OHIO RIVER
USCG Closes Ohio River Again
According to reports, shortly after reopening, the Ohio River was again closed because of falling water levels from the worst Midwest drought in 17 years, U.S. Coast Guard officials said. A vessel towing 13 barges ran aground near Cairo, Illinois. The Coast Guard freed the barges but declared a safety zone and closed the river at 11:30 a.m. A test tow launched by the Coast Guard drafting 9 feet, 6 inches ran aground, reducing the possibility that vessels could go through the area on a case-by-case basis. About 20 vessels towing barges were waiting to pass through a seven-mile stretch of the Ohio River, near where it meets the Mississippi River. Mile markers 969 to 976 have become a choke point and caused barge freight rates to rise. Beginning Sunday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will spend two weeks dredging four areas between Mound City and Cairo, Illinois, Army Corps officials said.
Leaking Barge Shuts Ohio River Traffic
Commercial traffic was halted along a five mile stretch of the Ohio River near Louisville, Kentucky, following a barge accident, www.planetark.com reported. A barge carrying 20,000 barrels of liquid asphalt and 14,000 gallons of diesel fuel broke away from its tow the afternoon of January 26 as it was approaching the McAlpine Locks. The barge went over the spillway and was pinned against the K&I Railroad Bridge. The Coast Guard was evaluating when it could reopen the stretch from mile marker
Port of Pittsburgh Applies for ARRA Grant
The commonwealth has applied for a $1.5 million Clean Diesel Emerging Technology grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to upgrade two marine diesel engines in the Pittsburgh area, Governor Edward G. Rendell announced. "Diesel engines play important roles in our everyday lives, but old, inefficient engines are major sources of air pollution that make it difficult for many people to breathe," Governor Rendell said
ACL Adding 100 Hourly Positions
American Commercial Lines Inc. announced the addition of 100 hourly positions to work at its shipyard division, Jeffboat LLC, located along the Ohio River in Jeffersonville, In. Jeffboat is the second largest manufacturer of barges in the United States and is in the process of increasing its production volumes. Commenting on this development, Mr. Jerry Linzey, Senior Vice President Manufacturing, stated “We are beginning to see the early stages of a very significant barge replacement
Response Marine Delivers Fire/Rescue Boat
The latest Response FR-175 fire/rescue boat was delivered to Benwood, West Virginia Fire Department for use on the Ohio River. The FR-175 was developed over the last few years to provide maximum fire/rescue capabilities in a small, easily managed boat. Firefighting capabilities are based around the Hale 550 gpm pump, with independent 2.5-in. handline and monitor discharges. Dive rescue capabilities include a 36-in. side dive door, full length rescue rails
Indiana Port Tonnage at Five Year High
The Ports of Indiana handled 8.1 million tons of cargo in 2011, the largest annual tonnage since 2006. New ethanol and dried distillers grains (DDGs) shipments combined with gains in limestone, salt and steel cargoes fueled a 5 percent increase in total shipments moving through Indiana's three ports. "Despite continued economic uncertainties, this was the fourth consecutive year our ports experienced growth," said Ports of Indiana CEO Rich Cooper
WWII Landing Ship Restored as Floating Museum/Memorial
The LST-325 (Landing Ship, Tank), a World War II amphibious vessel designed to land battle-ready tanks, troops and supplies directly onto enemy shores, will once again be plying the waters, but this time, being towed as a floating memorial making a maiden educational voyage on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers this summer. The LST-325 is one of only two World War II LSTs to be preserved in the United States and is crewed solely by veterans
Twelve Good Boats, Kirby Marine
Already the operator of the largest fleet of inland tank barges on U.S. inland waters, Kirby Marine Transportation, has recently added twelve more push boats to its fleet. The twelfth in a series of sister vessels was delivered from Raymond and Associates of Bayou LaBatre, Ala. in late July 2010. All twelve of the 1700 hp boats are 76 by 35-ft in length. Each boat is powered by a pair of Tier 2 compliant Cummins K38-M diesels rated for 850 hp each at 1800 rpm
Delta Queen Celebrates Return of American Queen
The Delta Queen Steamboat Company (a Delaware North Company) will celebrate the return of the American Queen in 2007 with several advance purchase offers. All three boats will steam from their home port in New Orleans, beginning their season in the Spring of 2007. Following her charters to energy companies in support of disaster relief efforts in the Gulf Coast area and an extended lay-up, the grand American Queen, will join the National Historic Landmark Delta Queen, and
Cat 3516Bs Chosen for Inland Waterways Push Boat
The first U.S. inland waterways tow vessel powered by electronically controlled Caterpillar 3500 Series B marine propulsion engines is currently under construction at Quality Shipyard, Houma, La. The new boat will enter service on the Ohio River system in November, 1999 for Mulzer Crushed Stone, Tell City, Ind. Corning Townsend of CT Marine designed the boat's structure to be similar to an existing Mulzer vessel, but increased the hull length and designed the underwater shape
New Ohio River Fireboat: Huntington Seeks Federal Grant
Council has approved a resolution that may lead to the Huntington Fire Department obtaining a marine firefighting & hazardous material vessel through a Port Security grant. Huntington has the nation’s largest inland port. Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks
New Leadership Takes Helm at Port of Indiana
The Ports of Indiana named Rick Heimann Port Director for the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor effective January 16. Heimann recently served as Sourcing Manager, specializing in rail and water transportation, for ArcelorMittal USA in East Chicago.
