The possibility of transporting more goods per shipment makes inland waterway transport both fuel efficient and environmentally friendly. On average, one gallon of fuel can ship a ton of cargo of 180 to 240 mi (290 to 390 km) per truck (e.g., @6-8 mpg-US (2.6-3.4 km/L) of 30-ton load, 450 mi (720 km) per train and 514 mi (827 km) per barge. In 1997, carbon dioxide emissions from water transport were 10 million tonnes lower than from rail transport. Inland waterways offer huge fuel savings, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, reduce congestion, reduce accidents on railways and motorways, and reduce noise and disruption in cities. Inland waterway vessels are well suited to the transport of large quantities of bulk goods and raw materials at relatively low cost. The inland and inland waterway network handles about 630 million tonnes of freight per year, or about 17% of the total volume of intercity freight. [ref. needed] These are raw materials or primary manufactured products that are usually stored for further processing or consumption, or transshipped for foreign markets. Inland waterway transport, inland waterway transport[1] or inland waterway transport (IWT)[2] is a transport system that allows inland waterway vessels and vessels to use inland waterways (such as canals, rivers and lakes). The Mississippi River System, including the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW), connects Gulf Coast ports such as Mobile, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Houston, and Corpus Christi with major inland ports such as Memphis, Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, St. Paul, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh. The lower Mississippi River from Baton Rouge to the Gulf of Mexico allows shipping to be connected to river traffic, making this segment essential to U.S.
domestic and foreign trade. The Mississippi River system connects to the Illinois Waterway, which leads to the Great Lakes Waterway, and then to the St. Lawrence Seaway. Many other eastern rivers are also navigable, including the Potomac, Hudson, and Atchafalaya rivers, all dredged by the Army Corps of Engineers. Note that the “navigable waters of the United States” listed in 33 CFR 329 are different from those listed as “waters of the United States” in 33 CFR 328, the Clean Water Rule. However, all navigable waters, as well as those that are actually considered navigable, are included in the general definition of “waters”. [1] Inland and intracoastal waterways directly serve 38 core states, as well as the Atlantic coast, Gulf Coast and Pacific Northwest states. Shippers and consumers in these states rely on inland waterways to transport approximately 630 million tonnes of goods worth more than $73 billion annually. The Gulf Coast and Midwest Valley and Ohio states are particularly dependent on inland and intracoastal waterways.
Texas and Louisiana ship more than $10 billion worth of goods annually, while Illinois, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama and Washington each ship between $2 billion and $10 billion annually. Eight other states contribute at least $1 billion a year. According to a study by the Tennessee Valley Authority, this cargo travels with average transportation savings of $10.67 per ton compared to the cost of shipping by other modes of transportation. This translates into transportation savings of more than $7 billion per year for the U.S. economy. In the 1960s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began upgrading the Ohio River locks, adding 1,200-foot (370 m) chambers that allow a typical towing to pass through a single lock. This modernization process continues today with the construction of a new dam with two 1,200-foot (370 m) locks at Olmsted, Illinois, at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and a second 1,200-foot (370 m) chamber at McAlpine Locks and Dam near Louisville. Modern 1,200-foot (370 m) chambers were also built at Kentucky Lock on the Tennessee River and at Inner Harbor Lock on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway in New Orleans. Other projects are underway in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Arkansas. In addition, several major renovations are underway. In total, this ongoing work represents an investment of more than $3.5 billion in inland waterway upgrades, which will be completed over the next decade.
Half of this investment will come from fuel taxes paid by the domestic towing industry. These projects include not only modern navigation systems, but also significant investments in environmental restoration and management. The Columbia River is the only river on the west coast (and probably the entire North American Pacific coast) navigable for a significant length. The river is dredged regularly and barges can move through a system of locks to Lewiston, Idaho. However, there are strict rail restrictions beyond the confluence with the Willamette River. The Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, Snake Rivers, and Umpqua Rivers are examples of other West Coast rivers dredged for navigation. The steep slopes and variable currents of most other rivers on the west coast make them unsuitable for long boat trips. In addition, most major rivers are dammed, often in several places, to provide water for hydroelectric generation and other purposes. The mountainous terrain and lack of water also make it impossible to build canals to the west. “Inland waterway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inland%20waterway.
Retrieved 8 December 2022. Although indeed navigable, some or all of the following have been excluded from the Congressional definition: A key value of inland waterways is their ability to efficiently transport large quantities of bulk cargo moving over long distances. Tugs push cargo barges tied together to form a “tow”. A towing can consist of four or six barges on smaller waterways and up to more than 40 barges on the Mississippi under its mouth into the Ohio River. A 15-barge tow is common on major rivers with locks such as the Ohio, Upper Mississippi, Illinois and Tennessee rivers. These tugs are an extremely efficient means of transport, carrying approximately 22,500 tons of cargo as a unit. A single 15-barge tractor corresponds to approximately 225 railway cars or 870 semi-trailer tractors. If the freight transported annually on inland waterways were to be transported by another mode of transport, an additional 6.3 million wagons or 25.2 million trucks would be required to transport the load. U.S.
inland waterways include more than 25,000 miles (40,000 km) of navigable waters.
