Smartway Transport Partnership News

Exhaustive studies by The National Waterways Foundation (NWF), a center for research and learning where industry leaders address public policy issues related to America’s inland waterways system, conclude that inland waterways transport generates fewer emissions of particulate matter, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide than rail or truck on a per ton mile moved basis. But, it’s one thing to claim that metric, and another altogether to prove it to shippers and other freight stakeholders. The time to do that, says the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is now. Since 2011, the EPA has fostered an initiative to protect…

The American Waterways Operators, a 350-member trade association representing the U.S. tugboat, towboat and barge industry, announced today that it joined the SmartWay Transport Partnership, an innovative collaboration between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and stakeholders in the transportation industry that provides a framework to assess and improve environmental and energy efficiency of goods movement within supply chains. Since 2004, nearly 3,000 partnering organizations have slashed their collective fuel costs by $16.8 billion…

Ingram Barge Company announced its participation in the new Barge Freight component of the SmartWay Transport Partnership, a public-private partnership between the U.S. Government’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the country’s leading private industry freight carriers and freight users aimed at reducing carbon, oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter emissions. Ingram has been involved with the EPA in helping to develop, test and pilot the tool since 2010 and Ingram hopes that others will follow its lead in committing to improve efficiency and reduce pollution. SmartWay, currently composed of more than 3,000 truck and rail carriers and the shippers that hire them, is adding a new Barge Freight component this year.

U.S. Coast Guard has awarded the Foss Maritime Company its most prestigious environmental honor: the 2008 William M. Benkert ‘gold’ award for marine environmental protection. It is Foss’ second major ‘green’ award in less than a month. In early June, Foss won the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Air Excellence Award for development of its low emission ‘Green Dolphin’ hybrid tug, the first time a maritime operating company has ever received the EPA’s honor. Foss also received a Commendation – Environmental Award from BP Shipping, and honorable mention for the ’s 2008 Marine Environmental Business of the Year award. Foss Maritime President Gary Faber and other top company officials were in , CA., to receive the Benkert award from Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen.

Horizon Lines, has joined the SmartWay Transport Partnership and earned the highest fuel efficiency and environmental performance rating from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). emissions and air pollution. The SmartWay Transport Partnership aims to achieve fuel savings of up to 150 million barrels of fuel per year. The Partnership brings major freight shippers, trucking companies, railroads, logistics companies and trade/professional associations together to pursue mutually beneficial efficiencies that result in emissions reductions and other environmental improvements, as well as cost savings to the companies. The Partnership currently has over 450 Partners.

At an event in Eugene recently, Michael O. Leavitt, Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency helped kick-off the Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority’s announcement of $1.475 million in diesel emission reductions investments for Oregon. The EPA is contributing $600,000 to these efforts. The projects will fund efforts to reduce emissions from idling trucks up and down Oregon’s I-5 corridor, retrofit school buses throughout the state, and improve accessibility and affordability of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. truck-idling reduction to school bus retrofits infrastructure to purchase, install and maintain small auxiliary engines that use up to 90 percent less diesel and emit 75 percent less air pollution than idling trucks.

In an age of increased environmental awareness, new commitments to reducing emissions and pollution in the air, Crowley has invested in engine modifications on its 10 tugboats dedicated to the Puerto Rico/Caribbean liner service and on its four tugs chartered to Trailer Bridge for their Puerto Rico barge service. Crowley makes four to five trips per week between the United States and Puerto Rico, which provide ample opportunity to test and perfect engine modifications, which have led to lower exhaust emissions and increased performance. Exhaust emissions take on a number of forms including visible smoke, particulate matter and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Crowley is working to reducing all three while achieving heightened performance with decreased fuel consumption.

Foss announced that it joined the SmartWay Transport Partnership, a voluntary collaboration between U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the freight industry designed to increase energy efficiency while significantly reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution. Foss is the first carrier accepted into the program for its marine transportation services. Foss has pledged to contribute to the partnership’s goal to reduce 33 to 66 million metric tons of carbon dioxide and up to 200,000 tons of nitrogen oxide per year by 2012 by improving the environmental performance of its marine operations. Carbon dioxide is the most common greenhouse gas, and nitrogen oxide is an air pollutant that contributes to smog.