🔒CT sees ports as major economic drivers

Q&A talks to Scott Bates, former chairman of the Connecticut Port Authority, about the growing role of the state’s maritime industry.

Q. In May, the Connecticut Port Authority and the terminal operator of New London’s State Pier announced a partnership with Bay State Wind, a joint venture between Eversource and Denmark-based global offshore wind energy producer Ørsted, to upgrade the pier into an offshore wind hub as part of a $93 million project. Can you talk about what the project entails?

A. The harbor development plan is a public-private partnership that will transform State Pier into a world-class, state-of-the-art port by upgrading the facility for heavy-lift cargo.

First, a three-year development project will upgrade the facility infrastructure to meet the heavy-lift requirements of Orsted/Eversource’s offshore wind components as they are transferred from shore to vessel. Then, following the successful completion of the project, Ørsted/Eversource will enter into a long-term lease agreement providing them with use of State Pier for wind turbine generator assembly and staging.

Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in Jan. 2020 and it is expected to be finished in March 2022.

Q. Why is the New London Pier suitable as an offshore wind hub? What’s the growth potential in that industry?

A. From Maine all the way down to Virginia, New London is the only port without any bridges or other obstacles that limit the flow of cargo, a key factor for large wind-mill components on their way out to sea.

The offshore wind industry is poised for significant growth in the coming years, and this new port development deal, along with the state’s own commitment to offshore wind, position Connecticut to be at the forefront of this emerging industry.

Our deal at State Pier means short-, medium-, and long-term benefits to southeastern Connecticut and across the state.

In the short term, jobs will be created as the infrastructure improvements start at the facility, requiring expertise from the local workforce. Longer term, the multi-year presence of the offshore wind industry will encourage an increase in regional manufacturing and jobs, as subsidiary industries are drawn to the region.

Q. What role does the Pier play in Connecticut’s logistics industry? Will these upgrades also increase the amount of cargo the Pier will be able to handle on an annual basis?

A. The harbor development plan for State Pier will enable its revitalization as a major shipping facility.

Currently, cargo moving through State Pier is largely bulk and break-bulk commodities, with an average of one to two ships in port each month carrying such things steel, lumber, salt and copper.

We anticipate this traffic to increase significantly, first with the increased offshore wind activity, and later with an increased flow of conventional cargo.

In the long term, the infrastructure improvements made to State Pier will allow a wider range of cargo to utilize the upgraded port long after the wind industry ceases operations.

The efficiencies this injects into the supply chain will benefit industries across Connecticut for decades to come.

Q. The Port Authority is involved in projects beyond the shoreline. Can you talk about that?  

A. We continue to work on projects in 17 communities across Connecticut under the Small Harbor Improvement Projects Program (SHIPP). We are partnering with localities in places like Norwalk, Wethersfield, Essex and Groton to develop maritime infrastructure projects that had been on the drawing board and are now coming to life.

Under SHIPP, Connecticut municipalities may apply for matching funds to conduct projects that improve the infrastructure or management of their local waterways.

To date, we’ve funded 18 projects for just over $4 million.