Page 38: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (June 1989)

U.S. BARGE AND TOWING OPERATIONS

A WO In 1989: Tested By Drought And Ready

To Face New Challenges

By J.A. Tinkey, President

Mid-America Transportation Company

And

Chairman Of The Board Of The American Waterways Operators

Editor's Note: J.A. Tinkey is president of

Mid-America Transportation Company in

Fairview Heights, III. In April 1989, Captain

Tinkey became chairman of the board of the

American Waterways Operators, the nation- al association of the inland and coastal barge industry. During the Drought of '88, he was one of seven barge line executives empowered by the industry to manage the drought crisis.

In times past, industry survival meant being able to react and adapt to change. That perhaps is no longer completely true. Future survival and growth in the coastal and inland trades will require more than adapt- ability and reaction. It will require the ability to predict—to recog- nize—and to manage change—make it work for us, rather than against us. AWO as an association, and the

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On internal association matters, the past years have been strong for

AWO. Many challenges successfully met—programs fulfilled—member- ship growth, and financial goals are being realized, plus many others.

However, there's more work ahead.

AWO has many changes and pro- grams currently underway. Over the past year and perhaps longer, there have been a number of discussions about the need to revisit the method

AWO uses to calculate assess- ments—and the way directors are apportioned by AWO Region. These discussions for the most part have been informal. I believe that the association is now at the point where we must begin to review and examine both of these important matters. It's a big job—but one we need to get on with.

In preparing for the new responsi- bility of being AWO's chairman of the board, I've thought about

AWO—about this exceptional trade organization that each of its mem- bers has helped to shape and to strengthen over the years. I have no concerns about AWO's continuing ability to grow in credibility, strength and representation. If we remain unified. Certainly there will be diversity—an association should never try to avoid it. Diverse opin- ions are not only healthy and educa- tional, they are a natural human character trait. Differing opinions tend to stimulate us; they cause us to get involved, to ask questions, or to find answers. However, in order for the process to work we must allow the positive effects of careful research, intelligent discussions, open debate and finally board ac- tion to prevail—then move on as a unified group. It's imperative. Fail- ing to do this, failing to let the sys- tem work, can only put AWO at risk.

On external association matters, perhaps no issue or event better illustrates AWO's and this indus- try's growing strength and ability to manage change than its handling of the Drought of 1988.

J.A. Tinkey

The river towing industry is young in terms of years; however, in terms of challenge and hardship, we've grown some whiskers. We were tempered during the war years, tested in the floods and ice of the seventies, and suffered severely in the barge industry's terrible eco- nomic depression of the eighties. By the beginning of 1988, the industry was finally seeing an end to the dif- ficult six years of low revenues.

Most Mississippi operators got a running start in the spring of '88, with strong freight sales, good vol- umes and normal operating condi- tions.

Then, in late June, the spring drought hit us with devastating im- pact.

This industry came of age in the

Drought of '88. We stood tall last summer. It was, and still is, a tough time in our business. But standing tall in the tough times has always been a sign of both maturity and professionalism. Both describe our industry last summer. For the first time in our relatively short exis- tence, the towing industry became a pro-active rather than a reactive industry. And it worked. The Corps of Engineers, the Coast Guard and the barging industry—through

AWO—mobilized their forces to wage war against the most severe low-water conditions ever encoun- tered on the Lower Mississippi.

In late June, the water was the lowest anyone remembered, with no

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