AEP River Operations wins 2011 WorkBoat Environmental Initiative Award

NEW ORLEANS -- AEP River Operations has been recognized with the 2011 WorkBoat Environmental Initiative Award, in recognition of its success in incorporating environmentally sustainable practices into their operations.

The award, given to businesses and government operations operating in the U.S. maritime industry, was presented to AEP River Operations at the International WorkBoat Show held in New Orleans. AEP was specifically recognized for its "green boat" project on the M/V Donna Rushing by the industry journal WorkBoat.

Originally built in 1973, the Donna Rushing recently received a complete top-to-bottom renovation and has been equipped with the most fuel-efficient, low-emission, energy-saving equipment available on the market today.

Nominees were judged on successful efforts to incorporate environmentally sustainable practices into the company's daily maritime operations; innovation, leadership and/or commitment toward environmental stewardship, and compliance with local, state and federal environmental regulations and requirements.

Joe Brantley, superintendent - Engineering & Maintenance at AEP River Operations, was presented with the award by Bruce Buls, WorkBoat technical editor.

"We have the best boats in the industry and it is our driving force to do the right thing," Brantley said in an interview with Sam Pfeifle, WorkBoat editor. "We reached out to all of our employees to see what works and what doesn't. AEP River Operations is very proud of this award."

Written by: Jennifer L. Mason; JLMason@aepriverops.com

Barge Industry Featured in CNN Money Article

The barge industry is the main focus a recent CNN Money article.  Click HERE to read the article.

Jahnke named Director - Covered Sales and Business Development for AEP River Operations

David Jahnke has been named Director - Covered Sales and Business Development at AEP River Operations, and will report to Mark Stoppel, Managing Director - Sales and Logistics.  ”David has diverse and deep knowledge and experience as a marketing, merchandising and management professional in the bulk carrier industry, and we are pleased that he will work in his new position with the AEP River Operations team to provide outstanding service to our customers," Stoppel said.

Jahnke, previously Senior Manager - Marketing and Sales, joined AEP River Operations in October 2009. Previously, he worked as a consultant for AEP River Operations in the Sales and Logistics group. His experience includes grain merchandising for the Continental Grain Company, Director of Marketing for the Valley Line, various management positions for American Commercial Lines Inc., and operating his own company, Swift River Logistics. He holds a bachelor of science degree in marketing from Iowa State University.

Dangers of Unloading Barges with a Backhoe

Backhoe-type machines can be great for unloading bulk materials from barge hoppers.  Their benefits are numerous: long reaching boom, all hydraulic system, no cables and very powerful strength. However, these benefits have a dark side too.

Long Reach:   without an elevated cab or spotter, operator can’t see every part of the barge they are contacting
All Hydraulic: hoses can burst, spraying hydraulic oil contaminating the barge surfaces and/or cargo
No Cables:     contact forces can be greater than gravity, damaging barges. Operator has no sense of pulling or pushing
Powerful:        machine can easily bend, twist and puncture steel plate and the operator, enclosed in the isolated cab, has no feedback

Under no circumstances the boom or the attachment be pulling, pushing or grabbing the barge.  Doing this will unleash thousands of pounds of hydraulic force – more than enough to twist, distort and puncture steel plate.  Worst case damages of this type of operation have exceeded $120,000 per barge!  The terminals or stevedores responsible for these damages have been held liable and have paid for all repair costs.

When using a backhoe-type machine to unload a barge, always use the right attachment.

For bulk materials that flow, make sure to use a clamshell-type material handling bucket.  Never use a digging or excavator bucket, with or without teeth.  A digging bucket will cause a great deal of damage to a barge hopper.  

     This is a hopper wall in good condition.       This is a hopper wall after damage from a digging bucket. 

            

Repairs to the barge shown above required over 10,225 pounds of new steel!  Any vendor found to be using this type of equipment to unload barge hoppers will be held responsible for any damages resulting from the use of an incorrect bucket type, including any claim for loss-of-use.  As the Shipper hires the vendor at the unloading terminal for the unloading process, Shipper will also be responsible for any damages caused by their vendor of choice. In order to keep minimize financial liability for your company and keep barge hoppers in good condition, be sure to use a clamshell or clamshell-type material handling bucket when unloading bulk materials.

Recent Strides for the River Transportation Industry

As a member of The American Waterways Operators (AWO), AEP River Operations received this letter last week, documenting the recent achievements in public policy:

Dear AWO Members,

Your industry has had some notable achievements in its public policy work over the last few days, several of which are on our most important priority issues:

• On Tuesday, the House passed the 2012 Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act.  The bill as approved contained provisions critical to AWO members:
  
  • Title VII of the bill establishes a uniform and practical national standard for the regulation of ballast water and vessel discharges, preempting state authority from regulating our industry’s operations in these areas.  This was a hard won provision that was only included in the final bill as a result of our industry’s successful effort to defeat crippling amendments proposed by Reps. Tim Bishop (D-NY), John Dingell (D-MI) and Louise Slaughter (D-NY).  The advocacy of AWO members was critical in the defeat of these amendments and in final passage of the bill.  More than 60 AWO members weighed in directly with Congress just at the right times, as these harmful amendments were being considered and as the final bill was going to the House floor for the vote on its passage.
  • A bipartisan amendment cosponsored by Reps. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) and Jeff Landry (R-LA) to tighten up the national security requirements for Jones Act waivers and to improve transparency in the administrative waiver process, to correct the kind of failures we saw last summer at the Maritime Administration in refusing to use available U.S. vessels to move oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
  • An amendment sponsored by Rep. Jeff Landry (R-LA) that gives the Coast Guard the authority to extend the validity period of an STCW medical certificate if necessary due to delays in the medical review process.  AWO sought this provision to provide insurance against unacceptable consequences when mariners on coastal towing vessels subject to STCW transition to a 2-year medical certificate next year.
• Yesterday, the Coast Guard held the final of its four public hearings on the Towing Vessel Inspection proposed rule.  AWO members turned out in impressive numbers to testify at each of these public hearings.  Nearly 300 AWO members attended one of the hearings to show their concern and nearly 80 presented testimony and statements at one of the four hearings.  These members presented a compelling and consistent case for the changes that are necessary in order to perfect this important, groundbreaking Coast Guard regulation.

The strength and effectiveness of our member grassroots advocacy is the foundation to these kinds of results.  Thanks to the many members who made this possible.  However, there is always more to do. 

Today, we are very concerned about Senate consideration of an amendment to the Jones Act that would allow foreign built vessels to transport cargo in our nation’s domestic trade, a weakening of our sabotage laws that is unprecedented.  We are working that hard as you read this.

Tom

Written by: Tom Allegretti; tallegretti@vesselalliance.com