1. DOMESTIC WATER CARRIERS
CHAPTER 7

2. INLAND WATER CARRIERS
Carriers operating in the Mississippi River basin, in the basins in the east, and other areas
Sometimes called barge operators
Inland navigation facilities include channels and locks

3. BARGES
The term means a non-self propelled vessel and can be applied to barges used on the ocean
Barges used on inland waters have flat bottoms and shallow drafts and cannot be used on the ocean

4. BARGES
Open-hopper barges-carry dry bulk cargoes such as coal, sand, gravel, and limestone
Covered dry cargo barges-carry grains
Tank barge-used to carry petroleum, liquids, or gases

5. TOWBOATS Towboats push the “tow” of barges
Towboats have square fronts and flat bottoms and are used only on inland waters
Tugboats are used on the oceans and Great Lakes and pull deep water vessels

6. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
Provides most of the federal expenditures for river and harbor improvements
A typical Corps of Engineers project must clear 4 steps:
Congress must authorize study of problem
Study must be funded
Project can then be authorized by Congress
Funds must be appropriated by congress before construction can begin

7. U.S. COAST GUARD
Primarily concerned with providing for the safety of water vessels
The Coast Guard and Corps cooperate to provide navigational aids to guide vessels on their proper courses

8. LOCKS AND DAMS
The flow of rivers makes it difficult for vessels to navigate upstream
Solution: create “steps” in the river by building locks
Larger locks speed the flow of river traffic

9. INLAND WATERWAYS Main one-the Mississippi River Basin
Two connect to the Pacific Ocean
Along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts there are intracoastal waterways-used by recreational boaters

10. LASH/SEABEE SERVICES
LASH (Lighter Aboard Ship) and Seabee vessels carry floating barges aboard oceangoing mother ships
Widely used on the Mississippi River and rivers in Alabama
LASH barge is slightly smaller than Seabee

11. GREAT LAKES TRANSPORTATION
Great Lakes vessels are called lakers
Lakers-long, low profiles and are not considered seaworthy
Operate within the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway

12. GREAT LAKES TRANSPORTATION
Principal cargos carried on the Great Lakes:
Iron Ore
Coal
Grain
Limestone

13. ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY An international waterway built by Canada and U.S.
Open to all commercial vessels of the world
Enables vessels to sail between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean

14. DOMESTIC OCEAN SHIPPING
In early U.S. history, domestic ocean shipping was the most important form of freight transportation
Colonial cities were linked commercially by small vessels sailing the Atlantic coastline
Coastal shipping has declined, but still exists

15. DOMESTIC OCEAN SHIPPING
Products shipped:
Gasoline
Petroleum
Sand
Gravel
Phosphate rock
Sugar
Lumber

16. DOMESTIC OCEAN SHIPPING
Domestic ocean shipping routes:
48 states to and from Hawaii and Alaska
Puerto Rico and New York, Baltimore, Charleston, Jackson, and New Orleans
Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands and Florida

17. WATERBORNE PASSENGER TRAFFIC
108 ferry boats in mass transit operation in the U.S.
Boat tours
Vessels carry passengers, mail, food, fuel, and other supplies to offshore islands:
Martha’s Vineyard (off Massachusetts)
Tangier Island (Chesapeake Bay)
Catalina Island (Southern California)

18. WATERBORNE PASSENGER TRAFFIC
Passenger and automobile transportation
Daily commuter traffic
In Boston-water shuttle service between Logan Airport and Boston’s South Station

19. USER CHARGES
Water carriers are our nation’s most subsidized form of transportation
System-wide charges-such as the current fuel tax
Segment Charges-based on cost of each segment
Lockage fees
Annual license fees

20. PROBLEMS IN THE WINTER Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway freeze
Locks become difficult to operate
Winter is the time when petroleum and coal are in greatest demand
Difficult to transport coal and petroleum on Great Lakes in winter

21. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES Dredged materials have to be disposed of properly
Exxon Valdez -single hull tankers phased out by 2010
Concern for wildlife in U.S. rivers-such as the salmon in the Columbia and Snake Rivers