Providence’s working waterfront is a key economic resource for Rhode Island and greater southern New England.

  • Responsible for hundreds of millions of dollars in total economic impact for the region.
  • Over 2,000 ships per year use the port to offload salt, cement, asphalt, and petroleum products, and load up with recycled metal for export to international markets.
  • Over 9 million tons of cargo move through the port every year.
  • One of the top 50 ports in the United States.
  • Recently completed $65 million 40-foot deep water channel dredging project specifically undertaken by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to meet growing regional demand for shipping services.

Providence’s working waterfront is responsible for thousands of jobs.

  • Hundreds of direct employment jobs.
  • Thousand of multiplier jobs (tradesmen, truck drivers, service technicians, etc.).
  • One of the few remaining sources of well paid blue-collar jobs in Rhode Island.
  • Port-sector workers earn, on average, about $50,000.

Providence’s working waterfront is the main source of heating oil for Rhode Island, Southeast Connecticut, and Central and Southeast Massachusetts.

  • Port fuel terminals supply virtually all of the heating oil for Rhode Island, Worcester County, Cape Cod and the islands, and eastern Connecticut households and businesses.
  • There are more than 450,000 oil heat customers in Rhode Island alone.
  • Port provides Rhode Island’s only source of residual heavy fuel oil for hospitals, universities, commercial buildings, state and municipal buildings, and utilities.