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Waterways Work News

25 May 2022

US Inland Waterways: Big Money, New Projects, Help Wanted

(Photo: North Mississippi Industrial Development Association)

New federal money promises dramatic impacts throughout the United States’ inland waterways system in 2022 and beyond. This report focuses on America’s central rivers; the Western rivers will be covered in a future report. These central rivers reach 11,000 miles, from Pennsylvania to Florida and from Texas to South Dakota.Consider the money within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers “Civil Works Program Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), 2022 Construction Spend Plan.”In Arkansas…

28 Oct 2021

Stephaich, Pyne Honored by National Rivers Hall of Fame

Peter Stephaich (left) and Joseph H. Pyne.

National Rivers Hall of Fame will honor marine towing industry veterans Peter Stephaich and Joseph H. Pyne during the Annual Waterways Symposium hosted by Waterways Council, Inc. in St. Louis, Mo., in November.Stephaich, the current Chairman and CEO of Blue Danube Incorporated and Campbell Transportation Company, Inc., and Pyne, Kirby Corporation’s former CEO, will receive the Hall's Achievement Award, given to individuals making significant contributions to America’s waterways and barge industry.Having served the river industry for over 30 years…

21 Apr 2020

Calhoun Steps In as WCI's Interim President/CEO

Deb Calhoun (Photo: WCI)

Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) Senior Vice President Deb Calhoun has taken over as Interim President/CEO, effective February 18, 2020, following the retirement of President/CEO Michael J. Toohey.To begin the process to select a permanent President/CEO, an executive search firm will be retained and later announced, WCI said.Calhoun has been with WCI since its founding in 2003, and with its predecessor organization Waterways Work!, and has been instrumental in managing WCI’s overall portfolio and communicating its successes and priorities.

31 May 2012

WCI Names Colbert SVP

Debra A. Colbert, WCI Senior Vice President.

The Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) Board of Directors has named Debra A. Colbert as Senior Vice President, effective June 1, 2012. Colbert currently serves as Director of Communications and Media Relations for the organization and has served with WCI since its inception in 2004, developing the communications program of its predecessor organization, Waterways Work! Prior to her work with WCI, Colbert served as President of Colbert Communications, a communications consultancy practice that offered media relations…

15 Apr 2008

Palmer to Retire from WCI

Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) Chairman Dan Mecklenborg announced that an executive search has begun to identify a successor for R. Barry Palmer, WCI President/CEO, who has announced his intention to retire at the end of this year. WCI’s Executive Committee has retained JDG Associates, Ltd., , to conduct the national search for a successor for Mr. Palmer. A search committee to evaluate both internal and external candidates, led by Chairman Mecklenborg, has been organized and is composed of WCI Executive Committee members Rick Calhoun…

25 Aug 2003

River Transportation Vital to Economy

of the mid-west region and the nation. commerce in America's agricultural and industrial heartland. Navigation System. said Barry Palmer, President & CEO of Waterways Work! river. world markets. residents and industrial facilities throughout the basin. St. Louis is the second largest inland port in the United States. cars each year. and efficient for our nation's economy to flourish," continued Palmer.

12 Nov 2003

History: Amerian Origins: Lewis & Clark's Expedition and its Effects on Modern Navigation

By Debra Colbert, Waterways Work! In our fast-paced, contemporary world, it is sometimes hard to recall the historical origins of modern-day advances we take for granted. A good example is this country's inland waterways navigation system which allows for the transport of key commodities such as coal, grain, chemicals, and petroleum. And while our national waterways system today is a critical, integral component of the manufacturing, distribution and industrial economy of the United States and its ability to compete in world markets, its origin stems from a small river expedition of two young explorers, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.

19 Nov 2003

Waterways Work! Lauds Congress for FY '04 Energy & Water Development Appropriations

Waterways Work! hailed the House's overwhelming passage of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill conference report by a vote of 387 to 36 yesterday afternoon. The FY '04 conference report project funding total for projects funded from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund is approximately $271 million for lock and dam improvement projects. This amount represents the highest level of funding since 1993. While still short of Waterways Work!'s recommended allocation of $300 million per year for a period of 10 years from the Trust Fund to complete authorized projects in a timely and efficient manner, it is viewed as a significant step in the right direction for modernization of the inland waterways system.

09 Jul 2004

Waterways Council Debuts New Website

Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) has created a unique web site –www.waterwayscouncil.org – to educate the general public about the value of a modern and well-maintained national system of ports and inland waterways. The site includes general information about WCI; a discussion of the waterways from their earliest beginning during the Lewis and Clark era to the present; a look at how “Waterways Work for America” in different industries; a U.S. map which highlights inland waterways’ priority projects and offers in-depth profiles on these projects; profiles and analysis for states with major waterways systems; information on “Restoring Trust to the Trust Fund” and “Our Lock and Dams: Aging Ungracefully”…

20 Apr 2005

Knoy to Head Waterways Council

Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) named Mark Knoy, President of AEP Memco LLC as its next Chairman of the Board. Knoy succeeds Berdon Lawrence, Chairman of Kirby Corporation, as WCI’s Chairman. Mr. Lawrence served Waterways Council, Inc. since its inception in 2003, and before that, as Chairman of Waterways Work! “I look forward to working with WCI as we continue to educate those on Capitol Hill, in the news media, and the general public about the critical need to maintain and modernize our Nation’s ports and inland waterways infrastructure. WCI will continue to be the leading, unifying voice for this message,” said Knoy. “The inland waterways industry, and WCI, expresses its tremendous thanks to Berdon Lawrence, who has given so much of himself to improving the condition of the industry.

