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In a July 30 op-ed appearing on CNBC’swebsite, Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA),Chairman of the House Subcommittee onCoast Guard and MaritimeTransportation, offered astrong statement concerningthe necessity of the domesticmaritime industry, and theJones Act which serves as itsfoundation, to U.S. nationaland economic security.
“The maritime industry hasbeen a pillar of the economyfor as long as shippingvessels have delivered goods andcommodities to American shores. In nosmall part, the Jones Act has been theengine driving this success for nearly acentury,” Chairman Hunter stated.“Regrettably, not everyone views theJones Act this way. For reasons that aredue to either a lack of understanding orappreciation for the U.S. maritimeindustry, the Jones Act is being
misidentified once again as animpediment to job creation and evenlower product costs.”
The statement refuted theclaims of Joe Petrowski, GulfOil CEO, made in a previousCNBC article in which Mr.Petrowski suggested thatrepealing the law wouldreduce U.S. gasoline prices byas much as 30 cents a gallon.Chairman Hunter also decriedthe “recurring barrage ofattacks” against the Jones Act
that link the law to rising gasoline costs,offering that “the cost for moving a gallonof gasoline on a U.S. ship is less than onepenny-per-gallon, on average.”
“The reality is that the Jones Act, despiteclaims to the contrary, has little to do with
price fluctuations at the pump,” ChairmanHunter continued. “Calls for its repealhave long been based on misleadingpresumptions and incomplete information,much of it originating from industries indirect competition with the U.S. maritimeindustry.”
“We are very grateful to Chairman Hunterfor his strong views that show a trueappreciation for and understanding of theessential work of the nation’s mariners,”said Tom Allegretti, AWO’s President &CEO and Chairman of the AmericanMaritime Partnership. “We echo theChairman’s sentiments and will keepworking to ensure that policymakers andthe public truly realize how essential thisindustry is to our nation.”
To read the op-ed in its entirety, pleaseclick here.
801 North Quincy Street, Suite 200, Arlington, Virginia 22203
Phone: (703) 841-9300Fax: (703) 841-0389
www.americanwaterways.comISSN1536-3910
VOLUME 70, NO. 16 • AUGUST 5, 2013
Coast Guard Issues Final NVIC on Maritime Labor Convention Implementation.....................................2
Coast Guard Issues Reminder on Canadian Personnel Requirement Deadline...............................................4
NTSB to Hold Forum on Transportation Industry Safety Culture..6
AWO Hosts First Three Congressional Towboat Tours...............9
HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE
Maritime Subcommittee Chairman:Jones Act “Essential” to Nation
On July 26, the American Maritime Partnership issued a statementannouncing its strong opposition to a U.S. House bill introduced byPuerto Rico Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi that wouldweaken the U.S.-build requirement of the Jones Act for certain vessels operating in thePuerto Rico trade. AWO also strongly opposes the bill and will be working as part ofAMP to ensure that it is not considered in the House.
“The Pierliusi bill would weaken U.S. national defense and undermine the investmentsmade by American vessel owners and operators,” AMP stated. “We strongly opposeMr. Pierluisi’s legislation because it would directly undermine America's nationalsecurity. The non-partisan Government Accountability Office recently warned in astudy specific to Puerto Rico that the ‘military strategy of the United States relies onthe use of commercial U.S.-flag ships and crews and the availability of a shipyardindustrial base to support’ the nation’s defense. The study also found that the U.S.domestic container shipping fleet has a long history of providing regular, reliable
Maritime Industry OpposesProposed Bill Weakening Jones Act
(continued on page 2)
LEGISLATIVE NEWS/AGENCY ACTIONS
2 August 5, 2013
Welcome, New Affiliate Member!Kidde Fire Systems400 Main StreetAshland, MA 01721
Rep: Mr. Scott SullivanMarine Sales Manager
On July 30, RDML Joseph A. Servidio, U.S. CoastGuard Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy,signed NVIC 02-13, guidance for implementing therequirements of the Maritime Labor Convention. TheConvention was adopted by the International LaborOrganization in 2006 in order to providecomprehensive rights and protections for seafarers. Itreceived 30 instruments of ratification in August 2012and is scheduled to take effect in countries that have ratified the convention onAugust 20, 2013.
Under the MLC, vessels 500 gross tons and over must maintain an MLCcertificate onboard the vessel when operating in countries that have ratified theConvention. (Vessels less than 500 GT ITC may voluntarily carry MLCcertification and are encouraged to do so). Despite the fact that the United Stateshas not yet ratified the MLC, U.S.-flag vessels are still required to comply withthe Convention when traveling in the waters of ratifying countries. NVIC 02-13is intended to help U.S.-flag vessels demonstrate MLC compliance through avoluntary inspection and certification process. Upon successful completion ofthis inspection, the Coast Guard will issue vessels a “Statement of VoluntaryCompliance, Maritime Labor Convention” certificate, valid for five years, thatcan be used to demonstrate to Foreign Port State Authorities that the vessel is inpractical compliance with the MLC.
