Page 39: of Marine News Magazine (September 2017)

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INLAND BARGE LOGISTICS two to three different systems like it resins and tires; Port (ACP), in Granite City, IL, would if (the freight) was on the west ¾ dependable, regular service received a MARAD grant for an coast or the east coast. That is appeal- – shippers can count on 18-month demonstration project ing and our hope is that we can grab SEACOR’s weekly transport; providing shuttle service for agricul- everything that wants the ? exibility to ¾ operational model that tural customers moving containerized carry a little bit more cargo. Port man- coordinates ports – NOLA, exports to access the Union Paci? c agers are looking closely at this now, Baton Rouge and Memphis – and BNSF rail ramps. The shuttle now that the system has been working for SEACOR. service will operate on the Illinois and for over a year.” Mississippi Rivers between Channa-

As noted above, St. Louis Regional Last October, America’s Central hon and Granite City, Ill., with an

Freightway of? cials are keeping a close eye on COB developments. St. Louis is the nation’s third largest inland port, said Mary Lamie, Freightway’s

Executive Director. The Freightway works with 200 river terminals and three public ports, all with COB ca- pabilities – docks, hardware, rail and cranes. “We’re ready to go,” Lamie commented, adding that Freightway of? cials view COB as critical for fu- ture freight volumes.

Still, Lamie knows that additional homework needs to be done before

COB can scale up. Her advice: clearly identifying the commodities and prod- ucts best suited for COB. The right shippers are needed; companies who can create the volumes necessary so that bulk costs, indeed, come down.

Finally, Lamie said that demonstration projects are still needed to clearly show reliability, ef? ciency and decreased risk.

She said COB expansion depends on creating a network among inland ports. “One step we’ve taken is to ? nd out if there are ways we can bundle containerized cargo as it heads to New

Orleans, to build volume.” Initial out- reach involves Paducah, KY, and Lou- isville. MARAD is helping fund this work. Lamie’s comments align with

SEACOR’s successful start.

Keys to Inland COB Success: ¾ aggr egating equipment and freight; ¾ identifying suitable COB cargo – for SEACOR, 39 www.marinelink.com MN