American Waterways HERO Award - Nominate Your Crew for Heroic Acts

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

At the recent Winter Safety and Combined Regions Meeting in Nashville, AWO was proud to recognize 50 mariners involved in ten rescue events. These mariners were honored for events submitted for the HERO Award since August of last year.

"It is inspiring to have so many mariners to recognize at these ceremonies - and while the number of mariners we have the honor of awarding account for many rescues, the total number of rescues that take place on our waterways each day is even greater," said AWO Senior Director of Safety and Sustainability, Mike Breslin. "These men and women are first responders by necessity - this is not just part of their job, but a responsibility that every mariner takes to heart. Their training, professionalism, and selflessness are the definition of heroism, and America owes them a debt of gratitude."

AWO will hold its next HERO Aware ceremony on August 14 in Chicago during the AWO Summer Safety Meeting. To nominate your crew's efforts, fill out this simple form at https://www.americanwaterways.com/hero-award. Each event is recognized with a certificate of recognition for the vessel, 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.

Since the ceremony in February, AWO has received several new nominations. We are proud to announce the most recent winners of the American Waterways HERO Award!

For more information about the HERO Award Program, contact Michael Breslin.

Fall Overboard Protection System Inspired by Mountaineers Demonstrated in Nashville

Overboard Prevention Training, LLC recently showcased its lightweight, portable fall overboard prevention system in Nashville, demonstrating its success in eliminating falls overboard for over 450 crew members across 60 towboats over two years. The 2-pound system, adapted from rock climbing and technical rope rescue, includes a tether, anchor sling, and belt. OPT provides site assessments, equipment sales, and customized training to enhance mariner safety.

For more information about this system and other industry-leading fall overboard prevention systems, please contact Lillie Wightman.

AWO Member High-Value Near Miss and Best Practices: Request

AWO wants to promote your organization's safety program! Please share your tips, best practices, lessons learned, near misses, or other resources using the AWO High-Value Near Miss Form or by emailing safety@americanwaterways.com. All identifying details are removed from submissions for near misses, or by request for all other types of submissions.

Coast Guard and BSEE Issue Safety Alerts

The U.S. Coast Guard and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement have published the following four safety alerts in recent months. Visit the links to learn more about each one:

• BSEE Safety Alert 497 - Weather Creates Sudden and Unpredictable Risks
• BSEE Safety Alert 496 - Misidentification of Corrosion Hazard Results in High Potential Event
• USCG Safety Alert 06-25 - Bow Seating Ejection Hazard (related to recreational boating)
• USCG Safety Alert 07-25 - Stocking Stuffers that Go Boom: Know the Explosion Hazards of Coal
• USCG Safety Alert 08-25 - Recalled Defective Mechanical Heat Detectors

Stakeholders are urged to review these alerts in detail to enhance safety measures and prevent incidents. Please contact Michael Breslin for more information.

Safety Professional Profile

William "Bowtie Bill" Barr has dedicated over five decades to the river industry, beginning his career during college and rising through the ranks to the role of Vice President of Safety and Compliance at Amherst Madison Inc., from which he recently retired. In recognition of his enduring commitment, Amherst Madison recently honored Capt. Barr's 50-year tenure by naming the M/V William R. Barr in his honor, a vessel that continues to navigate the Ohio River under the company's flag.

Building and sustaining a strong safety culture is a challenge for any organization. How has Amherst Madison fostered its safety culture, and can you share a story where these efforts made a real difference for the team?

During new hire orientations the first point we want to make is "Safety is a Condition of Employment," and I make a point of asking new hires what that means to them. We also emphasize our "March to ZERO" safety program, which is comprised of key indicators such as zero personal incidents, zero harm to the environment, zero harm to equipment, and zero falls overboard. I then explain what each point means and share our company's safety record which, as of the last date we published and distributed the report, stood at zero spills to the water or deck since November 28, 2017, or 2,578 days; and zero falls overboard since February 16, 2022, or 1,037 days. 