In its comments on the draft NVIC submitted in March, AWO urged the CoastGuard to work within the Administration to ensure support for U.S. ratificationof the MLC and prompt consideration by the U.S. Senate.
While the decision to seek MLC ratification falls outside the scope of the NVIC,the Coast Guard addressed many of AWO’s other concerns. The final NVICreminds Port State Control authorities that ratifying countries have a “largemeasure of flexibility” in how they choose to implement the NVIC and encouragesthem to accept the voluntary compliance certificate; advises authorities not to applythe definition of a seafarer so broadly as to include any individual working on thevessel “in any capacity,” noting industry’s concerns with this over-reachingdefinition; and, describes the process by which operators of U.S.-flag vessels cancontact the Coast Guard in the event that their voluntary compliance certificate isnot accepted by Foreign Port State Control. The final NVIC also clarifies moreexplicitly that vessels operating exclusively on the inland rivers, the Great Lakes,or the Strait of Juan de Fuca are not subject to MLC requirements.
To read the NVIC, click here. For a current list of countries that have ratified theMLC, click here. Operators who travel to ratifying countries are encouraged tocontact their local OCMI or recognized classification society to schedule anexam before August 20. For more information, please contact JenniferCarpenter or Brian Vahey at (703) 841-9300, extensions 260 and 251,respectively, or via email at [email protected] [email protected].
Coast Guard Issues Final NVIC on Maritime Labor Convention Implementation
Maritime IndustryOpposes ProposedBill WeakeningJones Act
service to the island, and in the pastfew years also offered significantrate reductions.”
The AMP statement continued tosay that “more specific to Mr.Pierliusi's concern regarding theavailability of natural gas to PuertoRico, there are fully compliantAmerican vessels eligible totransport Liquefied Natural Gasonce Puerto Rico develops thecapacity to receive it. There arealso special provisions of law thatalready allow LNG to move to theisland on foreign vessels from theU.S. Whether it is LNG or anyother cargo needed by the PuertoRican people, the Americanmaritime industry stands ready towork with the Commissioner toensure that the demand is met.”
For more information, pleasecontact Craig Montesano, AWO’sDirector – Legislative Affairs, at(703) 841-9300, extension 297, [email protected].
(continued from page 1)
Convention to Take Effect on August 20
August 5, 2013 3
AGENCY ACTIONS
AWO Comments on Coast Guard Proposal toAmend Ballast Water Reporting RequirementsUrges Coast Guard to Sunset Requirements for Non-Seagoing VesselsOn August 5, AWO submittedcomments urging the Coast Guard tosunset its ballast water managementreporting requirements for domesticvessels that do not travel beyond theU.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. Theassociation’s comments are in responseto a notice of proposed rulemakingpublished by the Coast Guard on June5 proposing to amend its ballast watermanagement recordkeeping andreporting requirements, as reported inthe June 11 issue of the AWO Letter.
The Coast Guard had previouslyopened a public docket to considerchanges to its ballast water reportingrequirements in 2006, almost threeyears after ballast water recordkeepingand reporting became mandatory. Inoral testimony and written commentsto that docket, AWO urged the CoastGuard to phase out the ballast waterreporting requirements for U.S.-flagvessels that operate in domesticcommerce, arguing that the 30 monthsof ballast water reports collected tothat point gave the agency acomprehensive data set and that furtherdata collection would not meaningfullyimprove its knowledge base. AWOreiterated this position in its August 5comments, writing that the nine yearsof ballast water reports the CoastGuard has now amassed “should besufficient to provide the Coast Guardwith an adequate basis forprogrammatic and regulatory decision-making well into the future.”
AWO also expressed its opposition tothe expansion of ballast waterreporting requirements to vesselsequipped with ballast tanks thatoperate exclusively within a singleCaptain of the Port Zone, as the CoastGuard proposed in its NPRM. “Vesselswith a limited geographic range of
operation present a low risk ofcontributing to the introduction ofaquatic invasive species, and theburdens of reporting can be greater dueto the often smaller sizes of theiroperating companies,” AWO wrote.“AWO believes that there are alternativemeans for the Coast Guard to improveits understanding of the ballastingpractices of this category of vessels,including dialogue with advisorycommittees and trade associations,without imposing a new regulatoryrequirement on vessel operators.”
In the event that the Coast Guardproceeds with its proposal to expandthe reporting requirements, AWOurged the agency to exempt vesselsthat do not discharge ballast water orthat use potable water for ballast,consistent with its current policy,articulated in Navigation and VesselInspection Circular 07-04, Change 1.
