NATIONAL DREDGING NEEDS STUDY OF U.S. PORTS AND HARBORS Views, opinions, and/or findings contained in this report are those of the author(s) and should not be construed as an official Department of the Army position, policy, or decision unless so designated by other official documentation. December 2002 NATIONAL DREDGING NEEDS STUDY OF U.S. PORTS AND HARBORS Planning and Management Consultants, Ltd. 6352 South U.S. Highway 51 P.O. Box 1316 Carbondale, IL 62903 (618) 549-2832 A Report Submitted to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Institute for Water Resources 7701 Telegraph Road Casey Building Alexandria, VA 22315-3868 under Task Order #77 Contract No. DACW72-94-D-0001 December 2002 National Dredging Needs Study of U.S. Ports and Harbors TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables ................................................................................................................................ vii List of Figures................................................................................................................................ xi Acknowledgements........................................................................................................................xv Executive Summary.................................................................................................................... xvii I. Introduction .................................................................................................................................1 Study Background ................................................................................................................... 1 Organization of Report............................................................................................................ 2 II. A Historical Perspective of Waterborne Commerce and Port Development .............................3 Early Commerce and Navigation: Colonial America Through 1814...................................... 3 Economic Growth and Trade in Early America ................................................................. 3 Port Development Through 1814........................................................................................ 4 Changes in Technology and Ship Design: Colonial Era Through 1814............................. 5 U.S. Growth and Westward Expansion: 1815 – 1880............................................................. 6 Advances in Transportation and Commerce: 1815 – 1880................................................. 6 Port Growth and Development: 1815 – 1880 ..................................................................... 8 The Early Modern Era: 1881 – 1945..................................................................................... 11 Innovations in Ship Design: 1881 – 1945......................................................................... 11 U.S Global Intervention and Trade Policy: 1881 – 1945.................................................. 11 Port Revitalization and Adaptation to New Technology: 1881 – 1945............................ 13 Post War Years: 1945 – Present............................................................................................ 13 Trade Policy and Global Economic Growth During the Post War Years ............................. 13 Revolutions in Cargo Handling and Ship Design............................................................. 16 Formation of Carrier Alliances ......................................................................................... 18 Port Infrastructure Development in the Post War Years .................................................. 18 Conclusion............................................................................................................................. 19 III. Maritime Stakeholders............................................................................................................21 Direct Maritime Stakeholders ............................................................................................... 21 Federal and State Agencies............................................................................................... 21 State and Local Governments ........................................................................................... 21 Ports .................................................................................................................................. 22 Ocean Carriers .................................................................................................................. 22 Shippers............................................................................................................................. 22 Inland Modes of Transportation........................................................................................ 23 Indirect Maritime Stakeholders............................................................................................. 23 American People............................................................................................................... 23 Stakeholder Interaction.......................................................................................................... 24 Conclusion............................................................................................................................. 27 Table of Contents iii National Dredging Needs Study of U.S. Ports and Harbors IV. Global Trade Outlook.............................................................................................................29 Overview of the Global Economy......................................................................................... 29 United States, Canada and Mexico ................................................................................... 29 Asia/Pacific....................................................................................................................... 30 Europe............................................................................................................................... 31 South America, Africa and the Mid-East.......................................................................... 32 General Patterns of Global and National Maritime Trade .................................................... 33 U.S. Container Trade: 2000 – 2040 .................................................................................. 35 U.S. Container Trade: 2000 – 2040 .................................................................................. 36 U.S. Tanker Trade 2000 – 2040........................................................................................ 41 U.S. Tramp Trade: 2000 – 2040 ....................................................................................... 43 Conclusion............................................................................................................................. 46 V. Major Commodity Groups and Commodity Flows in the United States.................................47 Types and Quantities of U.S. Maritime Commodities .......................................................... 47 Commodity Flow by Trading Partner ................................................................................... 53 Commodity Flow by U.S. Coastal Region............................................................................ 57 Atlantic Coast.................................................................................................................... 59 Pacific Coast ..................................................................................................................... 61 Gulf Coast ......................................................................................................................... 66 Great Lakes ....................................................................................................................... 67 Coastal Commodity Flow by Vessel Type............................................................................ 72 Commodity Flows at U.S. Ports............................................................................................ 77 Commodity Flows at U.S. Ports on a National Level....................................................... 77 Commodity Flow at U.S. Ports on a Regional Basis ........................................................ 82 Commodity Flow by Trade Route......................................................................................... 86 Conclusion............................................................................................................................. 96 VI. Organization and Operation of the World Merchant Fleet.....................................................99 Definition and Composition of the World Fleet.................................................................... 99 General Cargo Fleet ........................................................................................................ 102 Tankers............................................................................................................................ 105 Dry Bulk and Combination Carriers............................................................................... 108 Containerships................................................................................................................. 110 Draft Characteristics of the World Fleet......................................................................... 117 Profile of the World Fleet Calling at U.S. Ports.................................................................. 119