The Coast Guard unit based in Philadelphia is working with multiple partners to keep the Delaware River safe and secure, particularly to support the flow of commerce, writes Susanna Granieri for the Delaware Currents.
That is no small task, given that the river hosts the largest freshwater port in the world — a vital hub for domestic and international trade. The port sees around 2,600 ships each year, including vessels carrying perishable goods, and also handles some of the East Coast’s highest volumes of petrochemicals.
Headquartered in a brick building on Washington Avenue, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay oversees river traffic and ranks among the nation’s largest sectors, with 800 personnel.
The Mariners Advisory Committee stays in close coordination with the Coast Guard and key partners like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and NOAA, each bringing critical expertise to the shared mission.
“We’re facilitating commerce,” said Capt. Drew Hodgens, the chairman of the Mariners Advisory Committee. “Commerce is going to come and go 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and we’re all working together to ensure the safe passage of these vessels.”
Read more about the Coast Guard and how it will protect the Delaware River and its functioning in the Delaware Currents.
_____