During our orientation we also show a video by Charlie Morecraft titled "REMEMBER CHARLIE." The film is centered around Charlie's near-death experience of being burned over 50% of his body, resulting from his poor attitude about safety and ignoring established procedures in his refinery operations because he said the procedure would have taken "half the night" and he was in a hurry. 

Other topics we cover during orientation include falls overboard prevention; slips, trips, and falls; confined space; and hydrogen sulfide awareness. Helping to drive the message home, we make these personal by including "war stories" of incidents that have happened in the past to our crewmembers.

And training does not end with orientation! We hold regular safety meetings with our crews on crew-change days, which are the 10th, 20th, and 30th at 0600 hours. Each month features a different safety focus, covering TSMS, VGP and security compliance, recent personnel incidents, recent vessel incidents, and vessel discrepancies found in audits. To help crewmembers better understand regulatory requirements, when able, we bring in MSU Huntington representatives to have open regulatory and operations discussions. This also provides an opportunity for the Coast Guard to become acquainted with our crewmembers.

We also send the boats monthly safety meeting topics that cover training requirements from the RCP and Subchapter M. Within these safety meeting materials, we include a list summarizing lost time personnel incidents, vessel incidents, near misses, and a list of vessels (in chronological date order) that have experienced a lost time personnel incident. We also include a quiz, which all crewmembers are required to answer and submit.

Additionally, written on the header on each safety material page are the words "Think Through It Before You Do It." We include this because it is my strong belief that repetition helps retention - unless you make an issue out of something, people will forget about it.

The goal of all of these efforts is to share safety issues with our crews. Keeping safety thoughts in our minds is a constant challenge and we want safety to be first in thought and not an afterthought.    

How does all of this impact your crews? What is the crew's reaction to the constant messaging?

We had a former pilot return to Amherst Madison after working elsewhere and he hugged me because we made a big deal out of safety compared to his former place of employment. Several of our Captains, Pilots, and crewmembers have expressed their gratitude for our attention to safety. Our crewmembers have told me our emphasis on safety makes it more enjoyable to work here. The gratitude that I receive is proof that we are doing the right thing by putting such a strong emphasis on safe operations. Our insurers also like this emphasis, and we have realized premium reductions because of the results of our safety program. 

During crew change meetings I will often ask regarding personal safety, "Who is the most important person wearing those boots?" The intent of the question is to get the answer "I am!" I want the crews to know that the most important safety device is the worker, himself.

What are some of the safety-related challenges your customers and partners face today, and what actions is the organization taking to address these challenges? 

Probably like us, the challenges would be maintaining the safety focus, keeping our minds engaged, thinking about what can go wrong, taking actions ahead of time to prevent an incident, and reporting on the gaps found in periodic inspections, audits and surveys of their boats. Moving forward I believe we all are getting better and that deserves complimenting our crewmembers on their progress, which helps to create pride in the work they do and pride in their boats.

You have been highly successful in your career! Can you share how you came to work in the marine industry and any advice you have for someone considering the maritime transportation industry as a career?

I would say to anyone considering a career in the maritime industry that they should go for it!  The maritime industry offers great opportunities for advancement and pay rates commensurate with the responsibilities of those positions. It offers a good family wage job with benefits. The river has been a good friend to me and my family, and I believe it is a great career for anyone who is willing to invest in themselves and the maritime industry.

Falls Overboard, Near Miss Collection, Incident Investigation, and More Presented at Winter Safety Meeting

On February 17-18, AWO members convened in Nashville for the Winter Combined Regions and Safety Committee Meeting to discuss key advocacy and safety initiatives. Highlights included a report by the AWO Falls Overboard Subcommittee, a demonstration of a fall overboard-prevention tethering system designed by Overboard Prevention Training, a safety moment presented by Signal Mutual, and a review of a new AWO initiative to track near misses. Day two featured a safety moment by the American Equity Underwriters, a presentation by the AWO Moveable Bridges Quality Partnership, a discussion with safety, insurance, and legal professionals on navigating incident investigations when legal risks are involved, and a conversation about how AWO can best share boater safety information with all stakeholders on multi-use waterways.

