News release from Governor Malloy, includes link to full report:
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced the completion of the Connecticut Deep Water Port Strategy Study which was commissioned by Connecticut’s Department of Transportation (DOT) to guide the development of a long-term economic development strategy for the deep water ports in Bridgeport, New Haven, and New London. The study makes recommendations to protect existing commercial operations at these ports, and identifies new opportunities for business growth.
“This report is an important tool to strengthen the economic potential of Connecticut’s deep water resources,” said Governor Malloy. “Expanding business development and creating jobs are keys to economic recovery, and this study highlights ways we can support our maritime industries and effectively compete for limited federal resources. By examining both short- and long-term options, we are in a better position to accelerate economic activity at all of our ports.”
In addition to the DOT, three state agencies collaborated in the development the study: the Office of Policy and Management (OPM), the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). Municipalities also played an active role throughout the process.
“The recommendations in the study will help us determine the best ways to invest in and manage our ports,” said Jim Redeker, Commissioner of the DOT. “Connecticut’s ports–like ports across the U.S.–face major challenges. This study will help us build on our strengths, manage and leverage state investments, and more clearly assess the full potential of Connecticut ports.”
Prepared by Moffatt & Nichol, the Connecticut Deep Water Port Strategy Study analyzes the strengths and deficiencies of ports in Bridgeport, New Haven, and New London, and provides recommendations in the areas of infrastructure and harbor improvements, governance, and funding.
“Connecticut’s maritime sector accounts for tens of thousands of Connecticut jobs and represents $5 billion in economic activity for the state,” said Catherine Smith, Commissioner of DECD. “Examining how to enhance growth and investment in this industry could be part of economic recovery.”
The report specifies four existing sectors in need of retention and expansion efforts:
· Liquid bulk and related energy uses at all three deep water ports
· Shipyard and ship repair services at all three deep water ports
· Private ferry services at Bridgeport and New London ports
· Dry cargo at New Haven and New London portsThe report also identifies opportunities for growth:
· Scrap metal exports from New Haven
· Wood pellet exports from New London
· Lumber, copper, and steel imports to New Haven or New London
· Fresh food imports to New Haven and New LondonAs a first step, the Governor has directed the DOT to utilize recommendations from the study in its solicitation for an operator at the State Pier in New London. The DOT had previously extended the current contract to await the results of the report. The new solicitation will be guided in part by the specific recommendations contained in the study. He has also directed the commissioners of DECD, DEEP, and DOT to continue working with municipal officials, port authorities, and other maritime stakeholders to review the study findings and determine how any recommendations will be implemented.
Funding for Connecticut Deep Water Port Strategy Study was established by the Legislature in Public Act 11-57.
Full report here.
This study is a big fat zero for Bridgeport.
In essence, the port is good for some liquid fuels (most go to New Haven).
We are located in a geographically good place for a ferry. We have that.
Boat building/boat repair is swell if you can find it.
I presume (that’s a danger) commercial fishing is a given. Of course, maybe the state figures between global warming and West Nile pesticides in Long Island Sound you can kiss that goodbye.
There’s always a tourist boat from Downtown to Pleasure Beach to gaze at piping plovers.
It’s bad enough the City of Bridgeport eats every town’s garbage up and down Fairfield county in the name of energy, and the UI Company pollutes our air with coal generators, also in the name of energy. We have a mayor in this polluted city who sits on his hands and then claims to be a green mayor with the mindset if you pay enough taxes in Bridgeport, you too can pollute.
Now we will be the recipients of the governor’s very dangerous TANK FARM, again on the City’s East Side. BUT REMEMBER THE WORDS OF OUR GREAT LEADER BILL FINCH.
“I told everybody ‘you gotta get your act together,'” Finch said. “We’ve gotta think green. We’ve gotta help people live green. And we’re not just doing this for a city of 150,000 people. We’re trying to do these things that will become best practices in many places.”
This is just one of many reports that have been done on the deepwater ports in CT. More bullshit, pure and simple. The port is on the same level as steel point, all talk and no action.
Don’t I recall the problem with BPT as a deepwater port is the cost of dredging for large vessels is prohibitive because of a century or so of heavy metal etc. pollution trapped in the silt? I think that’s one reason the banana boats don’t stop here anymore …
If I recall correctly the Coast Guard wanted to move the Bridgeport sludge to a location off of East Haven and they refused to accept it. So much for cooperation among CT’s cities and towns.
Another report that borrows our watch to tell us what time it is!
The value of a port is for commerce.
If Bridgeport made something, or the region made something, that was worth exporting from the port, maybe there would be something there.
