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Us Rivers News

18 Jul 2023

Birdon Announces Subcontracts for Waterways Commerce Cutter Builds

(Image: Birdon America, Inc.)

Birdon America, Inc. on Tuesday announced it has awarded the first wave of major subcontracts in support of its $1.187 billion contract to design and build 27 Waterways Commerce Cutters (WCC) for the U.S. Coast Guard. This announcement follows a successful initial Program Management Review (PMR), the first major milestone of the WCC program.The subcontracts range in value from $10 million to $50 million and are firm-fixed price (FFP), indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) for design, development, manufacturing and delivery.

10 Jan 2022

Fairbanks Morse to Supply Engine Parts for USCG Icebreaking Tugs

(Photo: Todd Manow / U.S. Coast Guard)

Fairbanks Morse Defense announced on Monday it has been awarded a five-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) requirements contract by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Surface Forces Logistic Center. The agreement, worth up to $13 million, makes FMD the required source of supply for all Opposed Piston (OP) Engine Parts listed in the contract’s schedule of supplies. These parts primarily support OP engines on nine 140-foot Bay Class Icebreaking Tugboats (WTGBs).Since 1977, WTGBs have been used as critical icebreakers on many Northeast and Midwestern U.S.

18 Nov 2021

Leading the Charge

Crowley’s new eWolf will be the first all-electric tugboat in the U.S. (Image: Crowley)

Alternatives to fossil fuels are emerging throughout the maritime universe, and vessels working in U.S. rivers, waterways and harbors are at the cusp on this trend. While the alternative fuels spectrum is wide, battery power and electrification—a technology that has seen a decade of shipboard applications already—is particularly suited for smaller vessels.Crowley Maritime Corp will be taking delivery of a completely electric tugboat, dubbed eWolf; the boat- which will include kit for advanced vessel control tied to an electric propulsion system from ABB…

07 May 2020

US Barging Industry Navigating Black Swan Events

(Photo: Campbell Transportation Company)

The combination of the coronavirus pandemic and oil price freefall have affected most maritime markets, including inland waterway shipping. Looking at U.S. river transport in particular, the impacts of these two black swan events vary greatly depending on the type of cargo being carried.David Grzebinski, CEO of the America’s largest tank barge operator, Kirby Corp., said in a March conference call that petrochemical customers have driven the market higher as plants and refineries look to shore up their supply chains amid current market upheavals…

11 Oct 2018

Major Hull Section for American Harmony Moved To Launchways

American Harmony (Photo: American Cruise Lines)

American Harmony’s lower bow section has moved from Fabrication Building #4 at Chesapeake Shipbuilding to the Assembly Launchways. The second new ship in American Cruise Lines five-ship, modern riverboat series is well on its way to completion.American Harmony, like American Song (which just made its inaugural sailing earlier this month), will be equipped with every technical advancement and offer the best in contemporary design including a magnificent five-story glass atrium.

20 Dec 2017

Marine News' Top 10 Stories of 2017

Plucked from the headlines, the top stories of 2017 were compelling, and each provided impact to the domestic waterfront and in particular – the workboat sector. Follow along as Marine News recaps the highlights, drama and significant events that shaped the past 12 months. When Elaine Chao was sworn in to be the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, the Washington veteran brought a welcome burst of competence to the position. Her wide-ranging experience across the maritime sector and prior service at the U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration, and the Federal Maritime Commission uniquely positions her to understand the critical role that the waterfront plays in the intermodal equation. Soon after taking her chair, she was joined by another familiar face at Marad. Rear Adm.

21 Aug 2015

MoU Ensures Dialog Between US Rivers Leaders

Photo: U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers

Leadership from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Coast Guard and the inland towing industry signed a memorandum of understanding today, designed to ensure consistent communications and support efficient and safe movement of commerce on the western rivers of the United States. The memorandum, signed by Jim Guidry (Kirby Inland Marine LP and RIETF co-chairman), Rear Admiral June E. Ryan (commander of the 9th Coast Guard District), Rear Admiral David R. Callahan (commander of the 8th Coast Guard District), Major General Michael C.

14 Sep 2014

Pesticides a Concern for Aquatic Life in U.S. Rivers & Streams

Levels of pesticides continue to be a concern for aquatic life in many of the Nation’s rivers and streams in agricultural and urban areas, according to a new USGS study spanning two decades (1992-2011). Pesticide levels seldom exceeded human health benchmarks. Over half a billion pounds of pesticides are used annually in the U.S. to increase crop production and reduce insect-borne disease, but some of these pesticides are occurring at concentrations that pose a concern for aquatic life. The proportion of streams with one or more pesticides that exceeded an aquatic-life benchmark was similar between the two decades for streams and rivers draining agricultural and mixed-land use areas, but much greater during the 2002-2011 for streams draining urban areas.

19 Mar 2014

Continental Refining Expands Diesel Offering

Photo: Continental Refining Company

Continental Refining Company Now Processing Low Sulfur Marine Diesel T90-700 and Completes Upgrades to Receive Transmix for Finished 500ppm LM Diesel Fuel Production; CRC Expands with Two New Niche Market Product Offerings that Serve Marine Users and Help to Prevent Bottlenecks in the U.S. Today Continental Refining Company, LLC announced a new product offering for the marine market with the production of low sulfur marine diesel, a special blend distillate fuel that has a T-90 greater than700° f…

16 Dec 2013

American Cruise Lines Orders Four New Ships

Four new ACL Vessels to Enter Service between 2015 & 2017 and to Operate on U.S. American Cruise Lines announced plans to build four new riverboats for American river cruising, and noted that construction has already begun on the first two ships, with the first to begin cruising in in the spring of 2015. The first two new riverboats are designed to carry between 150 and 200 guests and will cruise the Mississippi River system and the Columbia and Snake Rivers. The full suite of four new ships will enter service between 2015 and 2017.

26 Jun 2012

Industry Looks to RAMP Act to Meet Dredging Needs

hopper dredge McFarland dredging Southwest Pass in 2010.

Silt accumulation and dredging that's been postponed for years have prevented the full use of U.S. waterways and ports, maritime industry leaders said last month. Hundreds of U.S. ports and harbors are meant to be maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to foster navigation. But many of the country's channels are not kept at their authorized depths, and last year the backlog of needed dredging projects swelled. Meanwhile, just over half the fees charged to shippers through the federal Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund are spent on maintenance and operations…

01 Dec 2010

Wärtsilä Dual-Fuel Technology for River Towboats

The Mississippi River and other inland rivers of the United States are home to several thousand towboats. They are vital carriers of goods and materials, and an important element within the country's overall transportation system. Current and future environmental restrictions on emissions are creating the need for a new “greener” design for these vessels. Wärtsilä and Ship Architects, Inc., USA, are cooperating to develop a new environmentally sound towboat concept. Ship Architects, Inc. is a company that specializes in providing shipyards and owners with technical solutions in conceptual and detailed vessel design, project management, and other associated services.