‘With You’ In The New Year

Close readers of The Waterways Journal might’ve noticed a theme the past few months under the 20 years ago section of “This Week.” Time and again since late August and early September, that section has made mention of Hurricane Katrina, which made landfall in Louisiana and Mississippi on August 29, 2005.

Companies and government agencies rose to the occasion to aid in search-and-rescue efforts, deliver emergency supplies and housing, survey waterways and refloat sunken vessels. The impacts from the storm weren’t just restricted to the Gulf Coast region, either. For instance, the December 22 installment of “This Week” recalled cargoes rebounding at the Tulsa Port of Catoosa “after suffering a post-Katrina decline.”

Another story in this week’s issue covers a National Transportation Safety Board investigation that concluded a towboat captain’s extreme fatigue and COVID-19 infection likely contributed to an allision with a dock in Washington. No doubt, in four or five years, we’ll begin to see references to the outbreak of COVID-19 in the 10 years ago section of “This Week.”

While the historical record reminds us of hardships and disasters the maritime industry has faced in years gone by, it also reminds us of the community and collaboration that have helped carry the industry and its people through those difficult times.

Safety, efficiency, innovation and competition all make this industry great, successful and essential to the nation and the world. But what makes it special? It’s that community and family mentality that’s always there, especially in difficulty. It’s what the Big River Coalition’s Sean Duffy (featured on page 3 this week) sums up with the simple yet poignant phrase, “With you.”

So no matter what the new year brings, “With you.”