ALTER BARGE LINE

Barge Traffic Tied In Knots On Mississippi

U.S. Midwestern grain shippers were getting ready to move barges into the upper Mississippi River on Tuesday but estimated it could be two to three weeks before trapped barges along the river make it to the Gulf. Weekend rains that dropped 3 to 6 inches of rain over a six-county area in northern Missouri and southern Iowa, coupled with swollen river conditions in the upper Mississippi, resulted in two more Mississippi lock closures this week. Lock 24 at Clarksville, Missouri, and lock 25 at Winfield, Missouri, were shut down to traffic on Monday. Both locks are north of the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. These new closures, along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers extending the reopening of lock 20 at Canton, Missouri, until May 22 were seen pushing back the arrival of Midwest grain barges at the U.S. Gulf. Shippers expected it would be early June before barges trapped in the upper Mississippi would be at the Gulf. About 200 barges have been stalled along the upper-Mississippi since April, when the U.S. Coast Guard shut down a 486-mile stretch of the river due to high water levels. But the actual arrival of grain barges would depend on locks 24 and 25 also opening by May 22, industry sources said. As of Tuesday afternoon, the Army Corps had not scheduled a reopening date for the Clarksville or Winfield locks. River forecasts called for the Mississippi to crest at Clarksville and Winfield later this week -- 7 to 8 feet above flood stage.

MSA Release Report on 2001 Fatal Collision

The Maritime Safety Authority released a report on the fatal collision in November 2001 involving the yacht Toolka T and the tug Wainui, which was towing a barge. Toolka T crossed between the tug and the barge and became fouled in the submerged tow line. The yacht collided with the barge and sank as the barge ran over it. The skipper of the yacht was killed. "The MSA's accident investigation details poor watchkeeping practices on both the tug and the yacht and reveals an alarming lack of

SS&Y Pacific Capesize Index Rises 179 Points

Shipbrokers Simpson, Spence and Young's Pacific Capesize Index rose 179 points to 4,378 in the week ending Oct. 18. "After last week's record rise (912 points), the Pacific Capesize index has continued on a more moderate upward path this week," an SS&Y spokesperson said. "Current Pacific trade and activity looks steady with the volume of Japanese and Chinese cargoes remaining strong, but Atlantic direction cargoes are not holding as high a premium as trans-Pacific

Manitowoc Awarded Contract for Double-Hull Tug/Barge Unit

The Manitowoc Company, Inc. announced that Vane Line Bunkering, Inc. has awarded Manitowoc Marine Group (MMG) a contract for the construction of a 480-ft., 145,000-barrel, double-hulled hot oil tank barge and an accompanying 6,000-horsepower tug. The ocean-going articulated tug and barge (AT/B) unit is slated for delivery in fourth quarter of 2006. This contract also provides Vane Brothers with an option for an identical AT/B unit to be delivered in the third quarter of 2007

New York Security Zone Altered

The U.S. Coast Guard has amended, at least through January 8, 2006, its security zone around Designated Vessels within the Captain of the Port (COTP) New York Zone. The definition of Designated Vessel has been amended to include passenger vessels and ferries certificated to carry 150 or more passengers. Other vessels may not approach within 100 yards of a Designated Vessel without permission of the COTP. 70 Fed. Reg. 42493 (HK Law).

Horizon Line Vessel Rescues Sailboat Crew

Horizon Lines Vessel Stages Predawn Rescue of Sailboat Passengers Adrift in Pacific Storm.   Horizon Lines, Inc. the nation's leading domestic ocean shipping and integrated logistics company, today announced that one of its vessels enroute to Hawaii from the U.S. West Coast rescued three sailboat passengers, including a nine-year-old boy, adrift in stormy seas in the predawn hours of February 8, 2012.  

ACL Closes the Sale of its Venezuelan Operations

American Commercial Lines Inc. (ACL) announced that it has closed the previously announced sale of its interest in ACBL Venezuela, LTD and GMS Venezuela, C.A. . The sale results in the divestiture of the Company’s barge, towboat and related assets that were used to provide barging services on the Orinoco River in Venezuela. The sales proceeds are approximately thirty-two million United States dollars (US $32,000,000), subject to post-closing adjustments

ACL Secures $15m Tank BargeContract

American Commercial Lines Inc. has secured a more than $15m contract with Andrie Inc. to build an ABS classed 50,000 barrel, double-skinned tank barge. Construction will start in 2007 for scheduled delivery in 2009. The contract also includes an option for a comparable barge which can be exercised by March 1, 2009, with delivery to occur within 18 months.

CG Photo: Barge Grounding at Sandbridge

A Nov. 16 photo of the Crowley barge La Princesa grounded on the Sandbridge beach in Virginia Beach, Va. while responders work to get lines in place for towing efforts. The barge has now been refloated. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Mark Jones)

U.S. Barge Delivers for Harley Marine

U.S. Barge recently delivered another high capacity petroleum barge to Harley Marine Services. Barge Sixty-Five Roses is a unique design from Elliott Bay Design Group. With new efficiency and voluntary environmental features incorporated into the design, the barge continues Harley’s pattern of continuous improvement. Barge Sixty-Five Roses is a 422 x 76-ft. tank barge with capacity of 83,600 barrels. Outfitting requirements include two vertical turbine cargo pump systems