AWO also strongly recommended thatthe Coast Guard not restrict thereporting of ballast water capacitiesand discharge volumes to metricmeasures, as was proposed in theNPRM. “For that significantproportion of the U.S.-flag vesselpopulation that does not travelinternationally […] disallowing the useof U.S. units on the report formrepresents an additional administrativeburden that would complicatecompliance and also increase thelikelihood of unintentional error,”AWO stated.
To read AWO’s comments to the CoastGuard in full, click here. For moreinformation, please contact JenniferCarpenter or Caitlyn Stewart at (703)841-9300, extensions 260 and 262,respectively, or [email protected] [email protected].
Chicago Harbor Safety Committee Convenesfor Inaugural Meeting
CAPT Matthew Sibley, Captain of the Port and Commander - Coast GuardSector Lake Michigan, addresses attendees at the inaugural CHSC meetingat Navy Pier in Chicago. See full story on page 14.
AGENCY ACTIONS
4 August 5, 2013
On July 22, the U.S. Coast Guard re-distributed Marine Safety InformationBulletin 021-12,“Compliance withCanadian MarinePersonnel Regulations.”The MSIB, which wasoriginally published inOctober 2012, establishesthat beginning on October26, 2013, towing vesselscalling at ports or placesin Canada will have to bein compliance with Canadian marinepersonnel regulations. To read MSIB021-12, click here. In brief, thebulletin explains that:
Vessels over 1000 hp must carry•two licensed engineers if operatinground-the-clock with a two-watchsystem;
While the Canadian regulations•require STCW certification, theCoast Guard and TransportCanada have reached anagreement under which STCWcertification will not be requiredfor U.S. vessels calling atCanadian ports; and
Canada will not enforce these•requirements on U.S. vesselstransiting Canadian waters withoutcalling at a port or place inCanada.
In late 2012, the National MaritimeCenter issued a policy letter clarifyingthat a mariner with a DDEendorsement limited to vessels lessthan 4000 hp to serve as a ChiefEngineer on vessels on near coastal,Great Lakes, and inland waters. ByU.S.-Canada agreement, a DDE mayserve as chief engineer of the
aforementioned routes withoutobtaining a STCW endorsement.
MSIB 021-12 also listsduties that the NMCconsiders to besubstantially equivalent toQMED duties, includingperformance of routinemaintenance andinspection of towingequipment and deckmachinery, in order tofacilitate currently
unlicensed engineers obtaining a DDEendorsement.
AWO issued a member alert torepresentatives of all AWO companiesthat we believe to be affected by theCanadian requirements. If you did notreceive the alert and would like to beincluded on all future communicationspertaining to this issue, or for all otherquestions and feedback, please contactJennifer Carpenter or Brian Vahey at(703) 841-9300, extensions 260 and251, respectively, or via email [email protected] [email protected].
Coast Guard Issues Reminder on CanadianPersonnel Requirement Deadline
Coast Guard to Host IMO Polar Code WorkshopThe U.S. Coast Guard will hold a public workshopAugust 22-23 on topics related to the IMO PolarCode, a mandatory code for vessels operating inpolar waters (above 60 degrees north latitude). Atthe meeting, the Coast Guard plans to discuss safetytopics including vessel design, equipment, andoperational requirements. The workshop will be heldat Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C.
The International Maritime Organization approved proposals for thedevelopment of a mandatory Polar Code in 2009. While the specificrequirements of the new code have not been finalized, they will likelyimpact vessel design and construction standards and include variousenvironmental and personnel requirements. The Polar Code will apply tovessels currently subject to SOLAS. AWO and the Coast Guard havebegun discussions on towing industry operations in the Arctic as theUnited States works with other countries to further develop therequirements for the Polar Code. IMO plans to host an intersessionalmeeting on implementation of the Polar Code later this year.
AWO members with operations in the Arctic are encouraged to participatein the workshop. For more information on the work shop, click here. Forinformation on AWO’s work with the Coast Guard on development of thePolar Code, please contact Charlie Costanzo at (206) 257-4723 or viaemail at [email protected].
AGENCY ACTIONS
August 5, 2013 5
For the second year, cadets from the U.S. Coast GuardAcademy have spent the summer on board tugboats andtowboats as part of a program under the auspices of theCoast Guard-AWO Safety Partnership. As previouslyreported in the June 11 AWO Letter, the program grew thisyear with five companies hosting 11 cadets for a week ormore of shoreside and onboard training, an increase fromlast year’s program in which three companies hosted sevencadets. Canal Barge Company Inc., Seabulk Towing, Inc.,and McAllister Towing hosted two cadets each in May.
