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www.marinelink.com MN 41 2010 boats with Z-Drive azimuth thrusters. “We stay focused on 1,200 hp to 6,000 hp vessels for the Inland waterways. Our new unique design will save operators at least 30% per day in fuel cost.”

The yard’s plan is to get in on an emerging market. “Diesel electric and Z- dive technology will drive the next round of new vessels,” Reidt said. “Things change very slowly in our market but the time has come for more aggressive build strategies and use of ‘green’ technology. The next big market we feel is going to be

LNG barges.”

Reidt also believes that changing

Coast Guard rules for inspected ves- sels will create a strong need for refurbishing and repairs of older boats. But he doesn’t think much of how the government in general has supported the maritime industry. “MARAD is totally unavailable for the little guy,” Reidt said. “Our gov- ernment talks a great game about things like the Great Marine

Highway Initiative, which to date has done nothing but line politi- cians’ pockets. The investment in our water borne systems and their vessels would return more benefits, such as immediate increases in high paying blue collar jobs, thousands of construction jobs fixing the deterio- rated condition of our locks and dams, than anything else in

Congress.” “Without barges and towboats,” he said “a single loaf of bread could cost over $55 just to get the grain to a mill to turn it into bread.”

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