Page 12: of Marine News Magazine (June 2023)

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Insights and retain the right type of people. “We have to run the boat,” Ellis said. “We like to say the biggest asset someone business safely, and we have to have quali? ed people that are has to invest is their time, and we’re very cognizant of the willing to make a career in this business. But 28 days on and fact that their investment needs to pay returns. We are do- 28 days off—that’s probably our most popular schedule—it’s ing more to ful? ll their mentorship, help them advance not for everyone,” Ellis said. “We can’t pay our way and hire faster. The faster you advance, the more money you make, our way out of this. We have to train our way out of this. We obviously, but also the quicker you can get to the position have to invest in the future of our people, by continuing to that’s your goal, whether it’s in the wheelhouse or the port train and keep a pipeline of quali? ed mariners ready to step captain, come onshore. There’s a lot of different oppor- up to that next position when we have either a retirement or tunities, and having that mentor and that career path are someone leaving the industry for some other reason. That is important. And we ? nd that as we’ve been more proactive something our industry works on as a whole, and we spend in that effort, our retention rates have gone up.” a lot of time working at ACBL to make it the most attractive place for mariners who want to start a career.” Navigating the market

Ellis said ACBL has seen its ? ow of applicants grow after The barging industry has been stronger of late than it was the company expanded its search efforts beyond the areas say ? ve years ago. “Demand has been strong, and supply has it has traditionally pulled talent from, tapping into areas been somewhat limited or shrinking,” Ellis said. “And severe hit by slowdowns in other industries. “We’ve had to go out weather events, as bad as they are, tend to constrict supply and ? nd those applicants. It didn’t just happen,” Ellis said. even more. When you’re running a low water at 40 to 50% of “It’s been a team effort to go to those communities where the barges you normally carry on a boat or a tow, that does a we could be most effective.” lot to the cost, but it also decreases your capacity as an indus-

ACBL has also had great success through in-company try, because you only have so many boats, and if you’re only mentorships for its new hires, with the aim to help the carrying half the barges on those boats, that affects the over- next generation meet their goals and advance their careers. all supply that we can bring to the market. So, when these “We’ve made sure that their mentors are keeping contact weather events happen, that tighten the market even more.” with them even during the periods when they’re not on the Do the economics support newbuilding? “They may to-

ACBL 12 | MN June 2023

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