Foss Maritime Company also hosted cadets in late May andJune and Blessey Marine Services, Inc. hosted two cadets,Yue “Ben” Shen and Jose Jaramillo, July 18-27. The crew ofBlessey’s m/v Jane Ann Blessey reported a mutuallybeneficial experience for the cadets and the company, writingthat “one of the days while Ben and Jose were on the boat Ilet them both experience steering the boat... after a fewminutes they each were grinning ear to ear. While on boardthey were able to experience Kentucky lock and dam andfour different waterways, the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennesseeand Tenn-Tom. Ben and Jose fit in really well with the crewand were quick to offer assistance on any job. They helpedus out on our crew change clean up and also with sweepingand mopping the boat. Ben and Jose are more than welcometo come back anytime and ride with us.”
To find out more about hosting a cadet for the 2014program, please contact Jennifer Carpenter or Brian Bennettat (703) 841-9300, extensions 260 or 279, respectively, orvia email at [email protected] [email protected].
Coast Guard Academy Cadet Towing Vessel RiderProgram Wraps Up Second Year
Left to Right: Cadet Yue "Ben" Shen, Cadet Jose Jaramillo and crewmembers Darby Smith and Zack Steele of the m/v JaneAnn Blessey.
Cadet Jose Jaramillo at the sticks of the m/v Jane AnnBlessey.
6 August 5, 2013
AGENCY ACTIONS
On July 23, the U.S. Coast Guard’s National MaritimeCenter published a notice reminding operators of U.S.-flagged vessels subject to the requirements of theInternational Convention on Standards of Training,Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers to ensuretheir vessels comply with new requirements for vesselpersonnel with designated security duties by January 1,2014. To read the notice, click here.
The 2010 Manila amendments to the STCW Conventiontook effect on January 1, 2012. Among other things, theseamendments established new requirements for vesselpersonnel with designated security duties. The Coast Guardhas not yet begun to enforce these requirements on U.S.vessels because the final rule on STCW implementation isstill pending. However, because U.S. vessels must operatein compliance with STCW requirements while in the watersof foreign countries, the Coast Guard published PolicyLetter 12-06 in October 2012 to serve as guidance to U.S.vessels traveling internationally to lessen foreign port statecontrol impact on their operations.
Policy Letter 12-06 provides guidance on the issuance ofendorsements for Vessel Personnel with DesignatedSecurity Duties and vessel personnel requiring security-awareness training. The policy letter explains that allmariners working under their STCW endorsement shouldobtain an endorsement for security awareness. Marinersassigned specific security duties should obtain anendorsement as VPDSD. Companies should ensure that allpersons on board except passengers receive security-relatedfamiliarization training required under STCW and thatmariners have the appropriate security endorsements. Toread Policy Letter 12-06, click here.
The STCW final rule is undergoing final review by theOffice of Management and Budget and is expected to bepublished in the Federal Register this fall. The STCWconvention applies to vessels of any size engaged on aninternational voyage; vessels of any size engaged on adomestic voyage that passes through international waters;and vessels over 200 gross registered tons on domesticvoyages outside the boundary line.
For more information, please contact Jennifer Carpenter orBrian Vahey at (703) 841-9300, extensions 260 and 251,respectively, or via email at [email protected] [email protected].
Coast Guard IssuesReminder on STCWSecurity Requirements
The National Transportation SafetyBoard has announced that it willhold a forum addressing theimportance of safety culture intransportation on September 10-11in Washington, DC. The forum,titled “Safety Culture: EnhancingTransportation Safety,” will review theprogress that has been made in developing safety culturesthroughout the transportation community and identifyopportunities for improvement.
“In our accident investigations we’ve seen instances ofweak or non-existent safety cultures,” said NTSBChairman Deborah A.P. Hersman. “In this forum, we wantto highlight what’s present in strong safety cultures as wellas identify what works to build these cultures in order tomore effectively prevent accidents.”
Chairman Hersman will chair the forum, in which all fivemembers of the NTSB will participate. Panelists will includeresearchers, regulators, and leaders in both transportationand non-transportation industries. A detailed agenda and listof participants will be released as the event approaches.
The forum will be open to the public and can be viewedvia webcast for those that cannot attend. For moreinformation, or to submit input for consideration, pleasevisit the forum website by clicking here.
Fostering the development of a robust safety culture in thetugboat, towboat, and barge industry is a keyrecommendation of AWO’s Task Force on the Future ofAWO Safety Leadership. In its 2011 report, the TaskForce called for AWO members “to lead the industry insafety and environmental stewardship by exceedingregulatory minimums, striving for continuousimprovement, and measuring performance.”
If you receive a hard copy of theAWO Letter and need to know theexact web address of the hyperlink inany article, please contact FrankLeach at (703) 841-9300, extension 254, or [email protected].
Got Links?
