U.S. MILITARY NAMES PHILADELPHIA A STRATEGIC NORTHEAST SEAPORT
The U.S. military has picked Philadelphia to serve as a strategic seaport to handle outbound equipment and supplies in the Northeast during major contingency operations.
Selection of Philadelphia was made jointly by the Military Traffic Management Command, Army Forces Command, and Maritime Administration, based on available facilities, capabilities related to deployment requirements, and accessibility to road and rail transport. Philadelphia becomes the fourteenth U.S. port given this status by the military.
“The designation of the Port of Philadelphia marks the commitment of the Philadelphia Port Authority to our military requirements and a strong national defense,” said Maj. Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody, MTMC commander.
Previously named commercial strategic seaports include Tacoma, Wash.; Oakland, Long Beach, and San Diego, Calif.; Corpus Christi and Beaumont, Texas; Jacksonville, Fla.; Savannah, Ga.; Charleston, S.C.; Wilmington and Morehead City, N.C.; Hampton Roads Area Ports, Va.; and the New York/New Jersey port area.