For Immediate Release
Mamaroneck, NY
Harbor Harvest, the third vessel in the Derecktor hybrid series, was awarded a Marine Highway designation on Friday, July 27th, 2018. The ceremony was held at Derecktor Shipyards, and the designation was presented by Maritime Administrator Admiral Mark Buzby. Buzby spoke on the importance of this occasion; Harbor Harvest being the 23rd project in the Marine Highway Program. The America’s Marine Highway Program was established by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to reduce landside congestion through the designation of Marine Highway Routes. This allowed local businesses to utilize the efficiency of domestic freight or passenger transportation on Marine Highway Routes between U.S. ports. The National Defense Authorization Act for 2016 added to the definition of short sea shipping to include cargo shipped in discrete units or packages that are handled individually, palletized or unitized for purposes of transportation; or freight vehicles carried aboard commuter ferry boats.
The ceremony was a result of years of work to bring United States Agriculture and Maritime Industries back together again. During the developing years of this country, farming and manufacturing were located along our nation’s waterways and coastlines, as they relied on marine transportation. Harbor Harvest is working to reintroduce local farms, artisans, and manufacturers to the maritime industry. This is the start of a movement to reduce congestion on highways and support neighborhoods and local businesses while also reducing emissions with the BAE Systems HybriDrive ® Propulsion System.
Those in attendance included a collection of Farmers, Restaurant Owners, Brewers, Artisans, Politicians, Shipbuilders and Ship Owners who have worked with and supported this effort.
Micah Tucker, VP of New Construction and Engineering at Derecktor commented, “Derecktor Shipyards is proud to be a part of the team leading the United States towards responsible, environmentally friendly maritime-based shipping. We continue to push the boundaries of vessel construction and propulsion technology as we move towards our goal of producing zero emissions vessels for the commercial marine market. We are committed to protecting the environment and producing the highest quality vessels that embody the same commitment.”
For further details, please contact:
John Koenig 732-245-4035 johnk@derecktor.com
