AWO Shares Mid-year Impact Report with Members. Earlier this week, AWO Chairman Kelly Teichman and President & CEO Jennifer Carpenter sent an alert to members sharing the organization's 2024 Mid-year Impact Report. The report highlights AWO's progress and accomplishments in advocacy, safety, public affairs and member service over the first six months of the year.  Please reach out to Patrick Parsons with any questions.

Senate EPW Committee Passes WRDA 2024. On August 1, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) passed its 2024 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which includes key provisions for inland waterways infrastructure. The bill would permanently adjust the cost share for inland waterways construction and major rehabilitation to 75% from general revenues and 25% from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund. Additionally, the bill would provide 100% funding for projects intended to be funded to completion under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Neither provision is included in the House-passed version of WRDA, and AWO is actively working with our partners at the Waterways Council, Inc. and in Congress to ensure these key provisions are included in the final version of WRDA 2024.

AWO President Stresses Importance of Jones Act, Navigation Safety at House Offshore Wind Roundtable. AWO President & CEO Jennifer Carpenter participated in a July 24 roundtable discussion with members of the House Offshore Wind Caucus, emphasizing the importance of the Jones Act to providing a stable investment climate and the need for close coordination between federal agencies to protect navigation safety during the buildout of offshore wind in U.S. waters. The meeting was convened by Caucus chairman and House Coast Guard Subcommittee ranking member Salud Carbajal (D-CA) and included Reps. Bobby Scott (D-VA), Deborah Ross (D-NC), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), and Dan Goldman (D-NY). Other panelists from Dominion Energy and Ocean Wind North America affirmed Ms. Carpenter's points.

AWO President Discusses AWO, AMP Priorities on Marine Log Podcast.  Jennifer Carpenter recently appeared as a guest on Marine Log's Listen Up! Podcast, discussing her dual leadership roles as President & CEO of AWO and President of the American Maritime Partnership. Noting that AMP's singular focus - the Jones Act - is AWO's top policy priority, Ms. Carpenter also discussed other AWO advocacy objectives including passage of a Coast Guard Authorization Act and Water Resources Development Act that reflect industry policy priorities; fixing problematic provisions of the California Air Resources Board's Commercial Harbor Craft rule; ensuring forthcoming Coast Guard cybersecurity regulations are tailored to fit the risk profile of companies' operations; and encouraging timely implementation of the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act to reduce unnecessary reporting and recordkeeping burdens while ensuring high standards of environmental protection.

AWO Safety Director Talks Heat Safety with WorkBoat. AWO Safety & Sustainability Director Michael Breslin spoke to WorkBoat for a recent article on rising heat and the related safety risks for mariners. The article reviews heat safety best practices, and includes insights from AWO members including Campbell Transportation Company and American Commercial Barge Line.

International Propeller Club President Joins AWO President on AMP Podcast. On the latest episode of the American Maritime Podcast, Jennifer Carpenter interviewed International Propeller Club President Maria Conatser of Ingram Barge Company, who discussed the Propeller Club's mission, the importance of the Jones Act, her career in the industry, and more.

AWO PAC Corner

 

AWO PAC and Inside Elections. AWO PAC has partnered with Inside Elections for another special edition, featuring updates on the presidential race, the latest on the election for Michigan's 7th district, and more.

AWO PAC is the connected political action committee for The American Waterways Operators and serves as the trade association's separate segregated fund. As a trade association, AWO is prohibited from using general treasury funds or membership dues to make federal contributions. AWO is one of the most effective advocacy associations in Washington, DC, and relies on voluntary personal contributions to fund AWO PAC.

 

AWO PAC supports federal candidates who are champions of the U.S. tugboat, towboat and barge industry and who are leaders on issues important to our industry. AWO PAC is dedicated to protecting AWO members' investments in the safest, most environmentally responsible and most economical mode of freight transportation and safeguarding the integrity of the Jones Act to protect the bottom lines of our members.

 

AWO PAC may solicit contributions from individuals of a member company once the member representative gives AWO written prior approval.

AWO Members to Congress: Protect Anchoring on Hudson River. AWO members are expressing opposition to the Hudson River Protection Act, legislation authored by Representatives Patrick Ryan (D-NY) and Marc Molinaro (R-NY) and included in the Coast Guard authorization bill, that would ban anchorages on the Hudson River. AWO and industry leaders previously submitted a joint letter urging Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-TX) to remove this language from the Coast Guard authorization bill, emphasizing the importance of anchoring for navigation safety, especially during inclement weather. 

 

A recent Marine Log article on this issue featured insights from AWO Vice President - Atlantic Region Brian Vahey, McAllister Towing Company President Buckley McAllister, and AWO Immediate Past Chairman Rick Iuliucci, The Vane Brothers Company, who expressed concerns about the potential Hudson River anchorage ban. "This legislation effectively strips experienced captains of their ability to ensure the safety of their crew, their vessel, and the river," Mr. McAllister emphasized.

 

AWO Atlantic Region Chairman Nathan Hauser of Moran Towing Corporation wrote an op-ed for Maritime Executive, in which he explained that the Hudson River will be "far less safe" if Congress does not act to protect anchoring. He emphasized that anchoring is a critical safety practice for vessel operators, and that banning it would pose risks to the environment and the supply chain as well.

Atlantic Fairways Rulemaking Schedule Released. The Office of Management and Budget has updated the Shipping Safety Fairways Along the Atlantic Coast rulemaking schedule in its Spring 2024 Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. Following the close of the comment period on the notice of proposed rulemaking in May, the Coast Guard plans to publish a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) in September 2024. The Coast Guard intends to reopen the NPRM for comment based on the feedback received on the EIS and hold additional public meetings. While this process will provide additional opportunity for stakeholder feedback on this important rulemaking, it also delays release of the final rule and the establishment of the safety fairways. AWO will continue to work with the Coast Guard and Congressional allies to ensure the expedient release of the final rule.

 

AWO Welcomes New Coast Guard District 11 Commander. On July 19, AWO members and staff attended the change of command ceremony as RADM Andrew Sugimoto became the new deputy commander of Coast Guard Pacific Area and RDML Joseph Buzzella became the new Commander of the 11th District. Members from Baydelta Maritime, Crowley Corporation, and Peter Schrappen, AWO's Vice President & Regional Team Lead, attended the ceremony on Coast Guard Island.

 

While in California, Peter and AmNav held a tugboat tour with California state legislators to advocate for passage of AB 1122, legislation to improve the Commercial Harbor Craft Rule. Attending the tug ride were Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains, lead sponsor of the legislation, and staffers from Sens. Dodd and Wiener's offices.

Join Us for the Safety Committees' Summer Meeting in Chicago. Join fellow members and AWO staff at the Safety Committees' Summer Meeting next week! This highly-anticipated event, set for August 14-15 in Chicago, will feature discussion on industry best practices for safe operation on multi-use waterways; review of lessons learned from high-profile events, including the Key Bridge response and fall overboard incidents; updates from OCIMF on SIRE 2.0; and a special presentation by Sharon Lipinski, who will discuss how to secure senior leader buy-in for your safety program. Plus, there will be plenty of opportunities to network, including a Major League Baseball game outing, breakfast, terrace receptions, and a social dinner. 

 

Check out this promotional video from scheduled speaker Sharon Lipinski. 

Mark Your Calendars for Upcoming AWO Events. Join us this summer or fall at one of our upcoming events, coming to a city near you: 

Please reach out to Caitin Clark with any questions.