Page 21: of Marine News Magazine (November 2023)

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ernized locks and dams and ensuring that the U.S. Army removing bureaucratic impediments to technological in-

Corps of Engineers and Coast Guard have access to the novation by early adopters, to helping companies that will dredgers, buoy tenders and other assets needed to keep never have a business case for an electric tug take meaning- navigation running safely and smoothly. It means exploit- ful steps toward reducing emissions from existing vessels. ing the potential of digitization and data to optimize ef- The collective impact of helping every vessel owner do bet- ? ciency, reduce idling, and lower emissions. ter than they are today – rather than trying (impossibly) to

And while it’s critical to pursue policies that help ves- make everyone do the same thing – will be transformative. sel operators lead on sustainability by encouraging a shift Alongside our advocacy for enlightened public policy, AWO toward waterways and maximizing ef? ciency, it’s equally is committed to supporting members in their individual ef- important to make sure policymakers do no harm to an forts to reduce their environmental impact by developing industry so vital to a more sustainable future. That means best practices; facilitating information-sharing; and increas- eschewing policies that create inconsistent or duplicative ing access to funding opportunities and other resources to regulatory patchworks, or impose infeasible requirements support the adoption of sustainable technologies. like we have regrettably seen with the California Air Re- The tugboat, towboat and barge industry is a critical sources Board’s insistence on unsafe technologies and un- economic driver and indispensable security asset for the workable timelines. United States. By leveraging our collective strength and in-

Ours is a diverse industry of hundreds of companies and genuity to tell our story, advance supportive public policy, thousands of vessels, each with its own set of business driv- and empower companies across our industry in pursuing ers, operational needs and human and ? nancial resources. continuous environmental improvement, we will further

We need public policies that support all vessel owners in establish ourselves as a proactive sustainability leader and taking the next steps on their sustainability journey – from partner for years to come. www.marinelink.com MN 21|