Page 6: of Marine News Magazine (February 2020)

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EDITOR’S NOTE

The United States’ 25,000-plus miles of navigable waterways provide the safest, most economical and environmentally friendly means for inland transport. The importance of this system and its enormous value to our nation, quite simply, cannot be overstated.

Although this notion may be lost on many, if not most, within the American public, it will always be front and center in this publication – especially in this edition, our ? rst quarter inland waterways report.

The essential role of inland waterways for the American agriculture industry in par- ticular is laid out in this month’s By the Numbers, based on a 2019 report, “Importance of Inland Waterways to U.S. Agriculture”. Highlighted are the economic impacts of this vital network, as well as the short- and long-term effects of much-needed infrastructure maintenance and improvements.

This edition also features the voices of several industry champions who have made it their work go to bat for the U.S. maritime industry, including, of course, river transport.

Longtime AWO staffer Jennifer Carpenter recently took the helm as president and CEO of the trade group, and this month weighs in on all things inland waterways.

Tom Ewing’s feature story gives an update on a topic that is crucial – and sometimes challenging – to those operating on U.S. waterways. Subchapter M, Ewing writes, “pro- gresses in waters that aren’t yet placid, but surely navigable”. Are you up to speed?

While there’s plenty more in these pages on inland waterways transportation, Barry

Parker turns our attention to the coastwise trade, checking the pulse of the ATB market with updates from some of the industry’s largest players.

As always, thanks for reading.

Eric Haun, Editor, [email protected]

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February 2020 6 MN