U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao announced Thursday the opening of a new federal Maritime office in Paducah.
The Inland Waterways Gateway Office in Paducah aims to better support the Inland Marine Transportation System, its ports, service providers and vessel operators.
The Maritime Administration - or MARAD - Gateway Offices were established to act as liaisons between maritime communities, state and local authorities and their federal counterparts to identify challenges and assist in identifying funding opportunities.
In a release, The Department of Transportation said the Paducah office will have the responsibility of overseeing operations in Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Tennessee.
The DOT said Paducah’s proximity to three major river confluences will “create a strong transportation network on our inland waterways.” The office is located on the 500 block of Broadway Street in Downtown Paducah.
At the announcement Thursday, Chao said Chad Dorsey of Paducah will be the Director of the Inland Waterways Gateway Office.