Marine Log - August 2008 - (Page 35) TUGS&BARGES The Texas Transportation Institute study points out the environmental benefits of inland river barge transport based on the north shore of Staten Island and Erie Basin in Brooklyn. The tugboat fleet has grown by 37% since 1991, and the demand for their services continues to grow. Demand for barge services has also grown. The New York barge fleet represents almost one third of the total U.S. East Coast fleet. The New York region offers a system of navigable waterways that allows materials to be millions of tons of cargo from the inland river system to the city’s interstate highways. HERS_ST is a Microsoft Windows application that helps transportation agencies plan and schedule highway work and determine future highway system needs. This software uses engineering principles to simulate future highway conditions and performance levels and identify deficiencies. The program then applies economic criteria to select the most cost-effective mix of improvements for system-wide implementation. The study projects that highway costs over the next 10 years would increase from $345 million to over $721 million. The analysis also lays out a congestion nightmare, with truck traffic on St. Louis roadways increasing 200%, traffic delays jumping almost 500%, injuries and fatalities on interstates rising by 36 to 45%, and maintenance costs growing by 80 to 93%. The Texas Transportation Institute study is a follow up to a report, “Environmental Advantages of Inland Barge Transportation,” conducted by the Maritime Administration in 1994. NEW YORK CITY STUDY Meanwhile, this past June, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCDEC) released the findings and recommendations of its Maritime Support Services Location Study. SUNY Maritime College was commissioned by NYCEDC and the Brooklyn Navy Yard to conduct the study to examine the economic impact of New York City’s maritime industry and associated support services. It was funded in part by New York State’s Department of State through its Environmental Protection Fund. The study provides an excellent snapshot of the maritime activity in the region. The stacks of readily recognizable tug operators such Moran, McAllister, Bouchard, K-Sea, Reinauer and Penn can regularly be spotted in New York Harbor. New York City is home to more than 200 tugboats, representing 98% of the total fleet within New York Harbor, primarily www.marinelog.com AUGUST 2008 MARINE LOG 35 http://www.thordonbearings.com http://www.marinelog.com
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