Poor Conditions, Better Communications
Industry and the federal government continue to work together to improve less than optimal conditions on the U.S. inland waterways. Measurable, although slow progress is being achieved. The summer of 2012 brought drought and poor navigating conditions to the inland waterways
ACL Purchases Historic Steam Calliope
Original calliope from 1880-built paddlewheel steamboat to be placed aboard Queen of the Mississippi. American Cruise Lines, operator of the newest riverboats and small cruise ships in the United States, is pleased to announce it has just acquired a 132-year-old Nichol steam calliope to
WCI Endorses American Waterworks Act
New Waterways/Ports funding proposal will create jobs, relieve traffic congestion, increase exports. At its Board of Directors meeting held yesterday in Houston, Waterways Council, Inc.’s Board of Directors unanimously endorsed the American Waterworks Act
WCI Presses for WRDA Passage
WCI Immediate Past President Rick Calhoun Testifies on need for WRDA Bill. Rick Calhoun, President of Cargo Carriers, a business of Cargill, Inc., and Immediate Past Chairman of Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI), testified today before the Senate Environment & Public Works
American Waterways Operators Concerned at Low Water Levels
Low-water levels resulting from severe drought conditions in the US Midwest have potential for significant national economic consequences. The low-water levels resulting from severe drought conditions in the Midwest are a stark contrast to the historic flooding of 2011 but share the same
'Queen of Mississippi' Heads for New Orleans
Repositioning cruise follows early completion of American Cruise Lines’ 'Queen of the Mississippi' authentic riverboat construction Newly built and completed, American Cruise Lines' Queen of the Mississippi docked at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, MD
American Cruise Lines’ Paddlewheeler Completes Sea Trial
American Cruise Lines announced that, on March 18, the Queen of the Mississippi left the pier at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland, for its first sea trial. The vessel performed perfectly, as the huge paddlewheel churned the water and onlookers lined the riverbanks to watch.
Jobs Available Here!
The tragic near-sinking of the Costa Concordia in Italy has the world’s attention riveted on the safety of cruising, the condition of cruise ships, and the training and experience of cruise captains. That’s just the way things work: tragedy focuses attention and perhaps reform.
WCI Laments $800M Cost Overrun at Olmsted Lock & Dam
Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) President/CEO Michael J. Toohey issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ revelation in the President’s FY ’13 budget of the cost over-run amount at the Olmsted Lock and Dam project on the Ohio River:
Indiana Sees First January Vessel in Five Years
Cargill exporting local grain to Canadian ethanol plant via the 'James Kuber.' The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor has welcomed a rare January lake vessel to its docks. The "James Kuber" will export approximately 16,000 tons of local corn from port company Cargill to an
Boston Whaler Fights Ohio River Crime
Residents and businesses along the Ohio River in Beaver County, Penn., will soon see a new Boston Whaler 25-foot Guardian on patrol. More than $3.4 billion worth of goods is transported through the county annually via the river. A recent risk assessment exercise revealed that law
WCI: Abandon Obama's User Fee Proposal
Capital Development Plan Most Comprehensive Solution for Addressing Waterways’ Infrastructure Funding, Construction Reform Needs. In a letter sent yesterday to Representative Jeb Hensarling and Senator Patty Murray, Co-Chairs of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction
NWF Study: Many Beneficiaries of Waterway System
Barge Transport Claims Only a Portion of the Benefits Our Navigable Waterways Make Available to the Nation. The National Waterways Foundation (NWF) has produced a new brochure – “Waterways: Vital to the Nation” – capturing the key findings of the January 2011 study