Presentation materials and additional meeting content are now available on the AWO Resources Page. Please save the date for the Spring Convention on May 12-14 in Washington, DC, and the Summer Safety Committee Meeting August 13-14 in Chicago, IL.

To learn more about the agenda or to share topic ideas, please email safety@americanwaterways.com.

NTSB Reports On Chalmette Refinery Dock Collapse

Recently published NTSB Reports included the conclusion of an investigation into the April 25, 2023 collapse of a section of the Chalmette Refinery crude oil dock on the Lower Mississippi River. The collapse occurred as a towing vessel maneuvered two loaded tank barges to land on the dock using the river current to fall at less than .4 mph into position on the dock. According to data recorders and the NTSB investigation, the dock collapse occurred immediately after the inside barge touched up to the dock. The collapse caused extensive damage to pipelines, bridges, and pilings, with repair costs estimated at $7 million. Investigators determined the collapse was due to the degraded condition of the dock's no. 3 dolphin transfer platform. No injuries or pollution were reported.

Though the NTSB deemed the cause to be a lack of maintenance and decay of the dock constructed in 1967, the investigation is linked to the towing vessel and thus listed as a maritime incident. This type of event underscores the importance of AWO's Tankering and Barge Operations Subcommittee Terminal Near Miss Program, which aims to collect near misses related to terminal events and work with terminal owners to prevent incidents in the future.

Stakeholders are encouraged to regularly review NTSB incident reports to share lessons learned and to incorporate preventative actions into their Safety Management Systems. To learn more about the Terminal Near Miss Program, please contact Lillie Wightman. To report a near miss, use AWO's simple High-Value Near Miss Form.

USCG Interactive LNM Website and Third Party ECS Updates - UPDATE 4 - March 2025

Following the U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center's (NAVCEN's) December release of a GIS-based charting application and updates to Local Notice to Mariners and the Light List, AWO engaged with NAVCEN and commercial electronic charting system (ECS) providers to ensure seamless integration. NAVCEN's system enables near-real-time electronic chart updates for discrepancies in aids to navigation (ATONs) and navigation-impacting events. Commercial ECS providers, including Rosepoint, have worked to incorporate these new functions. AWO recently confirmed that Rosepoint's subscription program now supports automatic chart updates.

While the new commercial systems are designed to meet Coast Guard chart and publication carriage requirements, users are encouraged to verify compliance with their service provider to ensure they meet all regulations.

Related Links:

• User guide for the interactive platform
• USCG-NAVCEN: Digital Chart Tool
• Summary of Changes

For more information, please see AWO's Resources page for a summary of all recent changes to ECS. Please direct questions to Liam Morcroft.

Coast Guard Updates Maximum Fine for Improper Bridge Operation and Other Civil Penalties

Pursuant to its statutory authority, the U.S. Coast Guard conducts an annual review and adjustment of civil penalty amounts to account for inflation and maintain the deterrent effect of such penalties. In accordance with this mandate, the Coast Guard has revised the maximum civil penalties applicable to violations related to improper drawbridge operation and bridges constituting unreasonable obstructions to navigation, as set forth in 33 U.S.C. 495(b), 33 U.S.C. 499(c), 33 U.S.C. 502(c), and 33 U.S.C. 533(b). Effective this year, the maximum civil penalty per violation per day has increased to $36,439, an adjustment from the prior year's $34,401 per violation per day. A comprehensive list of revised penalties is available at 33 CFR 27.3.

As a reminder, AWO members who experience near-miss events caused or contributed to by bridge operations, including delays resulting from inoperable drawbridges or fixed bridges with improper navigation lighting, are asked to report these events to the AWO Bridge Event Reporting Program, using this simple form or by email to bridges@americanwaterways.com.

Please contact Liam Morcroft with any questions about this article or the Bridge Event Reporting Program.