06 Aug 2003

Lewis and Clark Commemoration will Honor America's Waterways

In 1803 Lewis and Clark received approval from Congress to search for navigable waterways routes to the Pacific Ocean for the purpose of expanding commerce for the young America. Now, nearly 200 years later, that historically significant event will be reenacted and commemorated along the inland waterways beginning on August 31 in Pittsburgh, Pa., and concluding in November in Cairo, Ill. There will be special events throughout this period, including U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-developed exhibits, school curriculum projects, and wooden replica vessels. Events will highlight the value of our modern commercial waterways and how they have changed since Lewis and Clark's early explorations.

02 Jul 2003

MARAD Creates Inland Waterways Research Website

The United States Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD) has announced the creation of the Inland Waterways Research Project Website, a comprehensive source of the most current inland waterway information available online today. This repository contains published studies, reports, and ongoing research results by leading experts. It also provides links to inland corporations, inland news source links, and other research links. The website address is www.marad.dot.gov/iwrp. "This website, the only of its kind, is an excellent resource for the inland waterways industry's most relevant information. Now, with great ease…

07 Jul 2003

News: Opposition Mounts to Inland Waterway Tax

In a June 3 letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Mitch Daniels, 23 members of the United States Senate, two of which chair key Senate committees, have expressed their strong opposition to the proposal in the FY 2004 budget to assess between 25 and 50 percent of the Inland Waterways Trust Fund to cover not only the currently mandated costs of new capital improvements and major rehabilitation on the inland system, but also the costs of operating and maintaining the nation's inland waterways. The senators - John Breaux (D-LA); Arlen Specter (R-PA); Mary Landrieu (D-LA); John Warner (R-VA, Chairman, Senate Armed Services Committee)…

07 Jul 2003

Feature: CEO Roundtable: Industry Leaders Speak to Strengths, Weaknesses and Challenges

MarineNews presents an old-fashioned roundtable discussion — collected via high-tech means — presenting the thoughts and concerns on the minds of six top executives from leading marine companies. MarineNews thanks Tom Allegretti, President and CEO, American Waterways Operators; Merritt Lane, President & CEO, Canal Barge Co.; Craig Philip, President & CEO, Ingram Marine Group; Joe Pyne, President & CEO, Kirby Corporation; Mark Knoy, President, Memco Barge Line; and Barry Palmer, President & CEO, Waterways Work! for sharing their views and expertise with our readers. MN: What is the most pressing challenge you feel is facing the barge/towing industry today?

21 Feb 2003

News: 2004 Budget Proposal Raises Inland Ire

The record $2.2 trillion U.S. budget proposal is out, and, predictably, the political posturing and positioning for additional dollars has begun in earnest. This year's budget from the President, with its heavy emphasis on defense and homeland security, has outraged a broad spectrum of the inland waterways industry, based on comments delivered by influential organizations in the immediate aftermath of its release. The $2.2 trillion budget includes $380 billion for the nation's military, a $15 billion (4.2%) increase. The new budget provides $41 billion for total homeland security spending. Excluding Department of Defense spending, the budget includes $35 billion for homeland security, a $2.5 billion or 7.6% increase that more than doubles funding over the past two years.

12 Jun 2003

Members of Senate Oppose FY 2004 Proposal

of operating and maintaining the nation's inland waterways. bi-partisan coalition of key legislators from a cross section of the country. the Inland Waterways Trust Fund through a fuel tax of 20 cents-per-gallon. locks and dams on the inland waterway system and major rehabilitation. and dams continue to erode. nation. waterways," the letter states. security. commodities which are generally described as the 'building blocks' of the U.S. the letter continued. infrastructure. which is deposited into general revenues. well as for operations and maintenance of the nation's coastal ports. the rapid mobilization of U.S. forces. transportation to congested highways and rail lines. negatively impact U.S. competitiveness," the letter said.

29 May 2003

Jones Walker Expands Government Relations & Transportation Practice

Jones Walker today announced the expansion of its government relations practice with the addition of John S. Doyle, Jr., Vice President of Government Relations for Waterways Work!, as special counsel in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. In making the announcement, R. Christian Johnsen, head of Jones Walker’s Washington office, said, “Mr. In 1999, Jones Walker formed a strategic alliance with The Livingston Group, headed by Bob Livingston, former Louisiana congressman and chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. The Livingston Group-Jones Walker strategic alliance represents interests from Louisiana as well as national and multinational companies, many with U.S. and global shipping and transportation interests.