Weekly News Summary For April 13–19, 2009:
Beginning at 1 p.m. April 8, the Army Corps of Engineers activated the Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal Dispersal Barrier IIA. The barrier utilizes an electric current of no more than one volt per inch to keep foreign invasive fish species, including the disruptive Asian carp, out of the Great Lakes. A draft report said the electric current in the water between Miles 296.1 to 296.7 could cause severe injury or death.
The activation triggered an interim rule published in January 2009, requiring bow boats for all tows with red-flag cargoes within the barrier area, including empties whose last cargo was a red flag one that may have left residual vapor in the tank. ARTCO is providing the bow boats, under contract with the Corps of Engineers.
The interim rule takes effect between Miles 295 and 297.5. Towboats approaching from either end are instructed to call ARTCO at least two hours ahead of time to arrange for a bow boat at this number: 630, 918-0958. Boats can also use VHF Channel 16, but an ARTCO spokesman said the phone number is the preferred method of contact.
Boats that approach the restricted area from either direction are instructed to present the bow boat with a copy of their cargo manifest, including the most recent cargoes of empty red-flag barges.
Within the restricted zone, only one vessel or tow at a time will be allowed….
The New Orleans Engineer District has released the final environmental impact statement on the Inner Harbor Navigation (Industrial) Canal Lock Replacement Project. The EIS is available for review and comment through May 4.
Eight sites have been evaluated during the long history of planning for a new Industrial Canal Lock. An EIS was prepared in 1997 and evaluated two action plans in detail. In 2007, a federal district court enjoined the project and required the preparation of the current supplemental EIS to address changes in existing conditions after Hurricane Katrina.
“The final report addresses comments we received on the draft Supplemental EIS,” said Richard Boe, EIS manager. “We commissioned an additional risk assessment to address public concerns about the placement of dredged material in a confined disposal facility. The assessment indicates there is a low risk of impacts from the proposed dredge material plan to people and the environment.”
The supplemental EIS evaluates three plans—the 1997 plan, a cast-in-place plan and a float-in-place plan—plus a “no-build/deauthorization” scenario. The float-in-place plan was ultimately selected as the best compromise to maximize economic development benefits and reduce impacts to the environment and surrounding community….
David O’Neill, former vice president at United Maritime Group (formerly TECO Barge Line Inc.) was charged in a civil complaint by his former employer with stealing at least $300,000 from them to buy a hunting lodge for his personal use in Pope County, Ill.
The five-count complaint, filed March 4 in the New York Northern District Court, alleges that the “misappropriation of company funds” went back at least to 2007, and that O’Neill recruited others within the company to help him misappropriate company funds and assets, paying them with unauthorized monetary gifts, vacations, and the use of company cars.
The complaint alleges that O’Neill secretly bought the hunting lodge without authorization or the company’s knowledge, then leased it back to the company for one dollar and had the company pay for maintenance and up-keep. The property was to revert fully to O’Neill at the end of the lease’s term. UMG asked the court to declare the lease null and void.
Other counts allege that O’Neill had company workers help build him an indoor baseball facility for his personal use, and that he accepted gifts from vendors in return for favorable contracts “at the expense of TECO Transport Corporation/UMG and in violation of company policies.”…
Chem Carriers christened two boats, the Frank W. Banta and the Dorella Banta, at a ceremony held March 20 at the Riverwalk along the Mississippi River in New Orleans, marking the company’s 15th anniversary.
Both boats were built at Rodriguez Boat Builders of Bayou la Batre, Ala., and have been working since being launched.
Extra soundproofing, including rubber mounts for motors and rubber couplings on piping, is featured throughout the boats, explained Warren Berthelot, who heads up the company’s repair and new construction.
“We focus on crew comfort a lot these days,” Berthelot said as he led a tour of the Dorella Banta. “It helps us retain crews. As we made changes, the management at Rodriguez was very accommodating.” Mufflers exceed requirements and are classed as critical grade, meaning they are designed for use in hospitals.
The Port of New Orleans and the American Institute for International Steel (AIIS) will present the “Critical Commodities Conference” April 28–30 at the Riverside Hilton in New Orleans.
The event will focus on the efficient transportation of energy, food products, steel and steelmaking raw materials and building materials throughout the United States and the world. The conference is unique in that it is not restricted to one type of product, bulk or break bulk. It covers “critical commodities” that travel via all modes of waterborne transport, from bulk to container. Rail and truck transport links to the industry will also be covered.
Among the speakers scheduled for the conference are Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal; Greg Binion, president of Kirby Inland Marine; Bailey Ragan, vice president and general manager of Bunge Grain North America; Ken Eriksen, senior vice president of Informa Economics Inc.; Janet Gellici, chief executive officer of the American Coal Council; and a number of other industry leaders. James Carville, political strategist and pundit and Louisiana native, will give the luncheon keynote address on the final day of the conference.
“Our speakers and expert roundtable discussions will truly take an in-depth look at how these critical commodities move today and what infrastructure will be required to move them more efficiently tomorrow,” said Gary LaGrange, president and chief executive officer of the Port of New Orleans. “Changing trade routes and advances in transportation technology are issues all members of the international trade community should keep abreast of in order to be better prepared for the future.”…
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