Weekly News Summary For April 23-29, 2007:
John Woodley, assistant secretary of the Army (Civil Works), who described himself as an optimist when it comes to passage of the Water Resources Development Act, assured port and terminal interests at a meeting recently that “nobody is using the ’V‘ word (veto).” Prospects for passing the legislation are better now than they were a year ago, he said.
Woodley keynoted the annual meeting of the Inland Rivers Ports & Terminals Association in Memphis April 12.
“The committees are working very hard, working very quickly. They’re moving. The House already has a bill out of committee, I think, and the Senate is also working very hard on a bill.
“Will we be able to look back and quote the wisdom and precedent-setting nature of a great effort known as WRDA 2007? Maybe,” he said at the luncheon.
It could bog down again if differences are not resolved, he cautioned.
As for the budget, he reminded IRPT that the civil works program is working under an unprecedented yearlong continuing resolution because of the war in Iraq. Out of 11 appropriation pieces, only two passed last fiscal year, and one was the Homeland Security Act, he said….
American Commercial Lines, Jeffersonville, Ind., announced last week that it is accelerating several organic growth initiatives designed to pull more freight onto the inland waterways system for barge transportation. The mode is currently estimated to be operating at 50 percent of capacity in the United States, ACL said in an announcement.
“We are seeing progress on the demand side of our business in winning more freight for our transportation division and in improving our asset utilization,” said Mark R. Holden, ACL president and chief executive officer.
As a result, the firm is accelerating aspects of its “organic growth” strategy, including
- establishing the headquarters of ACL’s liquids transportation division in Houston, Texas;
- increasing tank barge capacity by more than 15 percent this year with the addition of 30 new 30,000-barrel-capacity tank barges, totaling approximately $75 million in capital expenditures; and
- accelerating dry-cargo barge retirements by retiring an additional 200 units. This will bring the total number of retirements during the 15-month period to more than 500 units, or 20 percent of ACL’s dry-cargo fleet and canceling more than 100 dry-cargo barges that were to be built during 2008 for the transportation division….
The Coast Guard is requesting that mariners voluntarily participate by checking in on VHF Channel 63A when transiting 81-Mile Point between the Sunshine Bridge and Baton Rouge on the Lower Mississippi River.
A Marine Safety Bulletin was issued by Capt. Frank Paskewich, commander of Sector New Orleans, giving the details. It can be accessed online at www.uscg.mil/d8/msu/batonrouge/PortOps.html.
“While collecting marine casualty data for the development of the Waterways Action Plan, it was apparent that 81-Mile Point experienced an alarming number of groundings, collisions and allisions,” said Lt. Todd Peterson, chief of response at Marine Safety Unit (MSU) Baton Rouge.
In hopes of reducing the amount of future casualties, MSU Baton Rouge invited several industry organizations to participate in the development of the proposed Regulated Navigation Area (RNA), Lt. Peterson said.
The list included the Lower Mississippi River Waterway Safety Committee (LMRWSAC), Lower Mississippi River Commission (LOMRC), Greater New Orleans Barge Fleeting Association (GNOBFA), New Orleans-Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots Association (NOBRA), Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association (GICA) and the Mississippi River Maritime Association (MRMA).
After several meetings, the working group agreed on the proposed RNA, Lt. Peterson said….
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers held a meeting April 13 in St. Louis to update the public on their annual operating plan for the Missouri River developed last fall.
“When you’re drafting the plan in the fall, all you can do is forecast. In the spring, we see what we got, and this is how we plan to operate for the year,” Corps spokesman Paul Johnston said.
The Corps expects it will be providing minimum service levels and is expecting the season to be shortened by 53 days with a possible range of 31 to 61 days. The Corps does not expect the same drought conditions in central Missouri that it had last year.
Johnston said the Corps missed its navigation target in Kansas City for a number of days, and there were other areas on the river where navigation had trouble getting through. The Coast Guard issued a warning to limit the depth of barges to 7.5 feet.
“That’s usually the limiting factor for towboats themselves,” Johnston said.
Lynn Muench, senior vice president of regional affairs for American Waterways operators, told the Corps they haven’t been providing enough water for an adequate navigation channel on the Missouri River….
On April 4, American Commercial Lines held its first christening of 2007 in St. Louis, Mo. The ceremony was in honor of 30-year company veteran and namesake of the vessel, Capt. Al Weaver.
Capt. Weaver started his career with ACL in 1976 as a trip pilot. Climbing through the ranks, he has since held positions as a pilot, captain and in fleet operations.
“The company is very proud of you,” said Jerry Linzey, senior vice president and chief operating officer, at the ceremony.
Mike Monahan, senior vice president-transportation services, credited the strong support of family for Capt. Weaver’s success. Family members present during the ceremony included his brother, Capt. John Weaver (captain of ACL’s mv. Bob Koch), wife Terrie and daughters Tina Hart and Melissa Weaver. Family members not present include a son who is currently serving in Iraq.
During the ceremony, Linzey reiterated the company’s commitment to capital improvements, citing the $95 million spent on improvements in the previous year. He also said that 2006 was the company’s best year in its 91-year history, not only financially but also in terms of safety….
At least 22 tows were forced to wait when authorities shut down 15 miles of the Upper Mississippi River after a loaded corn barge sank at 4 a.m. Sunday near Ste. Genevieve, Mo.
The river reopened again after 36 hours. The sunken barge was one of 25 barges being pushed by the 8,800-hp. mv. John Paul Eckstein owned by Marquette Transportation.
Okie Moore, a St. Charles, Mo. salvor, will begin salvaging the barge when river conditions improve. The barge sank near Mile 142.3 under 50 feet of water, and the current is moving too fast to begin salvaging, an Okie Moore representative said Wednesday.
The twin-screw towboat had a problem with its automated system connected to the vessel’s generating plants. Steve Crowley, vice president of operations for Marquette Transportation, explained the boat had an interruption in generating capacity in its onboard operating system….
The Waterways Journal encourages letters to the editor.
Have something on your mind?
Send letters to: jshoulberg@waterwaysjournal.net.
(Please indicate whether or not your letter is intended for publication.)
