Gov. Raimondo joins the state's Congressional delegation, local leaders and QDC officials to welcome the captain of the Iris Leader today at the Port of Davisville
Gov. Raimondo joins the state’s Congressional delegation, local leaders and QDC officials to welcome the captain of the Iris Leader today at the Port of Davisville
Governor Gina M. Raimondo and Rhode Island’s Congressional leaders gathered at Quonset’s Port of Davisville today to celebrate the arrival of the first Neo-Panamax ship to dock in Rhode Island. Senator Jack Reed, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Congressman Jim Langevin, Congressman David Cicilline, and leaders from the state and North Kingstown were on hand for the event. The Iris Leader is NYK’s first Ro/Ro (roll-on/roll-off) vessel to transit the new Panama Canal locks, enabling it to call on East Coast ports in the United States. The Iris Leader is approximately 34 meters (111.5 feet) wide and almost two feet wider than the old Panama Canal locks. The ship sailed to Quonset from Japan. To see pictures and video from the Iris Leader’s first transit through the new locks, click here. “This is an exciting day for the Port of Davisville and Rhode Island,” Governor Gina M. Raimondo said. “The Iris Leader’s arrival shows we are on the cusp of seeing even more business opportunities as a result of the expansion of the Panama Canal. This also serves as an important reminder that now is the time to ensure our port infrastructure can meet the demands of new opportunities in short sea shipping, off-shore wind projects, and continue to support the robust auto business at Quonset’s Port of Davisville.” Consistently one of the Top 10 auto ports in North America, the Port of Davisville has experienced growth of 547 percent over the past 20 years. The port recently announced its sixth consecutive record breaking year for automobiles imported at the Port of Davisville in 2015. Governor Raimondo included a $90 million proposal in her state budget to modernize and reconstruct Pier 2 at the Port of Davisville, which was recently approved by the General Assembly. The investment would preserve hundreds of jobs in the maritime sector, solidify Davisville’s position as the premiere marine commercial gateway to New England and add an additional 50 years to the pier’s useful life.