed the potential emissions of Short Sea Shipping compared to traditional trucking and the military applications of short sea service and vessels including their scope for contributing to military deployment requirements. This document represents the results of the first phase of the CCDOTT effort. [Manalytics, CDI Marine, Westar Transport, Matthew Tedesco; February 2007]

Current State Document

This “Current State Document” serves to highlight key issues for discussion at the National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP) Short Sea Shipping Workshop to be held in Orlando on April 19th and 20th, 2007. The “Current State Document” draws from the key findings of the documents posted to the workshop’s online library.

NSRP PDMT Short Sea Shipping Workshop Survey

This is an electronic copy of the survey distributed at the workshop.

NSRP PDMT Short Sea Shipping Workshop; April 19-20, 2007; Presentations

The presentations from each session of the workshop are posted in this folder. The file titles include the session number and match the workshop agenda. Gaps in the numbering sequence for the presentations are a result of scheduled breaks, which were also numbered in the agenda.

SNAME; San Diego; April 24, 2007

Dr. Matthew Tedesco presented an overview of a CCDOTT project assessing the feasibility of Short Sea Shipping on the West Coast. Project participants included Manalytics, CDI Marine, Westar Transport, and Matt Tedesco.

Vessel Emissions

Documents and links to documents related to vessel emissions, relevant to Short Sea Shipping.

NSRP S3 Workshop Survey Summary

This presentation summarizes the quantifiable results of the S3 survey distributed at the workshop conducted in April 2007. Summary will continue to be revised to reflect additional survey results as they are received. A full report will follow that includes qualitative as well as quantitative responses. These results support development of the NSRP S3 Roadmap.

NSRP Short Sea Shipping Roadmap

A deliverable of the NSRP S3 Workshop conducted April 2007. Presents recommendations for activities within the scope of the NSRP that address gaps and challenges identified during the workshop.

NSRP PDMT America's Marine Highways Workshop October 2008

Agenda, presentations, biographies and participant directory.