The Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (EDC) is embarking on another, foolhardy and expensive venture for taxpayers at Quonset Point/Davisville. Under the thinly veiled title of a “visioning process,” plans for yet another container port at Quonset Point-Davisville are being considered.
Before spending more taxpayer dollars on studies, reports, and consultants, the question must be asked: What has changed since last year when a container port – that time to be funded by private money — was deemed not economically viable?
Rhode Island's Market Has Changed. Developers, Builders, Investors and Sellers Must Change With It.
By Emilio DiSpirito IV License Partner | Engel & Völkers Oceanside Leader | The DiSpirito…
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The truth is nothing has changed. The economics and environmental consequences of port development remain unacceptable. The infrastructure needed to support a port is absent and the planning and funding for it is a pipe dream. The market for another port on the Eastern seaboard doesn’t exist. In fact, current port business is shrinking as evidenced by the port of Boston’s bleak financial condition. The concept of a container port at QPD becomes more absurd with each passing day as the potential for good development at QPD is demonstrated by a continued influx of quality industries at the Park.
The EDC and the governor think that yet another ill-advised foray to develop a container port will find the circumstances changed. What we, and most Rhode Islanders, know is that nothing has changed to warrant another expenditure of time, money, and effort. Consider: (Yet again!)
There is no NEED for a port and the ECONOMICS ARE POOR. Rhode Island and all of New England already have well-established port service through Boston and New York. All the commerce of New England could not support another east-coast port, either for import or export. Moreover, all shipping ports in the United States require government subsidies to survive financially. Both Boston and New York are prime examples. In 1999, New York and New Jersey poured $55,000,000 into their port authority to keep Maersk and Sealand from moving out. QPP and the EDC couldn’t find private investors to build and operate a port at Quonset because it was unprofitable and the taxpayers of Rhode Island shouldn’t be asked to build and subsidize one either.
The principle reason cited for port development is increased JOBS; however, the Governor’s latest plan emphasizes a modern automated port. There is NO DEEP WATER. Large container ships require a 52-ft deep channel and turning basin and the water surrounding the industrial park is as shallow as 7 feet. To create a channel of at least 3 miles long needed for these huge vessels would require extensive dredging. Dredging is extremely expensive, environmentally problematic and will impact an established, major Rhode Island industry — fishing.
NO available SPACE. The proposed dock space and container storage area is already in use by the airport and other existing industries. The airport is important to the industrial park and must maintain certain FAA height standards within the area around the runways. The National Air Guard, is also a prime user of this air space. Handling and storage space close to the water is not available without filling the bay or displacing other established companies.
There is NO effective RAIL SERVICE out of Rhode Island. Large container ships carry five or six thousand boxes. Even with double stacked rail cars this means 1,200 to 1,500 rail cars –or 12 to 15 one hundred car trains — to move the containers from one ship. A completely new rail system inside the park would have to be built to accommodate the mile-long trains. ‘ A new third rail freight line to move the trains from the docks would require a huge capital expenditure. The new high-speed electric trains soon to use the mainline tracks also are not compatible with heavy slow moving freight trains. There are too many rail hurdles to overcome and no money to fix them to provide the transportation needed by a port at QPD.
There is NO COMPATABILITY with other important ongoing activities in the Bay. The increased WATER AND AIR POLLUTION would adversely affect fishing and recreational interests. Introduction of invasive species by foreign ships poses a real, serious threat. Rhode Island has a thriving tourist, boat building, recreational and fishing industries. Large container ships would not be compatible with fishing, boating, and recreational interests.
TIME IS BEING WASTED chasing a container port. To obtain the necessary permits, pass all the environmental hurdles (which is dubious, at best), build the roads, build the railroads, dredge the bay, build the docks, establish the necessary brokerage and infrastructure required to run a port could take as many as twenty years. The governor and EDC could create many more quality jobs, much sooner by intensifying the type of development that is presently occurring at the park.
