Marine Highways

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is pleased to announce that all commercially navigable rivers within the commonwealth are officially designated as United States Marine Highways, as recognized by the Maritime Administration (MARAD). A commercially navigable river is recognized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) as having the physical capability for use of large-scale transportation commerce while accommodating barge vessel traffic. These differ from basic navigable rivers as those types of waterways are limited to sustaining usage of light-duty vessels and recreational boats.

U.S. Marine Highway designation is significant because it allows for public and private agencies utilizing these waterways to apply for grants under the U.S. Marine Highway Grant Program. This grant program is administered by MARAD and eligible projects include those that: 1) provide capable alternatives to landside transportation; mitigate or relieve landside congestion, promote marine highway transportation, and 2) develop, expand, or promote marine highway transportation or shipper use of marine highway transportation. For more details on these grants, please review the Waterways Funding Guide document listed below.