SHREVEPORT, La. — The Caddo-Bossier Parishes Port Commission joined local government agencies in recognizing National Maritime Day on Friday, May 22, with a resolution approved during the commission’s May meeting.
The Bossier City Council, Bossier Parish Police Jury, Caddo Parish Commission and Shreveport City Council also issued resolutions and proclamations commemorating the observance.
Congress established National Maritime Day in 1933 to recognize the maritime industry and the U.S. Merchant Marine. The observance is held each year on May 22, marking the date in 1819 when the steamship Savannah departed Savannah, Georgia, on the first transatlantic voyage by a steam-powered vessel.
Joshua Williams, president of the Caddo-Bossier Parishes Port Commission, said the maritime industry continues to play a significant role in regional commerce and employment.
“The maritime industry remains just as vital today as it was two centuries ago,” Williams said. “The Port of Caddo-Bossier supports thousands of local and regional jobs by facilitating essential trade. Furthermore, the Red River offers companies a cost-effective shipping alternative, allowing them to maintain competitive prices for their products.”
National Maritime Day also recognizes the Merchant Marine, which transports cargo and passengers during peacetime and can support military operations during wartime by delivering personnel and supplies for the U.S. Navy.
As part of the observance, maritime flags were flown at the Regional Commerce Center at 6000 Doug Attaway Blvd. at the Port.
The Port of Caddo-Bossier spans 5,000 acres at the head of navigation on the Red River Waterway in northwest Louisiana. The inland multimodal transportation and distribution center connects businesses in the Ark-La-Tex region to domestic and international markets through the Mississippi River system and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.