NTSB to Hold Forumon Safety Culture inTransportation Industry
August 5, 2013 7
AGENCY ACTIONS
Inland Waterways Users Board to Meet August 13 in LouisvilleThe Inland Waterways Users Boardwill meet on August 13 in Louisville,KY, just prior to the Joint Meeting ofthe AWO Interregion and CoastalSafety committees and the CombinedSummer Meeting of the AWOMidwest, Ohio Valley and SouthernRegions. The eleven-member federaladvisory committee is responsible formaking recommendations to Congressand the Secretary of the Army onpriorities and spending from the InlandWaterways Trust Fund for construction
and rehabilitation projects on the fuel-taxed inland waterways system. Themeeting agenda will include:
Status of funding for inland•navigation projects and studies;
Status of the Inland Waterways•Trust Fund;
Funding for FY 2013 and 2014;•
Update on proposed water•resources-related authorizationbills;
Status of the Olmsted Locks and•Dams Project;
Update on the Inland Marine•Transportation Systems Levels ofService; and
Status of the inland waterways•system.
Effective July 18, the chairman of theUsers Board is Marty Hettel, AEPRiver Operations, and the vicechairman is Matt Woodruff, KirbyCorporation. The Users Board last metin December 2012.
In April 2010, the Users Boardunanimously recommended the InlandWaterways Capital Development Planto improve the long term reliability ofthe inland waterways system. AWOstrongly supports the CDP and isassisting Waterways Council, Inc., inseeking inclusion of the CDP in theWater Resources Development Act.Key components of the CDP wereincluded in the WRDA bill passed bythe Senate in May; the House versionof WRDA is expected to be introducedafter the August Congressional recess.
For more information on the meeting,click here.
www.americanwaterways.com
THE AMERICAN WATERWAYS OPERATORSAmerica’s Tugboat, Towboat & Barge Industry
“Our Compass Always Points to Safety”
America’s tugboat, towboat and barge industry:
Provides good paying, family-wage jobs for Americans, jobs that cannot be outsourced
Offers excellent career opportunities for hard-working Americans
Fosters hundreds of thousands of American jobs that depend on waterways transportation, and directly employs over 30,000 Americans on our vessels
Contributes to America’s economic, national and homeland security because our vessels are American- owned, American-built and American-crewed
For American Jobs.
Beautiful. . .are
Barges
Join our virtual community for thetowboat, tugboat, and bargeindustry. Click here to view AWO’sFacebook page and join. Spreadthe word among your colleagues!
8 August 5, 2013
ASSOCIATION NEWS
The August regional meetings are uponus! Each regional meeting will providean opportunity for you and yourcompany to donate or pledge in supportof Team AWO at the SCI MountainChallenge. Which regional meeting willraise the most donations? Will it be thePacific Region meeting this week, theCombined Midwest, Ohio Valley, &Southern Region meeting August 15-16,or the Atlantic Region, home of the SCIMountain Challenge, with its meeting onAugust 21-22? We will report the results!
A Parting Word
We’ve heard through the grapevine thatcertain AWO members have jokinglystated that they want to see proof offinish before committing, but wewholeheartedly disagree. Below is aphoto of some of Team AWO membersafter a challenging training hike upMaryland’s Sugarloaf Mountain, lookingvery hearty and hale. They arecommitted to crossing the finish line, areyou committed to supporting them?Donate today!
Regional Challenge –Which Meeting WillRaise the Most forSCI?
To donate on-line using acredit card, please visit TeamAWO’s fundraising page byclicking here.
To donate via mail, please send a checkmade payable to The Seamen’s ChurchInstitute of New York and New Jersey toAWO, Attention: Carmina Smith, 801 North Quincy Street, Suite 200,Arlington, VA 22203.
Two Easy Ways to Donate!
Team AWO - Tom Allegretti, Brian Vahey, Brian Bennett, and Jennifer Carpenter.
DollarsRaised$6,000
AWO Mountain Challenge Fundraising Progress
AWO Goal | $100,000
Contributions of any size from companies and individuals will be most appreciated as AWO works to meet itsambitious fundraising goal. Corporate donations are permissible and fully tax-deductible and we encourage membercompanies to choose between three giving levels: Platinum ($5,000), Gold ($2,500) or Silver ($1,000).
August 5, 2013 9
ASSOCIATION NEWS
In recent weeks, AWO Chairman BuckleyMcAllister, McAllister Towing, spent timevisiting with AWO’s brownwater operatorsin St. Louis as the guest of former AWOChairman and current Treasurer, GeorgeFoster, JB Marine Service, Inc.
