Military cargo ships to and from Iraq are coming back to the Port of Philadelphia, delivering an economic bounty, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer.
For each military ship that loads and unloads in Philly’s port, an economic impact of $1.4 million will also be delivered to the region, said Congressman Bob Brady.
The ships are coming back to port after a two-year hiatus when they went to Charleston, S.C.; Jacksonville, Fla.; and Beaumont and Corpus Christi, Texas instead. Pennsylvania’s elected officials lobbied hard to get the military business back, and they finally succeeded.
The military business will give jobs to vessel pilots, longshoremen, tugboat operators , line handlers, ship agents and opportunities for maritime and transportation enterprises, according to the Inquirer.
The shipments will be full of humvees, bulldozers, helicopters, tents and supplies.
The first shipment arrives in September.
