Inland Waterway Network News

Norway's Kongsberg Maritime said Friday it had successfully demonstrated a range of remote and autonomous technologies on a cargo vessel operating off the coast of Norway.The test cruise has been named one of the most complex autonomous journeys at sea so far, Kongsberg Maritime said.The Eidsvaag Pioner is one of the two vessels that are equipped for remote-operated and autonomous transport demonstrations for the AUTOSHIP project, which is part of Horizon 2020, an EU research program.Owned by the Eidsvaag shipping company…

Climate change, rising sea levels, land reclamation and offshore energy are all factors underpinning business models at Europe’s dredge and marine engineering majors. They are adopting strong sustainability credentials as their operations come under closer environmental, social, governance (ESG) scrutiny and new opportunities open up in the US offshore wind sectorThe relatively small number of global marine engineering and dredge firms face more observation of their business models than ever before.

Long a staple for offshore service providers, a more compact and carefully designed version of the diesel electric option is now available for inland pushboats. For budget conscious operators (and who isn’t, in this environment?), the stars may finally be aligned.For many years, electric propulsion has proven to be a viable propulsion solution for many different types of vessels. Most familiar to workboat stakeholders would be the advent of the ‘diesel electric’ offshore serve providers (OSV) that became commonplace during the offshore boom era. Those vessels operated in a different regulatory environment, with the emphasis more leaning towards operational efficiencies and fuel economy.

The 5th annual inland IMX show coincides with the first ever FreightWeek STL. For transport professionals, supply chain stakeholders and inland operators alike, there was something for everyone. St. Louis, MO: This week’s IMX inland marine industry tradeshow may have been the primary focus for inland stakeholders, but there were many more reasons to be here in St. Louis. Parallel with and coordinating with the 5th annual event was the weeklong FreightWeek STL event intended to spotlight freight and transportation industries, opportunities and to underscore the St. Louis region as a global freight hub. Importantly, the collaboration also highlighted the need for intermodal solutions and not necessarily modal competition.

When a new or expanded port is planned on an inland waterway, how do you assure the civil marine engineers and ship operators of feasibility and operability while at the same time allaying the fears of local residents that their quality of life and local environment will not be significantly spoiled? “Simple,” says Paul Morter, Business Manager for BMT ARGOSS’s brown water version of their tried and tested ship simulator REMBRANDT. “You take the ships and the port to them. This is exactly what we did towards the end of 2014. It was BMT ARGOSS inland waterways specialist Johannes ‘Hans’ Veldman who identified a potential market for brown water simulation through his work experience with the Dutch inland waterway networks.

The Commission is issuing new guidelines on inland navigation and nature protection to assist this important sector in applying EU environmental legislation. The guidelines – "Inland waterway transport and Natura 2000 – sustainable inland waterway development and management in the context of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives" – explain how best to ensure that activities related to inland navigation are compatible with EU environmental policy in general and nature legislation in particular.

The European Commission announced today the projects selected to receive over €160 million in EU co-financing from the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) program to continue improving transport infrastructure across the EU. The 26 selected projects will use the EU’s financial support to speed up the implementation of important priorities of the TEN-T Programme in order to contribute to delivering a safe, competitive and efficient transport infrastructure network. The 2011 Multi-Annual Program Call granted €161.3 million in total funding and aimed to finance the highest priorities of the TEN-T network, focusing on three fields: Motorways of the Sea (MoS - TEN-T Priority Project 21)…

Yesterday, the European Commission launched three Calls for Proposals under the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) multi-annual program, making €180 million (nearly $258 million) available to finance European transport infrastructure projects in the fields of European Rail Traffic Management Systems (ERTMS), Motorways of the Sea (MoS) and River Information Services (RIS). This will help to make travel and transport by rail and water more safe and secure as well as more attractive compared to other transport modes. Commission Vice President Siim Kallas, responsible for transport, said:  "The Commission is happy to play its part in making our transport system more competitive and sustainable. The TEN-T multi-annual program aims to finance the highest priorities of the TEN-T network.

Now at 12.2 million tons, the volume of goods carried between the Port of Hamburg and the hinterland by inland waterway vessel in 2008 exceeded all previous levels. This marked a 1.5 percent increase on the operating results of the previous year. In Germany as a whole, the shipment of goods by inland waterway vessel in 2008 dropped by 1.6 percent. The most important goods categories were mineral oil products, gases, coal and agricultural and forestry products. The latter chalked up the highest rate of growth last year, followed by chemical products, fertilizers and finished and semi-finished goods, which are generally carried by container. Container transport is of special importance for the Port of Hamburg.

As a bastion of ship production in the under 10,000-dwt-vessel range, the industry in the northern Netherlands continues to demonstrate true global competitiveness in its chosen fields of endeavor. While much of European shipbuilding bewails the intensified onslaught from the Orient, impinging on an ever-greater range of ship types and ever-widening circle of European shipowning communities, the yards and allied firms in the northernmost Dutch provinces are putting down building blocks in new market areas. Key points of the investment-underwritten drive to increase market reach and develop business volume are a push towards larger vessels, up to 20,000-dwt in some cases, and the forging of new relationships with builders in Eastern Europe.

Marquette Transportation Company, headquartered in Paducah, Kentucky, has selected Jeppesen Workboat Navigator for its fleet of over 80 inland towboats. As one of the nation’s larger inland river transporters, Marquette transports agricultural products, aggregates, liquids and construction products to points along America’s inland waterway network. Jeppesen Workboat Navigator is an information service that provides mariners with a combination of detailed vector-based digital marine charts, location-based data, such as Notices to Mariners, and input from onboard sensors, such as GPS, radar, AIS, heading sensors, and onboard cameras. Jeppesen…

Kirby Corp, the largest U.S. tank barge operator, has agreed to buy Hollywood Marine Inc., an inland tank barge company based in Houston, for approximately $325 million. Kirby, also based in Houston, said the purchase price consists of $90 million in stock, $135 million in cash and the assumption or refinancing of about $100 million of Hollywood debt. "Hollywood's operations are complementary to our core inland tank barge operation and are an excellent fit within Kirby's strategy of growing our core businesses through synergistic acquisitions," Kirby CEO and President J.H. Pyne said. As part of the deal, Kirby said it would name C. Berdon Lawrence…

Despite a downgrading in rating from various credit agencies, Kirby Corporation's recent acquisition of Hollywood Marine is designed to reduce costs, as the inland tank barge operations of both companies are highly complementary. Kirby Corp, the largest U.S. tank barge operator, has agreed to buy Hollywood Marine Inc., an inland tank barge company based in Houston, for approximately $325 million. Kirby, also based in Houston, said the purchase price consists of $90 million in stock, $135 million in cash and the assumption or refinancing of about $100 million of Hollywood debt. "Hollywood's operations are complementary to our core inland tank barge operation and are an excellent fit within Kirby's strategy of growing our core businesses through synergistic acquisitions…

Following on the success of its 90 x 35-ft. series of towboats, Kirby Marine has taken delivery of the first in a new series of 76 x 35-ft. boats. Building at the Raymond and Associates LLC shipyard in Bayou LaBatr, Ala., the Capt. Bill English, is the first of four currently under construction with the possibility of eight more to follow. Although shorter than the earlier series, these boats retain the robust beam of their cousins. Mark Davis, Kirby’s representative at the shipyard explained that it is important to the firm to retain crews. “The extra beam lets us make the boats a little nicer and then we add internet access and flat screen TV with surround sound for the crew,” he said. In the engine room the new towboats continue the use of Cummins engines.