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AWO Welcomes New Member. Please join us in welcoming new member Glosten, a full-service consulting firm of naval architects and marine, electrical, production, and ocean engineers. Founded in 1958, the firm has designed a wide variety of tugs for services ranging from deep ocean towing to ship escort/assist and inland river pushing, including hybrid and electric-propelled commercial vessels.
Paducah Propeller Club President Lauds Kentucky Jones Act Resolution. In a recent edition of the Paducah Sun, Propeller Club – Port of Paducah President Caleb King praised the Kentucky legislature for passing a resolution in support of the Jones Act. He commended sponsors House Majority Floor Leader Rep. Steven Rudy, Rep. Randy Bridges and Rep. Chris Freeland and the Kentucky General Assembly for “recognizing the importance of Kentucky’s maritime industry to our state and nation, and of the Jones Act as the statutory foundation that makes the industry’s many economic, security and environmental contributions possible.”
NMC Reports Printing Times Return to Normal. Technical difficulties with the National Maritime Center’s (NMC) printing equipment that led to significant delays in printing approved Merchant Mariner Credentials have reportedly been resolved. The NMC announced that mariners can now expect credentials to be printed and mailed within 2-3 business days of approval.
Corps Funding Bill Passes Appropriations Committee. The House Committee on Appropriations has passed a FY24 funding bill for the Army Corps of Engineers. The Fiscal Year 2024 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill proposes an increase of more than $900 million for the Corps’ Civil Works budget from FY23 for a total of $9.57 billion, $2.16 billion more than the President’s budget request. Additionally, the bill requests $236.8 million for Chickamauga Lock, $41 million for Lower Monongahela, and $103.17 million for MKARNS. The Investigations account would be increased to $136 million, while Operations and Maintenance would receive an increase of $418.12 million, for a total of $5.5 billion.
AWO PAC CORNER
AWO and Inside Elections. AWO has partnered with Inside Elections for another special edition, featuring deep dives into key congressional elections in the upcoming cycle.
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.
Users Board to Meet in July. The Army Corps of Engineers’ Inland Waterways Users Board will hold a public meeting on July 20 in Paducah, KY. During the meeting, the Users Board will provide guidance to the Corps on construction and rehabilitation projects for commercial navigation on inland waterways, receive briefings on Corps projects, and discuss the Inland Waterways Trust Fund. Attendees may join the meeting virtually.
RIETF Urges Changes to Flood Protection Project. On June 28, the River Industry Executive Task Force (RIETF) industry members sent a letter to Major General Diana Holland, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Mississippi Valley Division (MVD) Commander, expressing concerns about the design plan for the Delta Point Casting Field flood protection project. RIETF industry members have sent three letters to MVD highlighting navigation safety concerns about this project. During high water, flows in this stretch of the Mississippi River can reach ten miles per hour, creating a very narrow margin of error for vessels transiting under the Vicksburg Bridge. In its current form, the Delta Point Casting Field project would increase water velocity north of the bridge by three percent, making an already challenging area harder to navigate. In the letter, industry members recommended that the Corps raise two dikes and curve the mat protection dike, which would slow the flow of water that goes behind the channel and push that slower water downriver, rather than directly across it. Industry members believe that these changes will accomplish the Corps’ flood protection goals while maintaining safe navigation on the river. For more information, please contact Lynn Muench.
Port of Everett Approves Commercial Pump Out at Port Commission Meeting. Following the allocation of pump out dollars for the Port of Anacortes and the No Discharge Zone that went into effect in May 2023, the Port of Everett, WA has moved forward with plans to install a pump geared toward commercial vessels alongside the port’s new fuel dock. The project will soon go out to bid and is set to be operational in 2025.
Navigating to Zero – June Recap of AWO’s Safety Newsletter. In the latest edition of Navigating to Zero, AWO’s Safety and Sustainability Newsletter, we shared resources to help you prepare for heat, hurricane, and fire season, reviewed member-submitted high value near misses and NTSB investigations, presented subcommittee updates, and previewed the Coastal and Interregion Safety Committee’s Summer Meeting coming to St. Louis on August 16-17. Additionally, Coastal Safety Committee Chairman Jim Peschel of Vane Brothers, our featured safety professional, shared his safety priorities for the second half of 2023.
Ohio Valley Region Roundtable and Sector Luncheon Held in Memphis. On June 15, AWO members met in Memphis for the Ohio Valley Region Roundtable hosted by Southern Devall Group. During the roundtable, members discussed Subchapter M implementation; reporting of harassment, sexual harassment and sexual assault; low water; and current workforce challenges. Following the roundtable, members joined Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River for a luncheon. Thank you to Southern Devall for hosting both events!
AWO Holds Southern Region Roundtable in New Orleans. AWO held its Southern Region Roundtable meeting on June 20 at the Port of New Orleans. AWO Chairman Rick Iuliucci, AWO Southern Region Chairman Todd Clower and AWO President & CEO Jennifer Carpenter helped lead the meeting, with approximately 75 members in attendance. Members discussed topics including sexual harassment reporting in the maritime industry, workforce development efforts, navigation safety on the Mississippi River, Southern Region engagement with the U.S. Coast Guard, and pro-Jones Act resolutions in state legislatures. After the meeting, AWO members networked at a reception in the Port lobby. If you have any questions, please contact Mark Wright.
Please Join Us at an AWO Summer Event! Thank you to all who attended our Ohio Valley and Southern Region roundtables last month! We still have more meetings ahead this summer – register today to join the AWO staff and member colleagues for one or more of our upcoming events. Registration is now open on your AWO Member Dashboard, or contact AWO Meetings for assistance.
All employees of AWO member companies are warmly welcome to attend – company executives, operations managers, safety professionals, port captains, mariners, you name it. Your AWO membership benefits all your teammates!
August 1 – Pacific Region Roundtable, San Francisco, CA
August 3 – Midwest Region Roundtable, Chicago, IL
August 16-17 – Safety Committees' Summer Meeting, St. Louis, MO
August 23 – Atlantic Region Roundtable, Staten Island, NY
Register for the Summer AWO Safety Meeting. Join us on August 16 & 17 for the AWO Safety Committees’ Summer Meeting in St. Louis. We have a fantastic slate of subject matter experts and speakers lined up to discuss advances in industry technologies and current safety issues impacting your business. Speaker bios and more details to come! Register today on your AWO Member Dashboard.
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