Page 36: of Marine News Magazine (November 2021)

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Feature

Inland Waterways © G / Adobe Stock

Bigger picture, though, it also implies being ready for ing from U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) sup- new opportunities. Many people comment that the inland ported projects that are reaching completion. On the waterways are at a jumping-off point, close to taking on a demand side, freight experts report that customers are bigger role in America’s overall freight network. almost frantic for alternatives to a freight delivery system

A number of forces are driving this potential. that is gridlocked or close to it. With freight, as with all

Workforce, again, is fundamental. Yes, waterways opera- things, pricing and timeliness are critical. But dependabil- tors may be working double-time on staf? ng, but so are ity is a huge part of timeliness. For land-based transport, trucking companies and railroads. By choosing the right dependability is elusive, if not absent altogether. People are policies now and developing competitive wages and ben- noticing that waterways can offer competitive rates on a e? ts, waterways companies have a chance to attract, and system with plenty of capacity.

keep, entry level workers and people seeking to take advan- One project that exempli? es this pivot point is the barge tage of new opportunities within an expanding economy. shuttle facility being built at the Ports of Indiana-Jeffer-

After all, waterways employment pays well, providing a sonville on the Ohio River, just north of Louisville. This lucrative career pathway, no college needed to get started. is a MARAD Marine Highway Grant project awarded in

Another driving force is that highways and rail, at least 2020. It will help Nucor Steel, in Kentucky, move steel for freight, and particularly regarding urban infrastructure, coils to customers along the Ohio River. Projections are are close to their physical limits. Even truck-driving robots that river transport will take more than 2000 trucks off will get stuck in traf? c. In the years ahead, Interstate ex- the highways and eliminate more than 130,000 miles in pansion will be marginal. one-way truck hauls.

Marine highways, however, have plenty of capacity, An even bigger project, with far-reaching implications ready now. Recall, the marine highway system is a formal, for the inland system, is the project by American Patriot designated program within U.S. Department of transport Holdings, working with Plaquemines Port Harbor & Ter- (DOT) and among many state DOTs. minal District, to develop and build a speci? c vessel for

On the inland system business, managers see new op- container shipments on the Mississippi, from the Port to portunities emerging. On the supply side, these are com- Memphis, and perhaps to St. Louis. APH of? cials are con- 36 | MN November 2021