While in St. Louis, Mr. McAllisterextensively toured JB Marine’s operationswith Mr. Foster. He also visited AmericanRiver Transportation Company withPresident Royce Wilken, also a formerAWO Chairman, and Vice President –Operations, Brent Nissen, current AWOBoard Member and Vice Chairman of theInland Dry Sector. The St. Louis trip alsofeatured a visit to AEP River Operationsand a meeting with President Keith Darling.Additionally, many more industry membersalso gathered at a dinner sponsored byGeorge and Linda Foster and James “Goat”Patterson, President, Osage Marine.
The St. Louis visit was a follow up to a tripto Nashville and Paducah, where FrankMorton, AWO’s Vice Chairman andDirector, Turn Services, LLC, and CraigPhilip, Chief Executive Officer, IngramBarge Company, hosted Mr. McAllister on atour of operations at Ingram as well as atowboat ride to learn more about Ingram’sfleet.
“I cannot tell you how much these visitsdeepened my appreciation for the diversityof this industry,” said Mr. McAllister. “Itreally brought home how we serve thenation in many different ways and howimportant each segment of the industryreally is to the flow of commerce. I am verygrateful to everyone who took the time toshare their knowledge and let me see thingsfirst hand. These were invaluableexperiences.”
AWO Chairman Buckley McAllister, McAllister Towing, learns the brownwaterside of the industry, recently taking towboat rides in the St. Louis area whilevisiting JB Marine Service, Inc. (top) and in Paducah with AWO ViceChairman Frank Morton, Turn Services LLC (bottom).
AWO Chairman Visits Brownwater Operators
10 August 5, 2013
REGIONAL REPORTS
Over the past two weeks, AWOmembers and staff hosted threegrassroots towboat tours to educateCongressmen, Senators, and theirstaffers about our industry and discussthe critical issues that we face. Topicsdiscussed included the need for theHouse to move forward on a WRDAbill that includes all elements of theCapital Development Plan included inthe WAVE 4 bill sponsored by Reps.Ed Whitfield (KY-R) and Dan Lipinski(IL-D); the necessity of securinguniform vessel discharge legislation;and the importance of preserving theintegrity of the Jones Act.
AWO graciously thanks HunterMarine, American River TransportationCompany, and Ingram Barge Companyfor providing vessels for the AWOeducational tours in July. Below pleasefind a quick recap of the tours withsome great photos of each event. Formore information on the grassrootstours, please contact Lynn Meunch,AWO’s Senior Vice President –Regional Advocacy, at (314) 446-6474or [email protected].
Cumberland River TourOn July 17, Glenn Hendon and DonnieHall, Hunter Marine, hosted fourcongressional staffers onboard the m/vCumberland Hunter for a tour of theCumberland River. David O’Loughlinof Ingram Barge Company and LynnMuench, AWO, were also in
attendance. Staffers joining the tourincluded Charlotte Jackson, SeniorConstituent Services Representative,Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN); CarlieCrenshaw Cruse, Field Director, Sen.Bob Corker (R-TN); Don Majors,Director of Special Projects, Rep. Jim
AWO Hosts First Three Congressional Towboat ToursFocus on WRDA, Vessel Discharge Legislation, and Jones Act
Cumberla nd R ive r
(continued on page 11)
August 5, 2013 11
REGIONAL REPORTS
AWO Hosts First Three Congressional Towboat Tours
Cooper (D-TN); and Don Deering,Community Liaison, also with Rep.Cooper’s office.
St. Louis Harbor Tour
On July 24, Brent Nissen, BernieHeroff, and Randy Simmons,American River Transportation
Company, hosted 11 congressionalstaffers on the m/v Sally Archer for atour of the St. Louis Harbor. SteveColby, SCF Marine Inc.; GeorgeFoster, JB Marine Service, Inc.; EdHenleben, Ingram Barge Company;Marty Hettel, AEP River Operations;Gerry Vick, Upper Mississippi RiverFleeting LLC; and Lynn Muench and
Charlie Costanzo, AWO, were also inattendance. Congressional staffersjoining the tour included Mary BethLuna, District Office Director, andTricia LaValle, Field Representative,Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO); RandyPollard, Downstate Director, Sen.Mark Kirk (R-IL); Tim Butler, DistrictChief of Staff, Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL); Aaron Baker, FieldRepresentative, Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO); Donna Spickert, DistrictDirector, and Steven Walsh, PressSecretary, Rep. Vickie Hartzler (R-MO); Jeremy Ketterer, DistrictDirector, and Tanner Smith, DistrictDirector, Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO); Deb Detmers, District Director,Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL); and JaciWinship, Field Representative, Rep.Ann Wagner (R-MO).
