Partnerships

CPORT: A Strong National Partnership between Industry, Universities, and the Federal Government

Headquartered at Oregon State University, the CPORT consortium is well established and currently includes representatives of major U.S. ports on the east, gulf, and west coasts, federal agencies (DHS, NOAA, USACE, USDOT-MARAD, USGS, U.S. Navy), and the American Association of Port Authorities. The port industry is represented by the following:

  • Port of Anchorage, Alaska
  • Port of Boston (Massport), Massachusetts
  • Port of Houston, Texas
  • Port of Long Beach, California
  • Port of Los Angeles, California
  • Port of New York/New Jersey
  • Port of Oakland, California
  • Port of Portland, Oregon
  • Port of Seattle, Washington
  • Port of Tacoma, Washington
  • Port of Virginia
  • South Carolina State Ports Authority

A national perspective to federal issues related to the operation, security, and sustainability of the nation's MTS is provided by partnerships with the following agencies:

  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-Sea Grant
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  • U.S. Coast Guard
  • U.S. Department of Transportation-Maritime Administration
  • U.S. Geological Survey
  • U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration)

Strong ties with affiliated universities around the country ensure that the MTS is well served by the international-level expertise resident in our nation's academe. Development of industry-university-federal partnerships will facilitate state-of-the-art research at world-class facilities. The CPORT goal is to optimize the use of existing research facilities and maximize funds for applied research in areas prioritized by the port industry and federal agencies.

The development of a focused agenda of port research within the CPORT provides integration of industry expertise and needs with state-of-the-art resources for research, education and outreach. The partnership of broad-based, national research teams within the CPORT framework with the port industry and its stakeholders create a unique industry-university collaboration. By developing teams of internationally recognized experts from around the country, the CPORT serves as a national resource for research aimed at reducing economic and security risks at ports. This effort draws on resident expertise at OSU and numerous affiliated universities that have recognized research and educational programs in civil, coastal and environmental engineering, marine construction, international business and finance, ocean and coastal law, oceanography, marine geosciences and ecosystems. Coordination of the CPORT with the existing OSU Kiewit Center for Infrastructure and Transportation (http://kiewit.oregonstate.edu) facilitates tremendous synergy by bringing together experts from many allied fields.