POTENTIAL NONSTRUCTURAL OR LOW COST WATERWAYS SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

The inland waterways system of the United States as it exists today has a number of problems associated with near-capacity traffic conditions. In many places on the Mississippi, Ohio, and Missouri Rivers and their navigable tributaries, there are serious impediments to the free flow of waterborne commerce. This study was conducted to determine the potential for more efficient utilization of existing inland waterways resources and facilities as a possible alternative to heavy investment in major construction. The study was based on distribution of a questionnaire, meetings and discussions with the Civil Works Task Group for Inland Waterways Systems Analysis, and visits to Corps of Engineers Civil Works offices and river sites by the author. The inland waterways system is an intimate interweaving of three significant subsystems: the physical waterway, the towing industry, and commodities. These subsystems and their interrelations are discussed in detail herein. It was determined that there are a number of areas of potential for improvement in the inland waterways system. These areas involve such items as changes in operating procedures of the locks, revisions of the operating rules for towboats approaching and using locks, staffing considerations, additional assistance at heavily trafficked locks, and other such factors.

• Corporate Authors:

  U.S. Army Waterways Experiment Station

  3909 Halls Ferry Road
  Vicksburg, MS  United States  39180-6199
• Authors:
  • Anklam, F M
• Publication Date: 1971-6

Media Info

• Pagination: 146 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Barges; Benefit cost analysis; Commodities; Economic analysis; Improvements; Inland waterways; Inland waterways traffic; Locks (Waterways); Management; Operations; Optimization; Planning; Questionnaires; Regulations; Statistics; Towing devices; Utilization; Water traffic; Water transportation; Waterways
• Uncontrolled Terms: Modifications
• Old TRIS Terms: Commodity statistics; Cost benefits; Low costs; Management planning and control; Operational effectiveness; Operational procedures; Waterway improvement; Waterway transportation
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Data and Information Technology; Economics; Law; Marine Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Research; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00168530
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: WES-MP-0-71-1 Final Rpt.
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 27 1978 12:00AM