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BY THE NUMBERS authorized depth. Most channel dredging occurs under 44 percent. Builders can take hope in the fact that in- the auspices of the USACE. In 2015, USACE dredges land towboats and barges represent 85 percent of U.S. removed 186 million cubic yards of material, match- vessels and that towboats are the oldest with 66 percent ing 2014 totals, but down from 197 million cubic yards are older than 25 years. Nevertheless, barges are among dredged in 2013. Maintenance dredging accounted for the youngest vessels due to retirements and replacement 89 percent of the removed material; the average cost per of older dry cargo barges and acquisition of new tank cubic yard increased 4.7 percent to $5.58, a 41 percent barges, thanks largely to the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 increase over the 2013 cost. 2015 marked the third con- that mandated double hulls for certain vessels.

secutive year that the total material dredged fell below Finally, highway traf? c congestion levels have increased the 238 million cubic yards dredged in 2012; a drop of in all urban areas over the past 30 years. Urban highway 22 percent over the 3-year period. That’s not good news. congestion cost the economy $160 billion in 2014, of

Table 1-9 provides age distributions of U.S. ? ag ves- which 17.5 percent, or $28 billion, was largely due to sels for 2000 to 2015; a ? eet that got younger over that congestion that affected trucks. BTS didn’t say it, but we period. That’s not surprising given the Jones Act building will: the increased use of ferries and marine highways is boom that has slowed, but not yet ended. The percent the clear route to reducing this highway – and rail – con- of vessels younger than 16 years increased from 34 to gestion to manageable levels.

Read the 251-page BTS Report at: https://www.bts.gov/tsar17

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MN