Rock Island District News

Maintaining a nine-foot channel on the Mississippi River is part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rock Island District’s critical navigation mission, especially during low-water conditions. Although early spring snowmelt caused flooding throughout the upper Midwest this past year, water levels receded quickly, causing large amounts of material to settle in the channel.To aid in channel maintenance, geological surveyors regularly monitor water levels throughout the District.

I. MoneyNo one ever said it’s easy to understand federal budgets and spending plans. Nevertheless, a general sense of clarity and straightforwardness is critical for any review of public expenditures. This becomes more pressing when tracking revenue and expenditures linked to specific users’ fees, such as the $0.29/gallon fuel tax, paid by inland waterways operators. In 2021, the Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF) held $221.5 million, money earmarked to build, maintain and operate…

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Rock Island District held a christening ceremony in Quincy, Ill., on Friday for the latest towing vessel to joins its fleet.The vessel, which has been renamed Quincy, was built in 2008 by Texas shipyard Orange Shipbuilding for $5 million and is being relocated from the Corps' Louisville District.Originally named the Gordon M. Stevens, the vessel was designed and contracted by the USACE's Marine Design Center and served as part of the construction…

Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) is the national public policy organization that advocates for a modern, efficient inland waterways system. Abiding by our mission has meant success over our 17-year history. In 2020, WCI’s top priority is to conform the cost-share for Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF)-financed construction projects to require 25% of the project cost be derived from the IWTF and the remaining 75% from General Revenues. The policy vehicle for this adjustment is the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA)…

A set of complicated lock-and-dam projects on the Illinois Waterway, from Chicago to the Mississippi, has yellow lights flashing throughout the Midwest freight industry. In effect, the entire Waterway will be shut down next summer as the Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island Division, starts some hefty replacement and maintenance projects, from LaGrange to Brandon Road locks and dams.Officials advise maritime, freight and agricultural businesses to look ahead now, to prepare a logistics scenario that will be ready by July 1, 2020.

Lock Closures Starting on the Illinois Waterway This Summer May Result in  More Freight Flowing Through St. Louis Region.Businesses that move or handle commodities on the Illinois Waterway system are being encouraged to start making alternative plans due the scheduled closure of locks on that inland waterway system. With a two-week closure planned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers beginning as early as August 2019 and closures of 90 to 120 days expected in the summers of 2020 and 2023…

Conrad Shipyard won a contract to build a Crane Barge for the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The 300 x 68-ft welded steel barge is to be used in floating crane service by the Corps’ Rock Island District in support of its maintenance mission on the inland navigation system. The barge is designed with a deckhouse and crew support area, generator room, shop area, office and heads. Below deck will enclose machinery spaces, storage areas and tankage. The vessel will be classified by ABS as Maltese Cross A1…

The Great Lakes Towing Company, which operates the largest fleet of shipdocking tugboats on the U.S. Great Lakes-Saint Lawrence Seaway, has announced the addition of four more tugboats to its fleet. The four newly purchased tugs will be named after four of the Great Lakes; Tug Michigan, Tug Huron, Tug Ontario and Tug Erie. The company’s Tug Superior has been in service for years, operating in the Port of Detroit. “These four tugs will be immediately added to the fleet, and provide some new life and operational stability to our day-to-day business,” said Gregg Thauvette, Vice President – Operations, The Great Lakes Towing Company. “The equipment and machinery onboard…

Great Lakes Shipyard in Cleveland has been awarded a new construction contract by the United States Army Corps of Engineers for two 38-foot work barges, the company announced today. The two new steel work barges will be used by USACE Rock Island District as a working platform to perform maintenance and inspections of lock and dam 11 and  14 on the Upper Mississippi River. The barges will be 38-foot long by 14-foot wide and 3-foot deep. The stern of the vessel will include a transom for mounting an outboard motor to power the vessel.

