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The main focus of the IWICP has been the
development of a Container-On-Barge (C-O-B) pilot project on the
Mississippi River and its tributaries.
MARAD’s IWICP program has
acted as a catalyst to promote and facilitate C-O-B transport by
bringing together ports, terminals operators, barge lines,
logistics companies and other public and private-sector entities
with the goal of increasing utilization of the inland waterways
for intermodal freight transport.
The IWICP is cooperating
with other entities that can help further the inland waterway
agenda. In particular, the IWICP is working with the Marine
Transportation System (MTS) Advisory Committee and its related
organizations to seek funding through SEA-21 (or similar)
legislation that could provide funds to meet inland waterway
needs. The IWICP also plans to work with the American
Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO),
including its regional organizations, short-line rail carriers,
regional trucking associations, and other professional groups to
determine common interests and strategies.
In recent meetings, the
IWICP working group agreed that the most important issues are
those that relate to understanding and developing new markets
for intermodal transportation using the nation’s inland
waterways. However, while a Container-On-Barge service could
bring important new business for the inland waterway system, the
former needs significant attention from both an outreach and
marketing perspective. Additionally, better coordination and
integration with shippers and third-party logistics companies
that make transportation decisions on behalf of shippers is
needed to aid in this outreach effort.
Moving containers by barge
is seen as an alternative to the growing congestion being
experienced by landside modes and a freight capacity shortage.
It is also cited for it environmental advantages and the
potential cost savings for shippers. C-O-B could fill a niche
market in the transport of containers that are not
time-sensitive, containers that exceed highway weight limits,
and repositioning/prepositioning of empty containers.
While the many bulk cargoes
moved by water are experiencing modest or flat growth, the
numbers of containers that need to be moved within the U.S. is
steadily and rapidly increasing.
C-O-B services that work in
an integrated, systemic way, are successful logistical
operations that combine transportation modes. The key to a
successful C-O-B service should involve the three “C” approach,
viz., Cargo, Commitment, and Cooperation. This is why C-O-B
movements on the Columbia/Snake River System have grown from 125
containers moved in 1975 to over 50,000 in 2004.
Resources
1.
Press Release (Osprey, 8/16/05)
"Largest single unit tow container movement in the history"
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