Weekly News Summary For June 26-July 2, 2006:
Water Resources Act Closer To Reaching Senate Floor
Waterways Council Inc. reports that the senate is edging closer to consideration of the long-pending Water Resources Development Act (S. 728).
When the measure is called up, possibly before the end of June, senators will discover a somewhat different piece of legislation than that approved by the Environment and Public Works Committee in April 2005, the council said in its latest issue of Currents.
The reason is that the committee’s bipartisan leadership drafted a 335-page “manager’s amendment,” which is in the nature of a substitute bill. It still authorizes the Upper Mississippi River/Illinois Waterway improvements, and Louisiana coastal area ecosystem restoration and other projects….
American Commercial Lines Inc. (ACL) last week announced a new wage and enhanced benefit package for the 1,200 vessel- and land- based employees of its American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL) division. At the same time, the company announced that it is increasing its earnings guidance.
Among the new wage and benefit package enhancements are increases in base pay rates, enhanced life insurance coverage, a new suite of voluntary benefits and a number of quality of life initiatives, the company said in the announcement.
“In addition to upgrading our facilities, barges and vessel equipment, we are investing in the No. 1 asset we have, our people,” said W.N. “Norb” Whitlock, senior vice president and chief operating officer. “We have made substantial investments in wage increases, stock incentives and a new company-wide bonus program for all of our vessel- and land-based ACBL employees.
“ACL has also formed a partnership with Northeast Maritime Institute (NMI) to develop an industry-leading licensed mariners program. The new training program will help to build American Commercial Lines into a leading transportation company.”…
The Regional Exam Center (REC) Houston, Texas, is experiencing a significant increase in the number of applications received from mariners in the Gulf Region as an indirect result of the impact of Hurricane Katrina.
Consequently, the process time for applications at REC Houston has increased to 60 days and is expected to further increase over the next few months….
The Hilton Riverside Hotel in New Orleans, La., was the site of the most recent American Commercial Lines (ACL) christening on May 31. The former Pere Marquette was re-named the Joseph M. Hamilton. It is the third vessel ACL has christened in just over two months.
As Del Wilkins, vice president of vessel operations, pointed out during the ceremony, everyone was happy to be in New Orleans and supporting the city, especially on the “eve of hurricane season.”
Norb Whitlock, senior vice president and chief operating officer, started off the ceremony with his welcoming remarks, stressing the importance of men like Hamilton. Not only has he been a longtime captain for ACL, but he has trained a number of great pilots over the years, Whitlock said.
The president and chief executive officer of ACL, Mark Holden, followed, stating that people are the company’s greatest asset. With the refurbishment program, the company aims to reinvest in that asset, giving the crews better equipment and more comfortable living quarters. The refurbishment program is a major effort by ACL to improve its fleet. As Holden outlined in a previous ceremony, the company is investing $80 million in equipment in 2006 compared to $35 million in 2005 and $16 million in 2004….
As many as 125 permanent jobs are being created as an underused port facility in Galveston harbor now has new operators.
Galveston Bulk Terminals is a limited partnership, with Texas Commodities and Associated Terminals each having 45 percent ownership and landlord A&M Holding with 10 percent.
The facility is at the western end of Galveston’s harbor and borders the causeway to Pelican Island. It has more than 100 acres for port activities.
The facility has deepwater access to the Gulf of Mexico through the Port of Galveston and Houston Ship Channel. Barge traffic has nearby access to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) at Bolivar Roads. Rail spurs connect to Union Pacific and Burlington Northern-Santa Fe rail lines. There is easy access to I-45, which connects to I-10 in Houston.
The previous lease holder lost interest in the property and it had become run down, said Ad Ligthart, who, with his wife Marcie, owns A&M Holding. The new partnership took over February 1, and things began to happen quickly, he said….
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