Currently, the seaport is essentially valueless except for the functions currently utilized by it.
Someone may have noticed the railroad isn’t of much value to commerce except for commuter transportation.
Bridgeport was founded as a commercial hub for rail and sea transportation. It isn’t anymore.
Perhaps the state can shrink-wrap the harbor and preserve it, something like the movie theaters Downtown.
With that reality, maybe building a shopping center at the old CarTech site isn’t so dumb.
Let’s see, is there a Board or Commission involved with our Port, like the Police and WPCA groups, appointed by Mayor Finch, our ACCOUNTABLE chief executive? On the City web site the harbor authority commission has no vacancies: good. Three people with three-year terms but those terms have expired in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
(Fabrizi must have missed them and Mayor Finch has been GREENING for five years. GREENING is preening before a camera, smiling, and not talking trash, but rather energy recovery.)
Perhaps they don’t come to meetings and there is NO TALK AND NO ACTION. How can you tell? Well the site shows a meeting schedule for 2011, but not for 2012. Is anyone responsible here and being paid by the taxpayer? Anyone minding the store? Who’s in charge other than the Mayor?
What does it say about the Mayoral appointment process and ACCOUNTABILITY in the City of Bridgeport when we look at three groups in three days and find only one appointed person serving an unexpired term? All other positions are expired or vacant. Will the Mayor have time, energy and talent to appoint another nine people to the BOE? Maybe he should let BOE representatives get elected by the people and take some burden from his shoulders. Maybe he even needs help with appointments to a new reform the Charter Review group that will deal with fiscal matters soon before chaos comes in that area. Time will tell.
What kind of plan does the Finch Administration have for the deep water port you might ask … NUNN is the answer.
Our waterways are a mess that will never be cleaned. If they dredge it, two thing have to happen, the monies to do this and the way to get rid of the sludge and mess that has to be burned. No one wants the burning. It will never once again be a Deep Water Port. What a shame.
The people of Bridgeport shouldn’t expect anything positive or high value for Bridgeport under Connecticut’s present “snake-oil salesman-in-chief.”
He’s already shown his real plans for Bridgeport by locating two of his “First Five” super-development projects, Bridgewater Associates and Charter Communications, in Stamford. (About $1 billion in new tax base for a city that doesn’t need it–or even want it! Oh, but what enthusiasm he showed for the planned Bass Pro in Bridgeport!)
For any Bridgeporters who might not be aware of the state/regional plan for Bridgeport development–it can be succinctly defined as “supportive development” for Stamford/the Gold Coast. We have been officially designated to be the dormitory (servants’ quarters), garbage dump/incinerator, power plant, warehouse/storage depot, social services center and jail for Stamford/the Gold Coast (and the rest of suburban Fairfield County). We get all of the non-profits, tax-negative, and polluting development that support Stamford/the Gold Coast in high fashion, and leaves us with one of the largest income/education gaps in the developed world.
That’s Dannel (“the Snake-oil Salesman”) Malloy’s plan for Bridgeport–a plan supported by his lackeys in Bridgeport City Hall.
As far as our port goes, we better be careful what we wish for with this guy in office, or we could have our shoreline and port clogged with polluting, feeder-barge traffic and warehouses/truck depots (and our streets clogged with 18-wheelers) in order to clear the highway for Stamford-bound workers.
Another meaningless report generated to create appearances.
Don’t forget, you can still have industrial uses that intermingle with other quality of life improvements that capitalize on the waterfront. Check out Baltimore!
With the finite supply of fossil fuel, eventually transport of goods and people will rely on more effective, less fuel-consumptive modes of transportation such as rail and sea. It will come back eventually.
Jeff, you got it right when you said, “As far as our port goes, we better be careful what we wish for with this guy in office, or we could have our shoreline and port clogged with polluting, feeder-barge traffic and warehouses/truck depots (and our streets clogged with 18-wheelers) in order to clear the highway for Stamford-bound workers.”
Ron, go back to Finch who championed a bill that would have brought 80 barges per day to B’Port with $1.5 Million. About 250 jobs would have been created for a terminal (where Steal Point is proposed to be), gotten 80 tractor-trailers off I-95 from Port Newark NJ, lowered the wear and tear on the highway, reduced carbon emissions of 80 vehicles, and lessened traffic on I-95.
Why not? Because Bill Finch, after getting elected with the help of the DTC and its mindless drones, changed his mind when John Stafstrom and his minions wanted to develop the waterfront for profit with a poorly thought-out plan that would have left Bridgeport further in debt. The money was then sent back to Hartford for some other use, but not for Bridgeport.
Loving all the Agenda 21 big green energy trash talk!