With a record U.S. harvest just coming in, the river transportation system that is at the heart of the nation's farm economy is overstrained by rising demand for shipping capacity, a low barge inventory, and a dilapidated lock system. The pressure is building on an inland waterways network that is just one flood, drought or mechanical breakdown from calamity after decades of neglect, industry sources say. Looming bumper corn and soybean crops are bringing to light issues that have built for years and which have been exacerbated by new entrants to the marketplace for river logistics, such as producers of crude oil from the nation's shale boom. Rail congestion and truck shortages are shifting more cargo to the creaking infrastructure for floating heartland goods to market.

With a record U.S. harvest just coming in, the river transportation system that is at the heart of the nation's farm economy is overstrained by rising demand for shipping capacity, a low barge inventory, and a dilapidated lock system. The pressure is building on an inland waterways network that is just one flood, drought or mechanical breakdown from calamity after decades of neglect, industry sources say. Looming bumper corn and soybean crops are bringing to light issues that have built for years and which have been exacerbated by new entrants to the marketplace for river logistics, such as producers of crude oil from the nation's shale boom. Rail congestion and truck shortages are shifting more cargo to the creaking infrastructure for floating heartland goods to market.

Rising flood waters were expected to make 11 locks and dams impassable on the mid- and upper-Mississippi River and force the closure of the river later on Monday from Bellevue, Iowa, to Saverton, Missouri, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said. The closure would be the most extensive since 2008 on that stretch of the country's busiest waterway, said Ron Fournier, public affairs officer for the Army Corps' Rock Island district. At least 80 barge tows are expected to be affected by the closure. The Mississippi River is the main shipping route to the U.S. Gulf Coast, where about 60 percent of all U.S. corn, soybeans and wheat exports exit the country. Near-record rains caused extensive flooding last week in parts of Minnesota, Iowa and the Dakotas.

Transportation plays a crucial role in the soybean supply chain. With access to multiple transportation modes, Illinois soybean farmers enjoy significant advantages for reaching domestic and global markets. But aging transportation infrastructure can increase costs for Illinois farmers. Working with business, government and industry leaders, the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) is addressing current infrastructure challenges and finding solutions to ensure Illinois soybean farmers have access to the resources they need to get crops to market.

Specialty certifications programs are growing in most professions as the knowledge needed to practice continues to rapidly increase. Specialty certification supports the explosion of continuing professional development. The American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE) Academy of Coastal Ocean Port & Navigation Engineers (ACOPNE) held its 6th Diplomate Induction Ceremony to honor 21 of its members for their higher education achievement during its annual meeting Monday, August 22, 2011, in San Diego, Calif.

SeaArk Marine, Inc. recently delivered two 2610 survey boats to the Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District. The vessels are assigned to Pleasant Valley, Iowa and Lock and Dam 18 in Gladstone, Ill. The vessels are powered by twin Mercury Optimax, 225 hp outboard engines with side mounted dual controls and hydraulic trim tabs. These vessels can easily attain a top speed in excess of 34kts fully manned. All enclosed cabin spaces are fully insulated, air conditioned and heated.

the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Rock Island District. multi-channel survey system, designed for inland rivers and shallow water surveying. The "Mini-Sweep" is ideally suited for installation on small trailerable vessels. for Rock Island District included a custom designed 35 ft. Marine, Inc. of Monticello, Arkansas. Two 20-ft. booms mounted on either side of the vessel provide a 50-ft. overall sweep width. The booms are stored in recessed areas in the hull, leaving the deck clear at all times. are deployed by a hydraulic system using controls at the helm station. computer, and DGPS sub-meter system. used for data processing. The second boat, currently under construction at SeaArk Marine, is a 34-ft. which will be outfitted with 20 ft. for delivery this fall.

Traffic on the mid-Mississippi River was picking up this week from Davenport, Iowa, southward as ice melt improved navigation and locks were open to pass barges, river officials said Tuesday. “There are vessels in pool 14 near Le Claire, Iowa, through to St. Louis,” said Ron Fournier, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spokesman for the Rock Island District. About a half-dozen tows were traveling from Le Claire, Iowa, at lock and dam 14 just north of Davenport, to Muscatine, Iowa. But the the bulk of the traffic, about 70 tows, was moving from Muscatine (river mile marker 457) southward to St. Louis (river mile marker 180), Fournier said. Ice was still keeping barges from moving north of Le Claire, river officials said.

