National Defense: Gulfport
Print this Article | Send to Colleague
Port of Gulfport Receives Strategic Seaport Designation
The Mississippi State Port Authority recently received notification from the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) that Gulfport has been designated as a Strategic Seaport by the commander of the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC).
The designation means that the Port of Gulfport would be available to support the deployment of the U.S. Armed Forces in the event of an international military emergency.
SDDC is a component agency of the U.S. Transportation Command, the Department of Defense entity tasked with managing military transportation. A total of 16 seaports nationwide now comprise the strategic port system.
.
This designation is an important step in the port authority’s long-range strategy to become one of the country’s top-tier diversified ports. The port’s revitalization efforts include the $570 million restoration and expansion project, and have led to new tenants in the offshore energy sector, long-term lease agreements with existing tenants, and the acquisition of inland port capabilities. The construction of the new facilities was seen as a significant factor in winning strategic port status.
"We have made the growth and success of the Port of Gulfport one of our top priorities since I took office," said Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant. "Under the port’s current leadership, remarkable progress has been achieved. This designation is another example of the impact the Port of Gulfport has on the Gulf Coast region’s economy while adding to the uniqueness of south Mississippi’s strategic defense corridor."
For more than two years, port leaders have worked with Mississippi’s federal delegation, state officials, statewide military installations, SDDC and MARAD to receive the strategic port designation.
According to the port authority, the SDDC’s decision was supported by plausible military requirements on the Gulf Coast, which validated that the designation of Gulfport would successfully mitigate any Strategic Seaport capacity shortfalls.
Gulfport is located in the southeastern defense corridor and will be able to provide military installations with direct on-dock rail service and quick access to the major East/West Corridor of Interstate 10.
Said Port Authority CEO Jonathan Daniels: "It is an honor to be considered an asset to our country by providing the Department of Defense with a cost-effective solution for their logistics operations during time of war or international emergency."
Port staff will work with MARAD to implement the various actions required by this Strategic Seaport designation to ensure support for all military requirements while also minimizing disruption to commerce.
The Mississippi State Port Authority recently received notification from the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) that Gulfport has been designated as a Strategic Seaport by the commander of the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC).
The designation means that the Port of Gulfport would be available to support the deployment of the U.S. Armed Forces in the event of an international military emergency.
SDDC is a component agency of the U.S. Transportation Command, the Department of Defense entity tasked with managing military transportation. A total of 16 seaports nationwide now comprise the strategic port system.
.
This designation is an important step in the port authority’s long-range strategy to become one of the country’s top-tier diversified ports. The port’s revitalization efforts include the $570 million restoration and expansion project, and have led to new tenants in the offshore energy sector, long-term lease agreements with existing tenants, and the acquisition of inland port capabilities. The construction of the new facilities was seen as a significant factor in winning strategic port status.
"We have made the growth and success of the Port of Gulfport one of our top priorities since I took office," said Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant. "Under the port’s current leadership, remarkable progress has been achieved. This designation is another example of the impact the Port of Gulfport has on the Gulf Coast region’s economy while adding to the uniqueness of south Mississippi’s strategic defense corridor."
For more than two years, port leaders have worked with Mississippi’s federal delegation, state officials, statewide military installations, SDDC and MARAD to receive the strategic port designation.
According to the port authority, the SDDC’s decision was supported by plausible military requirements on the Gulf Coast, which validated that the designation of Gulfport would successfully mitigate any Strategic Seaport capacity shortfalls.
Gulfport is located in the southeastern defense corridor and will be able to provide military installations with direct on-dock rail service and quick access to the major East/West Corridor of Interstate 10.
Said Port Authority CEO Jonathan Daniels: "It is an honor to be considered an asset to our country by providing the Department of Defense with a cost-effective solution for their logistics operations during time of war or international emergency."
Port staff will work with MARAD to implement the various actions required by this Strategic Seaport designation to ensure support for all military requirements while also minimizing disruption to commerce.
Back to AAPA Seaports Advisory
