Page 22: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (June 2020)

INSIghtS: amerICaN WaterWayS operatorS 2020 yearbook

Business Continuity,

Not Business as Usual

By Jennifer Carpenter n today’s environment, the overarching challenge for the The state of the industry in this moment can best be captured

American tugboat, towboat and barge industry is to con- through the three lenses of health and safety, continuity of op- tinue transporting the vital commodities that help keep our erations and the overall economic landscape.

Ination’s economy moving during a highly uncertain time, In the earliest days of the pandemic, companies across the while taking all necessary measures to ensure the health and country immediately recognized that the key to keeping vessels safety of our workforce as the COVID-19 pandemic continues and commerce moving was keeping crews healthy. Companies to evolve – in other words, to ensure business continuity, while have worked aggressively to put in place preventive measures recognizing we are not, nor can we be, going about business to minimize contact between crew members and non-crew and as usual. This industry, long defned by its adaptability and re- mitigate transmission risk onboard. These protocols are being siliency, is fully embracing this challenge as it navigates the refned continuously as pandemic developments require, and as present and looks toward the future. companies actively communicate with and learn from one an- other. While these efforts have been largely successful in keeping coronavirus from signifcantly penetrating our mariner workforce, continued vigilance is impera- tive.

Even as the industry focuses on keeping crews healthy, it continues to perform the critical functions on which our nation has always depended and needs even more so now. Crews continue to deliver energy, agricultural and industrial cargoes that are indispens- able drivers of the American economy, and they are also providing direct pandemic relief by transporting commodities that support production of personal pro- tective equipment and by conducting ship-assists to help Navy hospital ships dock safely.

That the nation’s tugboat, towboat and barge com- panies are navigating today’s challenges is testament not only to the skill and dedication of the men and women of this industry, but also to their resilience.

The industry’s extensive experience with contingency planning, safety management systems and incident command structures has served it well in managing the health, safety and operational challenges posed by the pandemic.

But, it is far from smooth sailing on the economic front. While the tugboat, towboat and barge industry did not experience the abrupt destruction of demand that, for example, the passenger vessel sector expe- rienced, we are seeing signifcant ripple effects as many customer industries (oil and gas, steel, construc- tion, etc.) have been hit hard by the pandemic and the accompanying economic downturn. At the same time, the industry has incurred unbudgeted costs to imple- 22 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • June 2020