In mid-May Ross Laboratories, Inc., Seattle, Wash., delivered the first of two survey boats to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Rock Island District. The Ross "Mini-Sweep" is a small boat multi-channel survey system, designed for inland rivers and shallow water surveying. surveyor who worked for the RI District who recently passed away. The "Mini-Sweep" is ideally suited for installation on small trailerable vessels. The "turn-key" system for Rock Island District included a custom designed 35 ft. twin-hull workboat from SeaArk Marine, Inc. of Monticello, Ark. Two 20-ft. booms mounted on either side of the vessel provide a 50-ft. overall sweep width. The booms are stored in recessed areas in the hull, leaving the deck clear at all times.

Ross Laboratories, Inc. delivered the second “Ross Mini-Sweep System” to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District. The on-time delivery is the second sweep boat system to the Rock Island District in the past twelve months. The “Mini-Sweep” is ideally suited for installation on small trailerable vessels. The “turn-key” system for Rock Island District is installed on a custom designed 34-ft. cathedral hull work boat from SeaArk Marine, Inc. of Monticello, Arkansas. The “Mini-Sweep” system is specifically designed for inland and shallow water surveying. Two 20-ft. hydraulically operated booms mounted on either side of the vessel will provide a 50-ft. overall sweep width. The booms are stored in recessed areas in the hull, leaving the deck clear at all times.

Already low water on the Mississippi River around St. Louis was expected by this weekend to approach levels too shallow for barge transportation, and a damaged lock slowed river traffic near Davenport, Iowa, river officials said Thursday. The St. Louis gauge for the Mississippi was at 3.0 feet on Wednesday and was forecast to hit 0.0 feet by Saturday. River traffic can continue operation through St. Louis until the gauge hits -3.5 feet and the river channel is 9 feet deep, the shallowest depth at which barge traffic can pass. "Any time it gets below five feet on the St. Louis gauge, everybody starts to monitor that. And when it gets below zero the river industry will start forming a low action water group and you'll see restrictions on tows and other things…

Barge tows traveling on the upper Mississippi River faced lengthy delays on Wednesday near Hannibal, Mo., after traffic was stopped for two days to dredge several spots in the river, river officials said. The river was closed in several areas between Hannibal and Quincy, Ill., on Monday when several barges reported shallow water conditions. The Corps of Engineers used a mechanical crane to dredge the shallow areas and carve a new channel in the river to allow barges to safely travel. "There were about three locations down there that had run out of water, but things have gotten cleaned up since this morning. Traffic is moving again," said Bill Gretten of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island district.

Several locks and dams on the upper Mississippi River will be closed to all navigation from January to early March for maintenance and repairs, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) said. Maintenance is normally done in the winter when parts of the river are frozen and vessels are unable to navigate through the ice. The Corps has issued several notices of the impending shutdowns, allowing the barge industry to coordinate shipments ahead of the lock closures. The following locks are or will be closed. Upper Mississippi River, St. Lock and Dam 5A, Fountain City, Wis. Dec. Lock and Dam 21, Quincy, Ill., Jan. 1-Feb. Lock and Dam 22, Hannibal, Mo., Jan. 1-Feb. Upper Mississippi River, St. Louis District, three locks north of St. Louis. Locks 27, Granite City, Ill.

Several locks and dams on the upper Mississippi River will be closed to all navigation from January to early March for maintenance and repairs, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said. Bill Gretten, chief of the lock and dam section of the Corps' Mississippi River Project, said maintenance is normally done in the winter when parts of the river are frozen and vessels are unable to navigate through the ice. Although the weather has been moderate so far this year, water temperatures have been around 33 degrees Fahrenheit, one degree above freezing. "If we get a couple of nights of cold weather, the river will be covered with ice," Gretten said. The Corps has issued several notices of the impending shutdowns, allowing the barge industry to coordinate shipments ahead of the lock closures.