"I think it is the future of our port for businesses to avail themselves of the intermodal connections of rail, water and highway," said Judi Scheiffle, executive director of the Port of New Haven. She was speaking to a reporter for The New Haven Register about Innovation Fuels’ plan to produce biodiesel (mainly with vegetable oil) at its facility in Newark, N.J., and then ship it by barge to New Haven, whence it will be shipped via the Providence and Worcester Railroad and by truck. The company may also do shipping deals for makers of biodiesel in New Haven.

This is an example of the "short sea shipping" that federal authorities are trying to encourage for economic and environmental reasons. A major aim is to reduce overall truck traffic.

Innovation Fuels’ vice president for strategic operations said the intermodal connections at New Haven present a "unique opportunity to position ourselves in the region."

New Haven (and Bridgeport) officials realize the potential of their ports and they are developing them. But Quonset’s much greater potential as a port -- it closer than any other U.S. Northeast megalopolis port to very deep water, has the closest access to the main transatlantic shipping lines, a rail link, an airport and proximity to the main street of the East Coast ---- Route 95 ---- still goes largely wasted. As does, also, the Port of Providence’s great potential.