July 16, 2025 — The Port of San Diego has been awarded $5.55 million in federal grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) to support berth repairs at the National City Marine Terminal (NCMT), a key cargo-handling facility on the San Diego Bay.
The grant was awarded through the America’s Marine Highway (AMH) Program, which supports efforts to expand waterborne freight service across the U.S. The funds will be used to rehabilitate infrastructure critical to the Port’s maritime operations, long-term economic growth, and movement of goods like lumber and containers.
“We’re grateful to our federal and regional partners for their continued support and investment in maritime infrastructure. The Port’s National City Marine Terminal is a vital resource to our region and beyond,” said Chair Danielle Moore, Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners. “This investment will help further strengthen our marine terminal and supports the national supply chain by making goods movement more resilient and efficient.”
The award follows a collaborative effort between the Port, Caltrans, the Oregon Shipping Group, and the Port of Bellingham in Washington, who submitted a proposal to MARAD to designate a new coastal shipping corridor known as the West Coast M-5 Coastal Connector. These improvements will allow barge transportation for building materials, containers, and general cargo for the north/south route. The goal is to provide supply chain resiliency and reduce truck trips by introducing a coastal connector.
The grant is administered by MARAD and has undergone full review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Port has also allocated its $9.7 million local match, which was previously approved by the Board of Port Commissioners as part of its Economic Recovery Program in 2021.
The National City Marine Terminal is a key part of the Port’s cargo operations, handling automobiles and breakbulk commodities that support regional jobs and industry throughout the West Coast. For more information about the Port’s maritime programs and initiatives, visit portofsandiego.org/maritime.
