AWO, Coast Guard Sign Updated Partnership Agreement. AWO President & CEO Jennifer Carpenter and Coast Guard Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy RADM Wayne Arguin have signed an updated agreement aimed at ensuring a strong and enduring future for the Coast Guard-AWO safety partnership. Now called the Coast Guard-AWO Quality Partnership for Marine Safety and Environmental Protection, the Coast Guard-AWO partnership, established in 1995, is the agency's longest-running partnership with a maritime stakeholder organization. The modernized agreement follows a Department of Homeland Security-directed review of the agency's partnerships and incorporates minor terminology changes and other fine print, but does not change the structure or purpose of the partnership, which aims to strengthen the communication and working relationship between the Coast Guard and the tugboat, towboat and barge industry in the service of marine safety, security and environmental protection. 

ICYMI: AWO Releases 2024 Impact Report. AWO Chairman of the Board Kelly Teichman and President & CEO Jennifer Carpenter recently shared AWO's 2024 Impact Report with members, showcasing the association's accomplishments and progress as the industry's advocate, resource, and united voice over the past year. These successes are the direct result of the commitment, engagement, and support of AWO members around the country - thank you for all you do! 

WRDA 2024 Signed into Law. On January 4, President Biden signed S. 4367, the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024. WRDA 2024 changes the cost-share for inland waterways construction and major rehabilitation projects from 65% general revenues and 35% Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF) to 75%/25%, supporting an additional $1.4 billion over ten years in energy and water development appropriations for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

 

Other key provisions of WRDA 2024 include improvements to the Inland Waterways Regional Dredge Pilot Program to enhance navigation reliability and freight capacity and a provision allowing the Corps to proceed with plans for remote lock operations only if security and stakeholder engagement conditions are met. 

AWO Comments on OSHA Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Proposal. AWO recently submitted comments to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on its proposed standard to mitigate heat injuries and illnesses in the workplace.

 

The proposed standard would require employers to create an individualized heat plan for each work site under their control and adhere to compulsory break, monitoring, acclimatization, training, and recordkeeping requirements. Per OSHA's Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Coast Guard, the proposed standard would not affect crewmembers on Coast Guard-inspected vessels, though it may affect shoreside personnel.

 

In its comments, AWO urged OSHA to allow employers to create one heat plan applicable to all work sites and to revise proposed training, acclimatization, monitoring, recordkeeping, and break requirements to ensure compliance does not impede maritime operations. For further information, please contact Lillie Wightman. 

AWO International Vessel Security Plan Updated. AWO has secured Coast Guard reapproval of its International Vessel Security Plan (IVSP), which provides an International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code-compliant vessel security plan for members engaged in international voyages. Updates to the AWO IVSP reflect recent updates to the AWO Alternative Security Program (ASP). The IVSP can be found on the member side of the AWO website. Please contact Liam Morcroft with any questions.

AWO State Barge-Ins Scheduled. If you have operations or employees in Maryland or New York, please mark your calendars and plan to join us for State Barge-Ins on February 26 in Annapolis, MD and March 26 in Albany, NY. Fill out this form to sign up and we'll share hotel information shortly. With important issues in play in state legislatures across the country, we anticipate scheduling more state Barge-Ins soon, so stay tuned.

DOE Releases Maritime Action Plan. The Department of Energy (DOE) has published its Action Plan for Maritime Energy and Emissions Innovation. AWO provided input during the plan's development and successfully advocated for DOE to focus on methods of support and collaboration instead of prescriptive technological or emission requirements.

 

The plan contains five strategies: decarbonize maritime vessels and operations through efficiency improvements and clean fuels and technologies; adopt sustainable maritime fuels by increasing their development, production, and use; support ports by advancing infrastructure development and shipbuilding; strengthen the maritime workforce; and build partnerships and collaborations. AWO will continue to engage with the incoming Administration and Congress on maritime sustainability to ensure that programs work well for the tugboat, towboat and barge industry and avoid approaches that would undermine safe and efficient navigation.

