Water Transportation System News

The American Waterways Operators, the national trade association representing the U.S. tugboat, towboat and barge industry, praised yesterday’s bipartisan passage of H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform Development Act, as a clear commitment to improving the nation’s ports and waterways and recognition of the tremendous value of our water transportation network. “The overwhelming support from both sides of the aisle is an example of what our democracy was meant to do – set aside partisan politics to help secure the nation’s collective success,” stated Tom Allegretti, AWO’s President & CEO.

The Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) and The American Waterways Operators (AWO) expressed their support of the bipartisan process to move a long overdue Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). House efforts, led by House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA), along with Ranking Member Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV), as well as Water Resources and Environment Committee Chairman Bob Gibbs (R-OH) and Ranking Member Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY), culminated in this week’s introduction of H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform Development Act (WRRDA). WCI and AWO are urging the inclusion of provisions in H.R. 1149, the WAVE 4 Act…

At the recent National Governors Association meeting, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) spoke with the nation's governors about strengthening the country’s transportation infrastructure. Shuster highlighted his committee’s plan to consider a bill to reauthorize the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) next month. He describes the legislation as an unprecedented effort to reform water resources policy in a way that is designed to cut federal red tape and bureaucracy…

American Waterways Operators (AWO) representing the nation’s tugboat, towboat & barge industry calls on Congress, to urge greater attention to infrastructure needs. AWO will be calling on congress April 17, 2013, during their 'Barge-In', an annual event that will bring over 100 vessel owners and operators together to advocate for the industry’s legislative priorities. AWO members will be holding more than 130 meetings with their Senators and Representatives. Among the group’s top priorities is securing bipartisan support for needed improvements to the nation’s waterways infrastructure, chiefly passage in this Congress of a Water Resources Development Act with a strong waterways infrastructure component.

A decline in demand for freight transportation leads IBISWorld to update its market report on US Ocean & Coastal Transportation. The transportation sector provides deep-sea, coastal, Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway water transportation. The deep-sea shipping activity includes US flagged vessels and non-US flagged vessels. Marine transportation establishments using the facilities of the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority Commission are considered to use the Great Lakes water transportation system. This industry also includes deep-sea passenger transportation such as cruise ships. The updated report indicates that an overall decline in demand for freight transportation caused nearly all operators to struggle during the recession.

Across the globe, populated islands and the desire of their inhabitants to travel elsewhere has led to a need for reliable waterborne transportation. Nowhere is an organized water transportation system more highly utilized than in the shared waters of Washington State and British Columbia. The international border zigzags around the Gulf Islands of Canada and the San Juan Islands of the US. Ferry traffic from the US and Canada traveling to these islands cross each other’s watery borders daily.

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 Committee on “Water Resources Development Act: Growing the Economy and Protecting Public Safety.”   Mr. Calhoun addressed the need for a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which he called “a real opportunity…

Under new state legislation passed last year the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) was charged with consolidating City of Alameda and City of Vallejo ferry services and all planned public transportation ferries under WETA. WETA also has expanded responsibility for coordinating emergency response activities for public waterborne transit services. These responsibilities are to be carried out in accordance with a Transition Plan and an Emergency Water Transportation System Management Plan. WETA is required to create and adopt both plans by July 1, 2009 and to take public input prior to their adoption.

WETA has released a Draft Transition Plan and Draft Emergency Water Transportation System Management Plan. The draft documents are now available for download at www.watertransit.org. In addition to the public hearings, comments may be submitted in writing to WETA at Pier 9, Suite 111, The Embarcadero, SanFrancisco, CA 94111. Comments may also be submitted via the contact form on our website or send by fax to (415) 291-3388. The public comment period is open April 2 through May 18, 2009.

Derecktor Shipyards will construct another high-speed ferry for the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS). This ferry, to be named the M/V Chenga, is the second of a two-vessel contract worth a total of $67.98 Million. In February of 2002 Derecktor Shipyards was awarded the contract to design and build two high-speed passenger & automobile ferries as the first phase of Alaska’s plans to re-tool its regional water transportation system with fast, modern, efficient, environmentally-friendly vessels. The M/V Chenega will sail in the Prince William Sound area of south-central Alaska, connecting the ports of Cordova, Valdez, and Whittier. The first vessel, the M/V Fairweather, will connect the port of Sitka and Juneau in southeast Alaska.

Derecktor's investment in a new construction facility in Bridgeport, Conn., has paid off with a prestigious contract to build two new high-spec ferries for the Alaska Marine Highway System. Will the company soon be able to lure new defense construction business to the buildings? The State of Alaska gave notice to Derecktor Shipyards to proceed on construction of a second high-speed ferry for the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS). M/V Chenega is the second of a two-ferry $67.9 million contract. In February 2002 Derecktor Shipyards was awarded the contract to design and build two high-speed passenger & automobile ferries as the first phase of Alaska's plans to re-tool its regional water transportation system with fast, modern, efficient, environmentally-friendly vessels.

Derecktor Shipbuilding has quietly gone about the business of building great boats, generally eschewing bold press headlines along the way. This has started to change, perhaps not by design but default as the boat builder has dramatically extended its fast ferry building capability (as well as that of the entire East Coast) with the completion of its 45,000 sq. ft. main assembly building at its facility in Bridgeport, Conn., marking the completion of the second building on this 23-acre site, which is part of the development of the Bridgeport Regional Maritime Complex in Bridgeport Harbor. The new main assembly building consists of one 300 x 100 x 75 ft. (clear height) assembly bay and one 300 x 50 x 50 ft. (clear height) assembly bay.