AWO Letter - April 8, 2025
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DOT Seeks Help in Identifying Regulations to Remove. The Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) soliciting comments and information to help identify regulations, guidance, paperwork requirements, and other obligations that can be mitigated or repealed. This effort is in compliance with a number of Executive Orders aimed at deregulation, including E.O. 14192, which requires 10 regulations to be removed for every one introduced. Through this process, DOT seeks to remove regulatory burdens while continuing to meet statutory requirements. Comments are due May 5, 2025. AWO is engaged with DOT and will be submitting comments on behalf of our members. |
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Small Shipyard Grants Funding Opportunity Now Open. The Maritime Administration (MARAD) has recently announced the availability of $8.75 million in funding for the Small Shipyard Grant Program. The notice of funding opportunity details the application process. The grant program is intended to provide aid for capital and related improvements for qualified small shipyards or provide workforce training in shipbuilding, ship repair, and associated industries. Applications close May 15, 2025. |
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AWO Organizes New York Barge-In. On March 26, AWO members and staff traveled to Albany, NY for a series of meetings with state legislators and regulators. In one day, AWO's delegation met with 11 key legislators or their staff and senior staff with the Department of Environmental Conservation to discuss the Jones Act, Hudson River anchoring, the Champlain Hudson Power Express project, alternative fuels, workforce development, and other issues. Representatives from the Towboat and Harbor Carriers Association and the Maritime Association of the Port of New York and New Jersey also participated. Many thanks to AWO members from McAllister Towing, Moran Towing, Haugland Marine Service, and Stasinos Marine Service for taking the time to join this effort. |
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AWO Testifies before Washington Legislature as Session Winds Down. Peter Schrappen, AWO Vice President - Pacific Region and Regional Team Leader, testified on March 31 in opposition to two tax measures before the state Senate's Ways and Means Committee. The first proposal would eliminate the preferential business and occupation (B&O) tax rate on stevedoring services and the second piece would introduce a public utilities tax on the shipment of interstate goods. The Columbia River Steamship Operators Association, Washington Public Ports Association, Pacific Merchant Shipping Association and nearly ten other maritime voices joined Peter at this hearing to advocate for our industry. |
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RIETF Holds Annual Meeting, Elects New Members. The River Industry Executive Task Force (RIETF) met on April 4, led by RIETF Co-Chairs Russ Lampkins, Ingram Barge Company; and MG Kimberly Peeples, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mississippi Valey Division Commander. Attendees discussed a variety of topics including high water coordination, lock closures and maintenance, hurricane planning, federal government hiring freezes, and the Lower Mississippi River Comprehensive Management Study. Prior to the annual meeting, RIETF held its annual nomination process and selected the following members for two-year terms:
Russ Lampkins, Ingram Barge Company, and Walt Wepfer, Wepfer Marine, Inc., were also elected to serve as Co-Chair and Vice Chair, respectively. RIETF is a standing committee of AWO whose mission is to foster ongoing dialogue between senior decision-makers within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, and industry to enable smooth coordination during crisis situations and avoid future crises. |
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AWO Participates in We Work the Waterways Event. We Work the Waterways connects students to the maritime industry through engaging, hands-on learning activities. Jill Bessetti, AWO Vice President - Southern Region, served on a panel at a recent event in Louisiana, addressing over 100 high school students currently enrolled in welding, carpentry, and business classes. The students were motivated to hear about the range of opportunities in the maritime industry to use the skills they are learning. All AWO members are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to share your story and your world of work with the next generation of maritime leaders. If you would like more information or would like to participate in a We Work the Waterways event, contact AWO's Patrick Parsons (pparsons@americanwaterways.com) or Mike Breslin (mbreslin@americanwaterways.com) |
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SCI Honors AWO Members at 2025 Maritime Bell Luncheon. Seamen's Church Institute recently hosted its annual Maritime Bell Luncheon in Houston, at which AWO Board Member John Roberts, CEO of Ingram Marine Group, received the Maritime Bell Award in recognition for his outstanding contributions to the maritime industry; and Scott Glatter, Training Specialist at Kirby Inland Marine, LLC received the Outstanding Trainer Award. The event raised $275,000 to advance SCI's mission in support of the well-being of mariners. Congratulations to John and Scott on this well-deserved recognition! Photos courtesy of SCI. |
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Call For Q1 Safety Statistics Reporting Program Data. AWO's Safety Statistics Reporting Program (SSRP) data for the first quarter is due before April 30. Carrier members are urged to submit their data using the following secure link: https://awo.salixhub.com. The SSRP offers a secure, confidential platform for tracking key safety metrics and benchmarking performance across the industry and is crucial to AWO's ability to benchmark and trend member data against the tugboat, towboat and barge industry as a whole as well as other transportation modes.
To view a list of current contributing members, please visit https://awo.salixhub.com/contributing-members/. Thank you to everyone who has made timely submissions to the program! |
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AWO Spring Convention Registration is Open! Register today to secure your spot at AWO's can't-miss event. This year's convention will feature keynote sessions from government officials, networking events, and our annual Barge-In advocacy day on Capitol Hill. Login to the AWO Member Dashboard to register and contact AWO Meetings if you need assistance. |
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AWO Hiring Legislative Affairs Manager. AWO is looking for an experienced professional to join our legislative affairs team. The ideal candidate will have at least five years of experience managing a portfolio of public policy issues on Capitol Hill (preferably in the Senate), have good relationships with Congressional staff on both sides of the aisle, and be familiar with the committee process. Read the full job description and how to apply here. |
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