AWO PAC and Inside Elections. AWO PAC has partnered with Inside Elections for another special edition, featuring a review of House races, early updates on 2025 elections, 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.

Grant Funding Opportunities for Zero-Emission Tugboats and Towboats. The California Volkswagen Zero-Emission Freight and Marine (ZEFM) Program is offering up to $25 million to marine vessels based in California for eligible zero-emissions projects, including repowering tugboats and towboats to zero-emission and replacing cargo handling equipment with zero-emission alternatives. Applications will be accepted until January 22, 2025. All marine vessel repower projects must submit proof of their submitted Zero-Emission and Advanced Technology applications to the California Air Resources Board as part of the application process. For more information, please contact Bradley Trammell.

Washington Maritime Federation to Host Maritime Day. The Washington Maritime Federation's Maritime Day will be held in Olympia, WA on January 29.  AWO's Vice President - Pacific Region and Regional Team Lead Peter Schrappen is a leader for this event, which will bring

together a variety of maritime stakeholders to meet with legislators, and will be capped off by a reception hosted with the Washington Public Ports Association. This important event in Olympia benefits greatly from tugboat, towboat and barge industry representation, so please consider joining on January 29. Registration information can be found here; please contact Peter Schrappen at pschrappen@americanwaterways.com or (206) 661-7855 with any questions.

USCG Establishes Columbia River Anchorages. In early 2024, AWO joined member companies and other industry associations in submitting comments to the Coast Guard supporting its proposal to establish three new anchorages on the Columbia Snake River System (CSRS) at Rice Island, Port Westward, and Crims Island. The Coast Guard has now moved forward with two of the three proposed anchorages at Port Westward and Rice Island on the Columbia River. While these anchorages had been used informally for years, the formal anchorage designation gives mariners more options and promotes increased operational safety on the CSRS.

Sector Columbia River Meets with AWO Members in Portland. AWO members recently met with Coast Guard Sector Columbia River in Portland, OR, to discuss challenges with mariner credentialing, the upcoming harmonization PFD rule that took effect on January 6, and marine transportation on the Columbia Snake River System.

AWO Announces Staff Promotions. AWO is delighted to announce five staff promotions that took effect January 1, 2025:

We thank Mike, Joe, Violet, Caitlin, and Brad for their dedication, hard work and results on behalf of AWO members and congratulate them on their well-deserved promotions!

Share Your Photos with AWO. The tugboat, towboat, and barge industry has a compelling story, and AWO is dedicated to sharing it far and wide. To keep our storytelling fresh and vibrant, we need new and current images from our members. If you have recent media showcasing your vessels, mariners, or operations, please share it with us!  

 

Submitted photos and videos will be eligible for use in AWO publications, on our website, and in other settings. From time to time, media outlets may ask to use some of these images for their news coverage, and our coalition partners may ask to use them for our work on various campaigns, so we will occasionally share relevant photos with them. If you send us photos taken by third parties, we will assume that you have full permission to share them with us for our use.

 

If you would like to share your recent photos and videos for these purposes, or if you have any questions, please email us.

American Waterways HERO Award -- Nominate Your Crew for Heroic Acts. Even though maritime is the safest mode of freight transportation and our mariners work tirelessly to protect our waterways, emergencies still happen. In these critical moments, crews demonstrate outstanding commitment to safety through their first response and rescue efforts.

 

The American Waterways Honor & Excellence in Rescue Operations (HERO) Award honors member company employees for their selflessness, skill, and bravery during emergencies on our waterways.  Qualifying acts include rescuing mariners and others from the water, responding to medical emergencies, and other heroic actions.

 

To nominate your crew's efforts, fill out this simple form at https://www.americanwaterways.com/hero-award. Awardees are recognized at AWO's Winter and Summer Safety Committee meetings, where they are invited to bring their families to join us in person to receive their awards, which include a certificate for each vessel involved, a HERO Award Coin for each mariner, and a complimentary one-year marine license and liability insurance policy offered by 360 Coverage Pros & Berkley Offshore.