Page 26: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (August 1991)

American Waterways Operators Fall Convention

Set For September 12-13 In Washington, D.C. f I ihe American Waterways Opera- -L tors (AWO), the national trade association of the inland and coastal tug and barge industry, will hold its fall convention on September 12-13, 1991, at The Washington Court on

Capitol Hill Hotel in Washington,

D.C. Outstanding attendance is expected from among the AWO's di- rectors, designated representatives and alternates, committee members, shipyard members, directors emeri- tus, and others.

The convention will provide an excellent forum for members to be brought up to date on pertinent is- sues confronting the industry and the association, as well as an oppor- tunity for industry leaders to meet on a social level. Special travel ar- rangements for convention attend- ees have been made by AWO to pro- vide the best rates on air fare and hotel accommodations. The dead- line for registration at the Washing- ton Court on Capitol Hill, 525 New

Jersey Avenue, NW; phone: (202) 628-2100, is Wednesday, August 14.

The 6,200-hp towboat M/V Robert Greene, built by

Jeffboat of Jeffersonville, Ind. 28

On Thursday, September 12, four

AWO Committees will meet throughout the day to provide analy- ses and recommendations to the board at its Friday meeting. The

Health, Safety and Training (HSAT)

Committee will meet from 7 a.m. until 9 a.m. to discuss proposals to define physical ability limitations as required in the Americans with

Disabilities Act, and also to discuss plans for the December HSAT-spon- sored safety seminar. The Legisla- tive Committee meeting follows from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and that commit- tee will discuss issues impacting the barge and towing industry includ- ing the decision by Congress not to use the Inland Waterway Trust Fund for rehabilitation expenditures, pending a clearer definition of the term. From 11 a.m.-noon the Public

Affairs Committee meeting will take place. Items on that committee's agenda include the industry's envi- ronmental initiatives and an up- date on the Lifelines recreational boating safety program. The Regu- latory Committee, which meets from 2-4:30 p.m., will consider the Work- ing Group Reports on Towing Vessel

Inspection; Navigation and Commu- nication Equipment; and Manning,

Licensing, Training, Watchstand- ing, and Pilotage. The Working

Groups were formed last year by

AWO's board of directors to further assess industry operations. These working groups were charged with reviewing the way industry does business in a broad range of areas.

The findings of these working groups will be a central topic of discussion at the convention.

The American Waterways Ship- yard Conference (AWSC) will also be meeting on Thursday morning from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The evening will be highlighted by a reception beginning at 5:30 p.m. for members and guests.

On Friday, September 13, at 8 a.m., the board of directors convenes.

Invited guest speaker, Lt. Gen.

Henry J. Hatch, Chief of Engi- neers and Commander, U.S. Army

Corps of Engineers, is scheduled to speak at 9 a.m. General Hatch's missions in the Corps of Engineers include military construction for both the Army and Air Force, and the Army's civil water resources pro- gram which includes planning, de- sign, construction, operation and maintenance for navigation, flood • control and other purposes nation- ; wide. He is also the senior staff ' engineer for the Army, supervising • the Army's worldwide facilities en- ! gineering and family housing ac-

L tivities and providing advice on com- i bat and topographic engineering.

Prior to his selection as the Chief of i Engineers, General Hatch served i as the Director of Civil Works in the

Corps headquarters and as the As- sistant Chief of Engineers in the i Pentagon. General Hatch has been ; awarded several military decora- ; tions and served in the 101st Air- i borne Division in Vietnam. i Immediately following General

Hatch's remarks, the board of di-

I rectors meeting will resume. In ad- dition to the agenda presented by the committee, the board will con- sider the proposed 1992 budget and r association 1992 business plan. Also i key industry issues and association i initiatives including the Working i Group reports will be discussed.

For further information regard- [ ing the AWO Fall Convention, call

Lori Swenningsen, director of membership and events planning, [ at (703) 841-9300.

Maritime Reporter/Engineering News