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72,000 tons. The industry is working with Congress to ensure dredging na- tionally is funded in FY15 at the level called for in the Water Resources Re- form and Development Act: $1.166 billion. Year-to-date, U.S.-ß ag cargo movement stands at 71.3 million tons, a decrease of 2.8 percent com- pared to the same point in 2013. MARAD Tests Alternative Power for Vessels The Maritime Administration (MARAD) is testing state-of-the-art, environmentally efÞ cient technol- ogy onboard the Training Ship (TS) Kennedy. The National Defense Re- serve Fleet vessel was provided to the Massachusetts Maritime Acad- emy by MARAD for Cadet training. This one-year undertaking is part of a MARAD initiative to test fuel cells as a source of power for shipboard electrical systems. Researchers will evaluate the performance of the fuel cell technology and how low sulfur marine diesel fuel can be used to ef-Þ ciently power a fuel cell to produce auxiliary power. Unlike using low sulfur fuel in diesel engine generators to provide electrical power, the system produces no harmful air emissions. Bouchard Transportation Accepts 2014 AMS Safety Award Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc., the nationÕs largest independently- owned ocean-going petroleum barge company, was honored by American Maritime Safety, Inc. (AMS) with the 2014 AMS Tug & Barge Safety Award on Thursday, October 23, 2014. The award, accepted by Morty Bouchard IV, Vice President of Operations & Sales, recognizes the implementation of outstanding compliance programs that serve to enhance crewmember ef- Þ ciency and the safe operation of tug and barge vessels in the U.S. coastal waters. AMS is a non-proÞ t maritime trade association, which facilitates the maritime industryÕs compliance with international shipping protocols and U.S. Coast Guard regulations. The AMS consortium is comprised of more than 400 vessel owners and operators. LNG America, Buffalo Marine Sign Cooperation Agreement LNG America and Buffalo Marine Service, Inc. (Buffalo Marine) will cooperate on the design of an LNG bunker fuel network for the U.S. Gulf Coast region. LNG America is developing a hub-and-spoke delivery system for LNG as fuel for the ma-rine market and other high horse- power applications. Ultimately, LNG America intends to establish a delivery infrastructure to ensure the secure and safe delivery of LNG as fuel in major US ports. Buffalo Marine is a Gulf of Mexico bunkering company with over 50 vessels dedicated to bunkering. The agreement incorporates Buffalo MarineÕs logistical, commercial, and administrative expertise with LNG AmericaÕs experience with LNG as fuel for high horsepower applications. ÒCombining the bunkering experi-ence of Buffalo Marine with our LNG experience and our progress towards building the infrastructure necessary to support LNG bunkering will help us to provide the best possible service to the emerging LNG fueled marine customers while using the best safety practices available from both indus- tries,Ó said Keith Meyer, President and CEO of LNG America.LaGrange Cites Double-Digit Cargo Growth Economic development wins, new services and expanded agreements have resulted in record operating rev- enues and strong, double-digit cargo growth in 2014, Port President and CEO Gary LaGrange said during the annual State of the Port Address hosted by the International Freight Forwarders and Customs Brokers As- sociation of New Orleans last month. LaGrange cited the return of Chiquita to New Orleans after a 40-year ab- sence, as an historic win for the mari-time community. For the Þ rst eight months of 2014, total general cargo was up 25 percent compared to a year ago, totaling 5.89 million tons, com-pared to 4.7 million tons for the same period a year ago. PEOPLE & COMPANY NEWS Training Ship (TS) Kennedy Great LakesLake Level Viewerwww.marinelink.com MN 55MN Dec14 Layout 50-59.indd 55MN Dec14 Layout 50-59.indd 5511/24/2014 3:54:55 PM11/24/2014 3:54:55 PM