‘New Bedford is the number one value fishing port in the nation, generating economic activity in excess of $2.7 billion. The Port of New Bedford is a full-service port, with ship chandleries, ice houses, welders, net designers, boatyards, gear builders, engineers, maritime attorneys, insurance brokers, settlement houses and every other conceivable shoreside marine support business. The Port employs over 4,000 people.
In addition to our legacy as a commercial fishing port, we are also proud to be home to a state-of-the-art facility designed specifically to support the construction, assembly and deployment of wind turbines for offshore wind projects. This is the first of its kind in the United States and we are well positioned for the growing offshore wind energy industry that is predicted to take off in US waters in the coming decade. We don’t just stop there however. As a deepwater commercial port, we serve as an intermodal shipping center for the Northern U.S. market and Eastern Canada. We also serve a range of cruise ships and ferries, as well as a plethora of recreational boaters.
As the Port Director, it is my responsibility to see that these various interests are effectively balanced and considered when making decisions regarding the port and its uses. I have to coordinate with local, state and/or federal agencies as well as community organizations in order to implement projects and/or run its operations. Most ocean uses don’t just stop at state-lines, so it only makes sense that we would employ this same strategy on a regional level. That is why I see value in ocean planning as a tool to help industry, government agencies and local and state officials make more informed decisions about the use of our ocean spaces, and ensure all stakeholders have a seat at the table.’