The Waterways Journal

The Waterways Journal serves as the primary news source for the towing and barge sector of the inland waterways in the United States, focusing mainly on the Mississippi River and its tributaries, along with the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Our clients include barge companies, ports, terminals, fleets, shipyards, refuelers, shippers, suppliers, and marine contractors that contribute to the inland waterways transportation network. Collectively, our audience manages over 25,000 barges and more than 3,500 towboats and tugs. Often referred to as "The Riverman's Bible," this publication has been in continuous operation from St. Louis, Missouri, since 1887. It stands out as the only American maritime periodical dedicated solely to inland waterways and is among the few remaining family-owned, advertiser-supported weekly trade journals. Our comprehensive news coverage offers insights into the people and technologies that drive a significant segment of industrial transport in the U.S. We report on a variety of topics, including inland shipyard activities, construction of locks and dams, updates from the Corps of Engineers, dredging operations, inland ports and terminals, as well as the construction and launching of barges and towboats. We also cover advancements in towboat technology and regulations set forth by the U.S. Coast Guard, Environmental Protection Agency, and other federal entities impacting inland waterways commerce, alongside news about key commodities that navigate these waterways, such as grain, coal, steel, and fertilizer.

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Redwood Holdings, Owner of Marquette Transportation, Announces Acquisition Of Canal Barge Company

3 days ago | waterwaysjournal.net | Frank McCormack

Redwood Holdings, the family-owned holding company that acquired Marquette Transportation Company in May 2024, has announced an agreement to acquire New Orleans-based Canal Barge Company (CBC).
Tenn-Tom To Hold 43rd Annual Conference In August

1 week ago | waterwaysjournal.net | Frank McCormack

The Tennessee-Tombigbee (Tenn-Tom) Waterway Development Authority, a four-state compact made up of Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky, will hold its 43rd annual conference August 13–15 at the Grand Hotel Marriott in Point Clear, Ala., on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay. As in years past, the Tenn-Tom Waterway Conference will feature a golf tournament at the Lakewood Golf Club’s Dogwood course. The golf tournament will be held on August 13, with a banquet and silent auction August 14.
Loadstar Expands Tankerman Services With Atlas Marine Acquisition

1 week ago | waterwaysjournal.net | Shelley Byrne

Loadstar Product Handling Services, based in Baton Rouge, La., is expanding its tankerman operations with the acquisition of Atlas Marine Services of Houma, La.The transition will be effective July 1 with Loadstar expecting a seamless continuation of customer service. The acquisition was finalized earlier this month. Atlas founders John Breaux and Michael Meche will join Loadstar and serve in leadership positions.
Zea Addresses America’s Watershed Initiative

1 week ago | waterwaysjournal.net | Shelley Byrne

Tracy Zea was candid when he spoke to members of America’s Watershed Initiative about the issue of aging locks and dams. “This is a problem,” Zea said, speaking as the guest speaker for the organization’s June 12 webinar.
Hines Furlong Health Expert Shares Wellness Tips For Mariners

1 week ago | waterwaysjournal.net | Shelley Byrne

Small changes can make a big difference to mariners’ overall health. That’s the message Tish Mavigliano, health and wellness director for Hines Furlong Line, had for members of the Paducah Propeller Club during the June 11 meeting. Mavigliano noted that every 33 seconds, someone in the United States dies of a heart attack, the leading cause of death for Americans.
Corps' Mississippi River ‘Mega-Study’ On Hold

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.
Dredge Report: Contract Awards Soar in 2024

2 weeks ago | waterwaysjournal.net | Frank McCormack

“Looking backwards, 2024 was a great year.”That’s Michael Gerhardt’s assessment of the federal dredging market for last year, and Gerhardt, vice president of external affairs at Muddy Water Dredging, LP, and author of “The U.S. Dredge Report: An Analysis of the Federal Dredging Market,” has the data to back that up. Gerhardt’s annual dredge report goes back more than two decades and tracks every single contract awarded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for dredging.
IMX Panel Zeros In On Shipbuilding Revival Plans

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.
Wilson Lock Scheduled To Reopen July 8

2 weeks ago | waterwaysjournal.net | Shelley Byrne

Repairs at Wilson Lock and Dam are expected to be complete and the chamber reopened on July 8. While work is still ongoing, several key tasks have been completed, allowing the Nashville Engineer District to announce the projected opening date, said Brian Mangrum, chief of the district’s technical support branch, in a June 10 industry update call.
Barge Transportation And Agriculture Outlook

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.