The WWR program will be traveling nationally and has already made two stops this year.  One stop included the River Discovery Museum in Paducah, KY on April 24^th, 2012.  Over 90 local high school students attended the event where 8 local waterways industry companies, including AEP River Operations, hosted informational booths for the students in attendance. Representatives from various departments at AEP River Operations – Paducah spoke with students interested in the career opportunities in the waterways industry. 

Later this year, WWR will be held in various cities and may be coming to a city near you.

            St. Louis, MO               Tuesday, September 25^th – Downtown underneath the Arch
                                                Interested in getting involved? Click HERE. 

            Cincinnati, OH             Tuesday, October 16^th – aboard a BB Riverboat

            New Orleans, LA          December 2012 – at the Workboat Show

            Dubuque, IA                 Fall 2012 TBD date

            Pittsburgh, PA              Tuesday, July 17^th and Tuesday, October 23^rd – aboard the Gateway Clipper Fleet

            Jeffersonville, IN          Thursday, October 18^th – Fieldtrip for educators

For more information on WWR or RWD, contact Errin Howard.

Conducted by the Texas Transportation Institute's Center for Port and Waterways at Texas A&M University, the study is titled "A Modal Comparison of Frieght Transportation Effects on the General Public".  Some of the comparisons between each mode of transportation noted in the study include freight capacity, freight movement per gallon of fuel, injuries, fatalities, and environmental impact.

The NWF has produced a new "Waterways: Working for America" brochure which captures the key elements of the study.  To view this brochure, click HERE.

Here is what USGBC-Gateway Chapter had to say about AEP River Operations:

"Boats, ships & other river-going vessels are rarely part of the conversation about the built environment. But with the launch of its “Go Green Project” AEP River Operations has changed that perception. At the heart of the project is the renovation of a 1973 towing vessel, the M/V Donna Rushing. This vessel was transformed into the most fuel-efficient, low-emission, energy-saving towing vessel on U.S. waterway. The extreme makeover of the Donna is the result of discussions between AEP mariners, environmental organizations, vendors and government agencies. The launch of the M/V Donna Rushing ushers in a new era of leadership in sustainable practices and promises to set the standard for all inland river vessels."

The award is proudly on display in our Paducah, KY office location (see photo at above).  To read more about our award and winners of the other award categories, visit www.usgbc-mogateway.org.

Local lock repair bill proposed

A bipartisan bill was introduced in the U.S. House on Friday that could help revive the stalled Chickamauga lock in Chattanooga.

U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-Ky., the chairman of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power, and Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Ill., a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, are proposing legislation to implement most of the barge industry recommendations to boost spending on locks and dams. The proposed Waterways Are Vital for the Economy, Energy, Efficiency, and Environment Act of 2012 (WAVE4 Act) would raise barge fuel taxes, boost taxpayer support for fixing dams and locks and reform the way the Army Corps of Engineers undertakes such projects.

“Our aging infrastructure jeopardizes efficient waterborne commerce and highlights the need for the WAVE4 Act that will implement a comprehensive plan to improve project management and put in place an objective investment strategy that will prioritize our infrastructure needs,” Whitfield said in introducing the legislation.

Costello said the act would reform the funding formula used by the Inland Waterways Trust Fund to pay for lock improvements, including construction of the $693 million new and bigger Chickamauga lock.

“Importantly, industry has committed to paying more to meet the maintenance challenges we face, and addressing how projects are prioritized should be a part of this process,” he said.

U.S. Rep. John Duncan, R-Tenn., and Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., are among five other co-sponsors.

Source: http://timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/01/business-briefcase-local-lock-repair-bill-proposed/?businesstnvalley

AEP River Operations’ Senior Manager – Bulk Sales, Marty Hettel, is quoted in the first part of the four-part series.

• "I have never seen the disruptions to traffic we have now," said Martin T. Hettel, the American Electric Power manager responsible for moving coal on AEP barges to the Columbus, Ohio, utility's power plants.
• "How can we double exports in five years if our transportation system can't support that?" Mr. Hettel asks.

To read each part of the Post- Gazette's four-part series “Locked and Dammed”, click on the links below.

Part 1: The region’s 23 locks and dams are on the brink of failure
Part 2: Ohio River project decades late, billions over
Part 3: Neglect erodes river commerce
Part 4: Federal budget running dry for locks repair

Be sure to check out the Related Media box found on each of the article pages for videos, slideshows, charts, and more.

http://www.news.stlpublicradio.org/post/crumbling-locks-and-dams-threaten-midwestern-agriculture-exports

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

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.

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.