By Karen E. Thuermer, AJOTDespite these economically challenged times, transportation networks remain at the forefront of keeping America’s trade with the world strong. As seaports around the globe strengthen their positions to attract steamship lines by deepening their channels and providing equipment to turn ships quickly, competition is heightening. Not to be one upped by the pressure, the ports along the Delaware River are praising the endorsement of the PENJERDEL Council, a business advocacy group for Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, for endorsing the Delaware River Channel Deepening Project. This public works initiative was conceived over 20 years ago when it became apparent that deeper water was critical to the future viability and prosperity of the Port of Philadelphia and other maritime interests along the Delaware River. “PENJERDEL Council members believe if the tri-state region is to remain competitive with other East Coast ports, it is imperative that our facilities and waterways accommodate and attract today’s modern large cargo vessels,” says Andrew L. Warren, executive director of the PENJERDEL Council. The Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PRPA) is the local sponsor of the deepening project. In June 2008, PRPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed a Project Partnership Agreement to deepen the Delaware River’s main shipping channel to 45 feet. Officials estimate the cost of project will be around $277 million and will take five to seven years to complete. “The proposed deepening of the Delaware River channel to 45 feet is the single most important thing going on with the Port of Philadelphia right now,” says PRPA Director of Communications Joseph Menta. “It’s exciting because the project isn’t ‘proposed’ anymore. We fully expect the first shovel to go into the water before the end of this calendar year. The Army Corps recently reaffirmed the project, even saying that it will be less costly, with less spoils needing to be removed, than previously projected. After so many years, the project is finally reaching fruition.” A study by the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia stressed that the Port of Philadelphia’s competitive position would be threatened if the channel were not deepened. “Several years ago, just our publicized intention to deepen the river was enough to generate interest among worldwide carriers,” says Menta. “Now, as we move closer to this project actually happening, more concrete support and attention from shippers is occurring. For example, several teams of potential investors, each made up of terminal operator and shipping concerns, are competing for the right to build and operate Southport, our ambitious project to vastly expand the port’s container-handling ability. Both the project, and the intense interest to be involved with it, wouldn’t be happening without channel deepening.” Taking a proactive, long-range view, the PRPA Board of Directors approved earlier in March the selection of worldwide engineering firm Moffat & Nichol to perform a strategic assessment of all PRPA marine terminals, warehouses, and other waterfront facilities. The goal is to provide the PRPA Board and senior managers with the information they need to chart the future path of the port agency for the foreseeable future. “This assessment will give us the informational tools required to successfully implement the cargo initiatives we want to accomplish, as well as help us to develop me initiatives,” says PRPA Executive Director James T. McDermott, Jr. The study will determine what facilities need to be rehabilitated, reconstructed, or replaced over the next 10 years and will include market assessments, an analysis of current capacity, and a plan to address the disparity between current capacity and forecasted growth. Financial facilities versus proposed development projects will also be addressed. NOT RESTING ON PAST LAURELS The Port of Philadelphia has never been one to rest on its laurels. “You know, we always move