2012年4月30日星期一

Ports and the Providence Working Waterfront


Despite the ongoing transformations in the maritime transportation industry and the rise of global supply chain systems, most of the world’s important container ports remain urban. Maritime transport is the shipment of goods (cargo) and people by sea and other waterways. Port operations are a necessary tool to enable maritime trade between trading partners. In short, seaports became considered as strategic operational nodes in global trade routes and shipping network. Because of this, the Providence Working Waterfront Alliance concerned about the future of the ports in Rhode Island.

In any economy, the shipping industry plays a significant role in its import and export activities. Providence Harbor was founded in 1636 at the convergence of two rivers and Narragansett Bay, Providence early on developed as an active center for fishing and trading. Until now, it is still quietly important of Rhode Island’s economy because the market served today by the Port of Providence covers 2,000 square miles, includes Rhode Island, Northeastern Connecticut, and Southeastern Massachusetts and provides for goods and services for a population of over a million people. In recent years, the federal government reaffirmed its commitment to Rhode Island’s maritime industries by carrying out a huge millions of dollars dredging project in the Providence River.


As it is so important for today’s economy, the federal government of Rhode Island need to take actions immediately to protect the Providence ports and thousands of jobs. If the sea transportation developed, thousands of multiplier jobs will be maintained; as a result, workers such as tradesmen, truck drivers, service technicians will be well-paid as blue-collar jobs in Rhode Island. Identical, government has to take actions to keep Providence working waterfront booming because it is one of the top 50 ports in the United States. Like this, zoning issues were developed spontaneous.



Zoning — often considered a nasty word in rural areas — promises to become an even more controversial issue as the Interstate 12 corridor continues to grow, according to people involved in the corridor’s development. RI government has its own plan till 2020 would be rezoned for mixed uses such as residential condominiums, marinas, hotels, retail shops, and restaurants. Even if it is a good plan and thoughtful idea, it can’t stop people from complaining, and underscores the danger of locating condos and hotel near the port, especially the people who live nearby the seaside. As a result, I believe the government will have challenge to achieve the zoning plan.


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