Tennessee and Ohio River Tour
On July 26, David O’Loughlin andTom More, Ingram Barge Company,hosted four congressional staffers
S t. Louis Ha rbor (continued on page 12)
(continued from page 10)
12 August 5, 2013
REGIONAL REPORTS
AWO Hosts First Three Congressional Towboat Tours
onboard the m/v Gale C. for a tour ofthe Tennessee and Ohio rivers. Alsoin attendance were Kyle Aldrich,Evansville Marine Service, Inc.;Darin Adrian, MarquetteTransportation Company, Inc.; DaveDewey, River Marine Enterprises,LLC; Steve Siemers, Mt. VernonBarge Service; and, Lynn Muenchand Charlie Costanzo, AWO.Congressional staffers joining thetour included Hodge Patel, StateDirector, and Sarah Helming,Southwest Regional Director, Sen.Joe Donnelly (D-IN); Martie Wiles,Field Representative, Sen. MitchMcConnell (R-KY); and JaneceEverett, Field Representative, Rep.Ed Whitfield (R-KY).
(continued from page 11)
Tenne s s ee & Ohio R ive r
August 5, 2013 13
REGIONAL REPORTS
Atlantic Region
On July 19, Peter Keyes, MoranTowing Corporation; BrendanMacGillivray, The Vane BrothersCompany; and John Harms, AWOManager – Atlantic Region, met withU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyRegion 2 officials in New York City todiscuss possible new no dischargezones in New York Harbor. NDZs areareas where the discharge of sewage,treated or untreated, is completelyprohibited. The meeting was held inresponse to a draft white paperproduced by the NY – NJ Harbor &Estuary Program, a public-privatepartnership led by EPA Region 2. The white paper, titled Potential forDevelopment of Additional NoDischarge Zones within the NewYork–New Jersey Harbor Estuary, canbe viewed in full by clicking here. The
document describes the process theHEP is attempting to facilitate toinduce New York and New Jersey tosubmit a joint petition to EPA todesignate additional NDZs in NewYork Harbor, beginning with RaritanBay at the mouth of New York Harbor.
AWO’s meeting with EPA officialsfocused on:
The need to ensure NDZs contain1)adequate pumpout facilities forcommercial vessels, and
The need for appropriate phase-in2)period of five years.
The group discussed the significantsafety, technical, and financial hurdlesindustry faces when complying withNDZs, including reengineering vesselsto accommodate sewage holding tanks.
Currently, the New York side of theHudson River, the Long Island Sound,and the South Shore of Long Island areall designated as NDZs. The HEPproposal calls for all of New YorkHarbor, including Raritan Bay, theArthur Kill, the Kill Van Kull, theNewark Bay Complex, and the NewJersey side of the Hudson River, to bedesignated as NDZs. Under the CleanWater Act, before New York and NewJersey may designate these areas asNDZs they must petition EPA for adetermination that adequate pumpoutfacilities for all vessels are “reasonablyavailable.” For more information,please contact John Harms or CaitlynStewart at (703) 841-9300, extensions292 and 260, respectively, or [email protected] [email protected].
Members Meet with EPA Officials toDiscuss Possible No Discharge Zones
On July 24, the Asian Carp RegionalCoordinating Committee released itsControl Strategy Framework for 2013,reporting new initiatives to prevent theintroduction and establishment of Asiancarp in the Great Lakes. The ACRCC, agroup of federal, state and localgovernment agencies representing boththe U.S. and Canada and led by theWhite House Council on EnvironmentalQuality, updates the frameworkannually. Announcing the release of the2013 framework, CEQ Asian CarpDirector John Goss said that it “willstrengthen our defenses against Asiancarp and move innovative carp controlprojects from research to field trials toimplementation.”
Among the new efforts outlined in theACRCC’s framework for 2013 are:
The construction of a permanent•electric fish dispersal barrier in theChicago Area Waterways System toreplace the demonstration barrier;
The design and construction of a•mobile electric fish dispersal barrierthat can be deployed to move fishor in rapid response situations;
The testing of control alternatives•including a carbon dioxide barrierand a targeted piscicideadministered via an oral deliverysystem;
The transition of responsibility for•eDNA testing and processing from
the U.S. ArmyCorps ofEngineers to theU.S. Fish andWildlife Service; and
The expansion of fish sampling•efforts in “potential invasionhotspots” within the Great Lakes.
The framework also reviews efforts thatare already underway, including theCorps’ Great Lakes and MississippiRiver Interbasin Study, which isevaluating control alternatives to containaquatic invasive species; ongoing Asiancarp monitoring and removal; andresearch and development of Asian carpdetection and control technologies.
Asian Carp Regional CoordinatingCommittee Announces New Control Efforts
Midcontinent Office
(continued on page 14)
On July 23, nine AWO members metwith CAPT Byron Black, Sector UpperMississippi commander, and his seniorstaff at a Sector luncheon in St. Louis.CAPT Black reported that Sector Upperhad the capacity to do Towing VesselBridging Program second examinationsand was hopeful that the AWOmembership would take advantage ofthe opportunity.
