U.S.-flagged cruise ship aground in Lake Barkley Salvage efforts are ongoing to free a cruise ship that ran aground in Lake Barkley, within the Cumberland River, near the Kentucky town of Cadiz. Donjon-SMIT is leading the effort to refloat American Jazz, which became…
(HOUSTON) — Damen Shipyards Group has concluded a license agreement with Conrad Industries, allowing the construction of two Damen Multi Cats 3013 for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp. The two vessels covered by this agreement will be the first…
(ARLINGTON, Va.) — The American Waterways Operators (AWO) has produced a video highlighting the tugboat, towboat and barge industry's commitment to, and progress toward, environmental sustainability. The video notes that marine transportation is already the most environmentally friendly method of…
(WASHINGTON) — Severe rainfall and flooding from Tropical Storm Imelda led to barges breaking away from their moorings and striking the Interstate 10 bridge in Channelview, Texas, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said in Marine Accident Brief 21/14 released…
AWO elects Illinois Marine Towing’s Del Wilkins as chairman Membership of the American Waterways Operators (AWO) has selected Del Wilkins as its new chairman. Wilkins, the president of Illinois Marine Towing, was among a slate of new leaders elected to lead the national…
(COLUMBUS, Miss.) — A barge accident early Thursday morning closed the John C. Stennis Lock and Dam in Columbus, increasing the potential of flooding between the lock and Aberdeen Lock on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway (Tenn-Tom), the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal…
(ARLINGTON, Va.) — The members of the American Waterways Operators (AWO), the national tugboat, towboat and barge industry association, elected a new slate of leaders last week during the association's Spring Board of Directors/Annual Membership Meeting. Del Wilkins, president of…
(NEW ORLEANS) — The U.S. Coast Guard lifted the waterway restriction from mile marker 736 to mile marker 737 on the Mississippi River on Friday in the vicinity of the I-40 bridge in Memphis, Tenn. The waterway is now open…
Engineers give inland waterways infrastructure grade of D+ Shipping delays caused by deteriorating infrastructure on the nation’s inland waterways cost up to $739 per hour for an average tow, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), which gave…
(WASHINGTON) — Emergency dewatering equipment, whether fixed or portable, is essential equipment placed on vessels to maintain the survivability and safety of personnel during emergencies that may require its use. When there is a situation requiring the use of emergency…
AWO offers assistance for mariner vaccinations The American Waterways Operators (AWO) is making a letter available to its members to assist eligible mariners and other essential industry employees when they visit COVID-19 vaccination centers across the country. The letter verifies…
Coast Guard confirms mask mandate for towing industry In a Feb. 8 post on its Maritime Commons website, the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that a recent order by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires that operators of…
(WASHINGTON) — A coalition of 37 maritime industry groups is asking Congress and President Biden to fund a new relief program to strengthen an industry weakened by the effects of COVID-19, FreightWaves.com reported. “Despite container surges at several large ports,…
(CHICAGO) — Southern Towing Company (STC), an affiliate of CC Industries (CCI), has acquired Devall Towing from the Devall family. Founded in 1952, Devall is a towboat and barge operator for specialty chemicals along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and Lower…
(STONINGTON, Conn.) — The Coast Guard Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to strengthening the Coast Guard community and service by supporting members and families, announced that Thomas Allegretti was elected chairman of the board as of Jan. 7. Allegretti first…
(WASHINGTON) — The American Maritime Partnership (AMP), the voice of the nation’s domestic maritime industry, on Monday applauded the new executive order to be signed by President Biden on Jan. 25, “Strengthening ‘Buy American’ Provisions, Ensuring [the] Future of America…
(WASHINGTON) — As part of an omnibus appropriations and COVID-19 relief funding package, the House and Senate passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2020 on Monday, marking a historic win for the inland waterways. The package included the…
A long-awaited project to deepen the Lower Mississippi River ship channel to 50 feet from the Gulf of Mexico to Baton Rouge, La., is now underway. It will eventually allow larger ships to call at ports and refineries farther…
