AWO Announces Safety Program Compliance

The American Waterways Association (AWO), the national association for the tugboat, towboat and barge industry, announced the achievement of 100 percent compliance by its eligible members in the Responsible Carrier Program (RCP). AWO also reported it terminated 11 members for non-compliance with the program. The safety program is a requirement for membership in AWO, and a January 1, 2000 deadline had been set for members companies to achieve an AWO-certified, third-party audit or forfeit membership. The terminations result in a loss of more than $30,000 in revenue to AWO. The RCP is an award-winning, USCG-recognized safety and environmental protection program developed by AWO for barge and towing companies. The RCP is a safety code of practice that involved every aspect of fleet operations, including management, equipment and human factors. The program is designed to complement and build upon existing government regulations, requiring company safety standards that often exceed those required by federal law.