CAPT Black also noted that the bargesalvage operation would take two tothree weeks. The three barges will besalvaged during daylight only and willrequire one-way traffic. The bargessank after breaking away during thehigh water this spring.
Other issues of note included adiscussion on the Coast Guard’s processto prioritize upgrades to cutters, quickbuoy placement as the water levelscontinue to fall, improved consistencybetween the Eighth and Ninth districts,and concern that Coast Guard staffwould find it more difficult to attendindustry meetings due to budgetaryconstraints.
On July 25, ten AWO members metwith CDR Malcolm “Bob” McLellan,MSU-Paducah commander, and CDRPatrick Nelson, the new Towing VesselNational Center of Expertisesuperintendent in Paducah, KY. RoyMurphy, TVNCOE, provided an updateon pressure vessels and work to developstandards for LNG midstream fuelingoperations. CDR McLellan reportedthat 100 percent of vessels in the MSU-Paducah area of responsibility had
undergone a Towing Vessel BridgingProgram examination. With a 40percent turnover in staff this year, CDRMcLellan encourages companies thatwish to go through the process for thesecond time to keep the staff currentand to continue the ongoingcommunication and collaboration thatthe examinations have fostered.
It was also reported that Sector OhioValley will release a policy on thequalifications a welder will need toperform work on red-flag barges. Theindustry offered its assistance toensure the policy has real-world inputand suggested that a sector-by-sectorpolicy was not a good step. It wassuggested that when the policy is fullyvetted by industry, it should become aDistrict policy.
The group also discussed TSAC’s futurework on the Steel Hull Work Groupreport (a subgroup of the Bridging andImplementation Team #5 co-chaired byJennifer Carpenter, AWO, and StevenDouglass, TVNCOE); the recently
released regulation on life vest usage onbarges; and the fact that the Centers ofExpertise will continue to report toCoast Guard headquarters, whichindustry believes will give TVNCOE astronger voice in policy development.
For more information, contact LynnMuench at (314) 446-6474 [email protected].
AWO Midwest and Ohio ValleyMember Leaders Meet withCoast Guard Leadership
Midcontinent Office
14 August 5, 2013
REGIONAL REPORTS
The ACRCC’s work is funded byCongress through the GreatLakes Restoration Initiative.
To view the 2013 framework infull, click here. For moreinformation, please contact LynnMuench at (314) 446-6474 or [email protected], orCaitlyn Stewart at (703) 841-9300, extension 262, or [email protected].
Asian Carp RegionalCoordinatingCommittee AnnouncesNew Control Efforts
Industry members meet with SectorUpper Mississippi staff in St. Louis.
(continued from page 13)
August 5, 2013 15
REGIONAL REPORTS
AWO Mountain Challenge Fundraising Progress
On July 15, representatives of regional waterway interestsand the U.S. Coast Guard met at Navy Pier for the inauguralmeeting of the Chicago Harbor Safety Committee. Thecreation of this committee was the primary recommendationof the Chicago Area Ports and Waterways SafetyAssessment of 2012. The industry actively participated inthe PAWSA and strongly supported the creation of thiscommittee. The CHSC will connect a diverse range ofmarine stakeholders who operate in Lake Michigan nearChicago and on the Chicago River, allowing them tocollaborate on improving safety and cooperation in thearea’s waters, especially with the increased recreationaltraffic in the Chicago area.
The U.S. Coast Guard was represented by CAPT MatthewSibley, Captain of the Port and Commander- Coast Guard
Sector Lake Michigan; and CDR Jason Neubauer,Commanding Officer- Coast Guard Marine Safety UnitChicago. The CHSC elected an interim board of directors atthe meeting including AWO Board member Darren Melvin,Hanson Material Service. The CHSC board of directors alsoincludes President Susan Urbas, Chicago River Rowing andPaddling Center; Vice-President Michael Borgstrom,Wendella Sightseeing; Secretary Warren Marwedel, marinelawyer; Treasurer Fred Poppe, past president of the NationalBoating Federation; and board members Robert Schak,Explorer Charters; Larry Dostal, Illinois Shipmasters'Association; Jamie Long, Middle River Marine; ScottStevenson, Westrec Marinas; Scott Baumgartner, ChicagoYachting Association; Sharon Bloyd-Peschin, Chicago AreaSea Kayaking Association and Illinois River PaddlingCouncil; and Erma Tranter, Friends of the Parks.
The CHSC held its inaugural meeting on July 15 and elected an interim Board of Directors, pictured above.(U.S. Coast Guard photo by Auxiliarist Jonathan Roth.)
Chicago Harbor Safety CommitteeConvenes For Inaugural Meeting
Midcontinent Office