National Safety Council Discount for AWO Members to Attend Waterborne Transportation Meeting in Houston

Registration is open for the NSC's Waterborne Transport Group Spring 2025 meeting on April 29-30 in Houston, Texas. AWO safety and industry professionals come together each spring and winter to discuss vessel safety, incident prevention, and new risk mitigation practices in the marine sector. The Houston Agenda includes a presentation on AWO's Falls Overboard Report, a discussion about extreme weather preparations, annual benchmarking review, and more. AWO Members enjoy a 50% discount for this meeting and may qualify for discounted NSC membership:

• Registration for AWO Members who are also NSC Members is $32.50: NSC Members
• Registration for AWO Members who are not NSC members is $50.00: Non-NSC Members

For more information, please contact AWO's Michael Breslin or Jessica Pack at the National Safety Council.

EPA Updates Fuel Quality Regulations

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently updated its fuel quality regulations under the Fuels Regulatory Streamlining Rule. EPA includes provisions to allow for certifying fuel loaded onto domestic marine vessels, affecting producers, distributors, and sellers of transportation fuels.

Updates include amended marine fuel definitions, stipulations on when 500 ppm LM diesel may be used, prohibitions on vessels from departing facilities or discharging until they comply with per-gallon standards, and changes to requirements that vessel compartments be sampled and tested independently and that no loading or blending occurs after sampling and certification. These updates will be effective beginning July 1, 2025.

For further information, please contact Lillie Wightman.

SSRP Program Updates - New Tracking Tool for Contributing Members

AWO recently improved a valuable resource for our members by upgrading the AWO Safety Statistics Reporting Program (SSRP). The upgrade significantly enhanced many aspects of the SSRP by, among other improvements:

• Reducing download speeds from several minutes to seconds.
• Adding severity matrices that provide members with a tool to segregate critical and less severe injuries.
• Clarifying terminology to align injury classification definitions with USCG regulations.
• Adding a tracker displaying the number of contributing companies for each data point on the SSRP report.

All AWO members have access to the SSRP program as a benefit of membership and carrier members are strongly encouraged to enter data on a quarterly basis as the value of the program is directly tied to the rate of participation. More participation means better representation of the true incident statistics of our member companies.

Fourth quarter 2024 SSRP data was due January 31, 2025. If you have 2024 or older data that has not been entered, please add it as soon as possible. Members who contributed data in 2024 will be listed as "current contributing members" on the report produced in Q1 2025.

If you have questions, issues, or suggestions for program improvement, please email safety@americanwaterways.com.

Towing Vessel Inspection Bureau (TVIB) Releases 2025 Schedule

The Towing Vessel Inspection Bureau (TVIB) has released its schedule for training and certification programs that equip auditors and surveyors with the knowledge and tools necessary to conduct inspections for Responsible Carrier Program and Subchapter M compliance. They offer a range of classes for qualification, including:

• Drydock & Internal Structural Examination Course: A three-day course training surveyors on Subchapter M drydock and internal structural exams. Offered April 29-May 1 in Houston, TX, and November 4-6 in Paducah, KY. More info.
• Towing Safety Management System (TSMS) Course: A three-day course prepares auditors to assess TSMS compliance under Subchapter M, including AWO's Responsible Carrier Program. Scheduled for September or October (TBD). More info. 
• Annual Survey of Towing Vessels (ASTV) Course: A three-day course instructing external (third-party) auditors on how to audit a company's TSMS, with an emphasis on companies using the American Waterways Operators' Responsible Carrier Program as the framework for their TSMS. Scheduled March 18-20, in Paducah, KY, and August 26-28, in Houston, TX. More info.

Does That PPE Fit You?

In a recent Safety and Health Article, the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) compiled a list of PPE providers offering properly fitting gear for female, nonbinary, and transgender workers, addressing safety risks that can arise from ill-fitting equipment. The list includes specialized workwear, fall protection, and respirators, all of which must fit correctly to achieve the protection they are designed to provide.