WASHINGTON—The Transportation Department on Friday said it is awarding $12.6 million in grants for nine marine highway projects as part of ongoing efforts to improve ports and address supply chain issues. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement the funds “will help us move more goods, more quickly and more efficiently” and ease the movement of goods along navigable waterways. The $1 trillion infrastructure law signed last month by President Joe Biden provides an additional $25 million to support marine highway projects beyond Friday’s awards. In total, Congress approved $17 billion to revamp U.S. ports. Many ports have bridge or depth limitations that restrict their ability to receive larger vessels, while a surge of cargo is straining land operations at some ports. The marine highway program “ encourages  the use of America’s navigable waterways for the movement of freight and people as an alternative to land-based  transportation,” said Acting Maritime …