Bunge North America announced last week that it will sell 35 U.S. grain origination elevators along the Mississippi River to Zen-Noh Grain Corp. (ZGC) The completion of the sale is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval.
Zen-Noh is a subsidiary of the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations of Japan (Zen-Noh).
“This transaction will allow Bunge to operate more efficiently and reinvest in higher returning areas of the company while reducing...
While all eyes are on the coronavirus pandemic, high water on the inland waterway system is making its presence known once again this year. High water conditions on the system in 2019 created an abundance of problems for inland waterways operators, as portions of the river were closed periodically throughout the year.
This year is not starting off too well either. The Army Corps of Engineer’s Mississippi Valley Division (MVN) announced it was opening the Bonnet Carré Spillway on April 2.
The...
It took a pandemic for Congress to finally make a long-sought change to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) that would allow the full amount of deposits to the fund to be used to finance dredging of coastal and inland harbors and ports.
The change is tucked inside the expansive $2 trillion emergency aid bill passed by Congress two weeks ago to help the nation respond to the coronavirus outbreak.
Known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES), the legislation provides...
The Coast Guard has set Great Lakes pilots’ rates for the 2020 shipping season about 1% higher than last year due to increased operating expenses, an additional pilot and anticipated inflation.
The rates that are up in five of the six service areas and down in one differ from the proposed rule which would have slightly lowered shippers’ costs for the first time in several years.
Beginning May 11, hourly pay per pilot which varies by district will range from $337 to $758, compared to $306 to $733...
As part of its evolving effort to keep the barge industry informed about how best to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, the American Waterways Operators held a webinar on Tuesday to discuss best ways to protect crews and vessels from infection.
AWO members had the chance to ask questions to Dr. Christopher Kuhlman, a board-certified toxicologist and industrial hygienist. Kuhlman works at the Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, which helps companies prepare for, respond to and...
This morning, I sat down with Austin Golding, president of Golding Barge Line, and discussed how the coronavirus pandemic was affecting business and operations on the inland waterways system.
The Vicksburg, Miss.-based tank barge operator specializes in the movement of refined petroleum products, petrochemicals, crude oil and chemical products throughout the entire inland system. The company’s fleet is made up of 63 30,000-bbl tank barges and 25 towboats.
You can access all of our coronavirus...
The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) marked the opening of its Montreal/Lake Ontario section on Wednesday, with the transit of the CSL Baie St. Paul through the St. Lambert Lock.
“With the COVID-19 outbreak, we are living in exceptional times. As the 2020 navigation season gathers momentum, we continue to witness a tremendous response by our employees and members of the broader marine community in overcoming a range of challenges” Terence Bowles, president and CEO of the SLSMC,...
The inland barge industry’s response to the coronavirus pandemic continues to evolve, with the American Waterways Operators posting protocols this week for dealing with a sick crewmember, and cleaning and disinfecting a vessel after an ill mariner disembarks.
The sample protocols are the result of collaboration among AWO-member barge companies and further refinement by AWO’s Safety Leadership Advisory Panel, Brian Bailey, AWO’s director of safety and environmental stewardship, said in an email....
During a stakeholders’ meeting on Thursday, April 2, 2020, the Army Corps of Engineer’s Commander of the Mississippi Valley New Orleans Col. Stephen Murphy, announced that he has made the recommendation to operate the Bonnet Carré Spillway.
The colonel’s recommendation to operate the flood control structure has now been delivered to the commanding general of the USACE Mississippi Valley Division, Maj. Gen. Mark Toy. Toy also serves as the president of the Mississippi River Commission and the...
Less navigation traffic. Worrying about loved ones at home. Temperature checks. Praying to stay healthy. Impossible to social distance. Lots of hand washing. Access to vessels restricted.
These are some of the concerns and observations posted by mariners on WorkBoat.com and Facebook over the past few days after we asked what life was like for mariners since the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic started to spread across the U.S.
Many said that their work continues as usual, although they are...