IRPT Holds Missouri Basin Meeting

Inland Rivers Ports & Terminals (IRPT) held its Missouri River Basin meeting in Jefferson City, Mo., last month. The meeting was held at the Missouri Soybean Association. Sponsors of the meeting, in addition to IRPT, were Bloomsdale Excavating, Hermann Sand & Gravel and the Coalition to Protect the Missouri River.

Welcome and introductions were made by Aimee Andres, executive director of IRPT, and she was joined by the organization’s deputy director, Anthony Gex. The first order of business was the election of two directors from the Missouri Basin to the IRPT board of directors. Aaron Khouri of Transport 360 and John Stephens of Port KC were elected by a unanimous vote of the members present.

Following the election, attendees received an update on IRPT’s reach and platform, followed by a description of how the IRPT website is used to announce member news and connect members with customers. The “members only” section of the website can help connect members with potential work, procurement and other opportunities by providing listings of upcoming requests for proposals, request for quotes and bids.

IRPT also monitors the Federal Register daily to identify proposed rules, notices, funding opportunities, etc., that may affect members throughout the inland river system and issue alerts. A new feature announced at the meeting was a members’ only online directory that allows access to industry partners. An expanded professional services directory was also discussed.

The IRPT interactive port and terminal mapping system has been upgraded to better assist shippers seeking facilities to meet their needs. Through a recent agreement with the European Federation of Inland Ports, increased visibility of IRPT members is now available worldwide. Considering this, members were encouraged to make sure their websites were up to date with all pertinent information.

IRPT continues to list postings of open positions at member companies. These listings are updated every two weeks. According to IRPT officials, over the preceding month, 430 job seekers visited the website’s career page. The economic impact of the inland waterways on a specific state basis can be found by way of an interactive map. By clicking on a state, the impact to that state is shown. Environmental impact data is also available.

A membership report followed, as well as a description of strategic partnerships.

IRPT officials discussed the organization’s transatlantic partnership with the European Federation of Inland Ports (EFIP). A memorandum of understanding was established between the two organizations to focus on modernizing infrastructure, expanding commercial opportunities and sharing knowledge. IRPT is offering a trade mission to Europe June 8-18 where delegates will tour inland river facilities, meet with European port leaders and exchange ideas on marketing, operations, business development and infrastructure. Ports visited will include Rotterdam, Dordrecht Island and Brussels, among others. The group will also attend Breakbulk Europe, where IRPT will have a booth.

During the February meeting, IRPT discussed the organization’s 12 legislative priorities, which informed its legislative summit earlier this month in Washington, D.C. Within the Corps of Engineers, IRPT leaders would like to see the agency publish its critical maintenance backlog and for the Institute of Water Resources/Waterborne Commerce Statistics Center to modernize its 1990s era MS DOS computer system. Developing a cohesive river management between Corps divisions and districts is another priority, as is permit reform and streamlining processes.

The last of the 12 priorities involves the 119th Congress. IRPT supports the formation of an Inland River Transportation Caucus. Within the scope of several congressional committees, there are few members from states along the inland river system, which results in an imbalance favoring coastal transportation and non-maritime states, IRPT leaders argued. IRPT is urging a “coordinated, bipartisan Inland River Transportation Caucus to elevate awareness, provide informed oversight and advance equitable policy and investment decisions for the inland river system.”

While representatives of the Coast Guard were unable to attend due to the ongoing partial government shutdown, Lt. Commander Kia Bacon, chief, Waterways Management Division with Sector Upper Mississippi, and Boatswain’s Mate Master Chief Kraig McClellan, officer in charge of the Coast Guard Cutter Gasconade, joined the group on a conference call. Representatives from the Corps of Engineers were in attendance.

Federal funding and financing programs relevant to inland ports were discussed in depth, followed by a focus on port resilience programs to better prepare for times of flooding, low water, winter weather, hurricanes and cyber threats. Particulars of the Missouri River Basin were next on the agenda, looking specifically at items that would or could affect the Missouri River. Following this, it was announced that the 2026 IRPT Annual Conference will be held in Kansas City, Mo., September 1–4.

Lunch was served to the attendees, and a private navigators meeting took place in the room in advance of the full Missouri Navigators Meeting the following day. An evening reception and social was also held.