The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), representing America’s seaports, joined forces with other maritime transportation entities, asking that $3.5 billion in COVID-19 relief funding be made available for the US maritime transportation sector, citing “significant hardships” and “unique and unexpected challenges” posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The call took the form of a joint plea to Congressional leadership and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin this week.
The letters ask Congress and the Administration to take immediate action to provide the whole of the maritime transportation system with the resources necessary to combat the virus and ensure the safety of its sizable workforce.
For the first 10 months of 2020 compared to the same time frame last year, the cruise industry has come to a standstill while the value of waterborne commerce through America’s ports plummeted $200 billion, or nearly 14 percent, according to US Census Bureau statistics.
Mr. Connor noted that while recent news reports show a resurgence of trade at some of country’s largest container ports, “the truth is that most ports are still suffering financially, particularly those that handle non-containerized goods, like steel, grain and other bulk commodities. Even most container ports have large business portfolios that include handling critical, but poorer performing cargoes that put a financial drag on their ability to pay the added costs of protecting their workers.”
The relief we’re seeking is about ensuring ports and other maritime transportation businesses are able to keep pace with the accelerating costs of protecting their workers while keeping their workforce employed, and maintaining a state of readiness so they can significantly aid in the nation’s eventual economic recovery,
…said AAPA President and CEO Christopher J. Connor.