Project Team

Prof. James Kroes
University of Rhode Island
7 Lippitt Rd
Kingston, RI  02881
401 874-4362
jkroes@uri.edu
PI

External Project Contact

Project Objective

This project will investigate the feasibility of expanding the Port of Davisville (Quonset Point, RI) to serve as a port of entry and reparture for international container shpments. As an international port of entry (departure), the Port of Davisville would receive import (export) container freight shipments on vessels directly from (to) overseas importers (exporters).

Project Orientation

Multimodal

Project Abstract

This project will investigate the feasibility of expanding the Port of Davisville (Quonset Point, RI) to serve as a port of entry and reparture for international container shpments. As an international port of entry (departure), the Port of Davisville would receive import (export) container freight shipments on vessels directly from (to) overseas importers (exporters).

This project is a continuation of a previous research study, "Feasibility Study to Increase Utilization at the Port of Davisville (Quonset, RI)", which was funded by a grant from the University of Rhdoe Island Transportation Center from January to August 2009. The previous study investigated the logistics and transportation issues associated with shipping containerized freight through the Port of Davisville. In particular, the studied focused on identifying local and regional customers that could reduce their transportation costs by utilizing a container barge feeder service between the Port of Davisville and the Port of New York and New Jersey. The previous study did not investigate utilizing the Port of Davisville for shipments directly to and from international ports (i.e. as a port of entry and departure.) The study proposed in thie grant application will expand the previous research and investigate transportation issues associated direct shipment of containerized frieght shipments between the Port of Davisville and foreign ports. Utilizing the Port of Davisville for direct container freight shipments between foreign ports will possibly reduce the costs associated with shipping containerized freight for business, reduce port congestion at other east coast ports, and provide economic benefits to the local economy through job creation and lower shipping costs for business.

Currently, no shipping container traffic moves through the port; all international container traffic into and out of the Rhode Island area moves through port facilities located elsewhere in the United States. To be competitive as a port of entry and departure the Port of Davisville will require significant infrastructure investments. These investments include the purchase of gantry cranes and dredging of the channel to the port. Previous estimates of the required investment have ranged dramatically with some estimates approaching $1 billion. This study will examine the Port of Davisville's economic viability as a port of entry and departure.

Project Task

No description available

Project Milestones

No description available

Total Budget

$0.00

Student Involvement

No description available

Relationship to Other Projects

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Technology Transfer Activities

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Potential Project Benefits

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Project Keywords

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