Page 66: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (April 2001)

Inland Report

Technology, Image Top Inland Agenda

The North American inland marine market is neither technologically archa- ic nor as environmentally hazardous as many individuals outside of the marine market may think. These two issues dominated a recent meeting sponsored by the Ship Operations Cooperative Pro- gram (SOCP) held in early March at the

Litton-Avondale Shipyard. The prof- itable process of moving products

Circle 279 on Reader Service Card through North America's vast inland waterways systems is increasingly dependent on vessel owners and opera- tors finding and incorporating new tech- nological means and methods to increase efficiencies. Speakers from industry leading companies such as

Kirby Barge Co.; Ingram Barge Co.;

Canal Barge Co.; and American Water- ways Operators (AWO) dominated the day, and gave presentations meant to dispel some commonly held notions as well as update on the market's collective move to technological solutions.

According to AWO's Ken Wells, mar- ket expansion projections are flat both in terms of materials moved and the over- all customer base of shippers. Thus, the onus is on owners and operators to ensure that their fleets are adequately outfitted to save precious time, money and fuel. While Wells stressed that the inland market must continue to find more and more efficient means to move cargo, he admitted that the industry and the technology already incorporated remains the industry's "secret," as many outside of the maritime market don't "understand or acknowledge investment in technology of a transportation mode that can take days or weeks."

While the need for a technological infusion is evident, nearly all speakers echoed the sentiment that the inland industry is in dire need of a good pub- licity boost. As most industry insiders already know, the focus on marine trans- portation is usually connected to an accident, garnering the owners and operators a disproportionate share of "bad press." The owners are hoping to craft and transmit a new message and image, one that focuses on the many positives in the inland marine industry, such as the fact that the marine industry boasts, by a wide margin, the lowest air emission per ton of cargo moved, and that the industry has in place (thanks in large part to OPA 90) the most compre- hensive oil spill containment and clean- up program of any transportation mode.

Ingram Barge Co. Goes High Tech "What can we do to get these vessels up and down the river quicker?" That is the first question asked by Mark

Stevens, Ingram Barge Co., when eval- uating any new and/or improved tech- nology for installation on his company's fleet. Stevens is responsible for ensur- ing that the privately held company's fleet, which includes 62 operating ves- sels and 1,800 barges, cost-efficiently incorporates the latest technology designed to ensure safe and profitable operations. He notes that GPS and elec- tronic charts are two of the more dra- matic changes in technology to hit the inland waterways, but admits he is not yet sold on the exact electronic chart package to select. He notes, for exam- ple, that the current electronic chart offerings vary substantially in both appearance and format, saying that, for example, some systems are North-up "Pilot on Board" HUMPHREE! SYSTEMS Innovative Technology for Speed at Sea

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