A FORECAST OF MISSISSIPPI RIVER SYSTEM HOPPER AND TANK BARGE CONSTRUCTION: 1990 TO 2014

This paper presents a forecast of new construction of hopper and tank barges that dominate the internal waterway fleet. There have been no large volumes of orders for hopper and tank barges in almost a decade. The existing fleet is wearing out. Waterway commerce in dry and liquid bulk commodities has increased. Continued aging and retirements of the existing fleet, notwithstanding growth of demand, should inevitably lead to new construction. This paper forecasts hopper and tank barge construction based on conventional equipment life cycles, fleet utilization and projected commodity growth rates. The forecasts indicate that the shallow draft shipyard industry can anticipate a boom phase analogous to the strong demand for barge construction that it experienced in the late 1970s, unless there is a substantial retrenchment in inland waterway fleet capacity.

Media Info

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00618078
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Dec 31 1991 12:00AM