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2 weeks ago | 
waterwaysjournal.net | David Aaron Murray
The Lower Mississippi River Comprehensive Management Study (LMRCM) has been paused after receiving no funds in the Corps of Engineers’ FY 2025 work plan. The project team was also notified that previous president’s budget funds received during FY25 must be returned to the United States Treasury. So far, the study has received about $9.5 million, but it was unclear how much of that could or would be returned.
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2 weeks ago | 
waterwaysjournal.net | David Aaron Murray
“Anything that affects the [maritime] system affects us,” said Brian Mueller, CEO of Heartland Companies, one of the nation’s largest barge-builders. “In an emergency, there may not be enough blue-water vessels to carry U.S. exports, which would mean fewer barges needed as well.”Mueller was speaking a member of a panel focused on recent efforts to support U.S. shipbuilding.
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2 weeks ago | 
waterwaysjournal.net | David Aaron Murray
Recently returned from the Inland Marine Expo in Nashville, Tenn., Ken Eriksen, principal of Polaris Consulting and a senior leader and strategic adviser in commodities, supply chain, logistics and transportation, gave a presentation at the St. Louis Freightweek STL2025 event, which ran from June 2 through June 6.
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3 weeks ago | 
waterwaysjournal.net | David Aaron Murray
Attendees at this year’s Inland Marine Expo (IMX) got an in-depth look at the barge industry thanks to a keynote session titled “The State of the Barge Industry: Supply, Demand and Projections.” The session featured moderator Ken Eriksen, managing member and strategic adviser for Polaris Analytics and a regular contributor to The Waterways Journal, Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition, and Clark Todd, president and CEO of Blessey Marine Services.
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4 weeks ago | 
waterwaysjournal.net | David Aaron Murray
Jeffrey Hardin Lewis recently joined the highly ranked maritime law practice team at Cozen O’Connor. Cozen O’Connor is recognized as a Band 1 firm for Shipping/Maritime: Regulatory by Chambers and Partners USA and a Tier 2 firm for Shipping: Litigation and Regulation by The Legal 500 United States. Lewis was the Maritime Administration’s chief counsel under Administrator Rear Adm. Ann Phillips. Since both positions are politically appointed, both stepped down after the November elections.
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4 weeks ago | 
waterwaysjournal.net | David Aaron Murray
Jennifer Carpenter is uniquely positioned to participate in and interpret recent conversations about how best to support and revitalize the U.S. merchant marine and domestic shipbuilding capabilities. She joined the American Waterways Operators, which represents tug, towboat and barge operators, shortly after the Exxon Valdez oil spill dominated headlines and led to the passage of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. That act brought many changes to both the blue- and brown-water maritime worlds.
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1 month ago | 
waterwaysjournal.net | David Aaron Murray
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced new leadership and force design policies for the U.S. Coast Guard May 21 during the Coast Guard Academy’s commencement ceremony. According to a press release from her office, the Force Design 2028 (FD2028) initiative “provides a blueprint to transform the Coast Guard into a stronger, more ready and capable fighting force.”“Now, more than ever, the American people need a strong and capable Coast Guard,” Noem said.
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1 month ago | 
waterwaysjournal.net | David Aaron Murray
For the fourth year in a row, Dr. Guy Allen, senior economist in the International Grains Program, which is part of the Department of Grain Science and Industry at Kansas State University, led a group of Korean grain buyers on an intensive, whirlwind tour of grain trading facilities, ports and ag export infrastructure in the Midwest. The itinerary tracked the Mississippi River export corridor, beginning in Chicago and ending in New Orleans.
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1 month ago | 
waterwaysjournal.net | David Aaron Murray
The Department of the Army served notice in the May 5 Federal Register that it is reconstituting the Inland Waterways Users Board (IWUB) with all new member nominations. While the process of nominating and approving new members normally takes three or four months, it is unlikely that the board will meet again this year, former members said. The new board’s term will begin January 30, 2026, according to the notice. The cutoff date for nominations is June 15.
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1 month ago | 
waterwaysjournal.net | David Aaron Murray
Sens. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) joined Reps. John Garamendi (D-Calif.), Trent Kelly (R-Miss.) and a group of maritime leaders and supporters in reintroducing the Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security (SHIPS) for America Act on April 30. Kelly was one of the original sponsors of the act when it was introduced, but not passed, in the previous Congress.
