press room

AWO ANNOUNCES SAFETY PROGRAM COMPLIANCE ACHIEVEMENT

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The American Waterways Operators (AWO), the national association for the tugboat, towboat and barge industry, announced today the historic achievement of 100% compliance by its eligible members in the Responsible Carrier Program (RCP). AWO also reported that it has terminated 11 members for non-compliance with the program. The safety program is a requirement for membership in AWO, and a January 1, 2000 deadline had been set for member companies to achieve an AWO-certified, third-party audit or forfeit membership. The terminations result in a loss of over $30,000 in revenue to AWO.

The Responsible Carrier Program is an award-winning, U.S. Coast Guard-recognized safety and environmental protection program developed by AWO for barge and towing companies. The RCP is a safety code of practice that involves every aspect of fleet operations, including management, equipment and human factors. The Program is designed to complement and build upon existing government regulations, requiring company safety standards that often exceed those required by federal law.

Captain Bob Clinton, AWO Vice President - Safety, reacted, "While we regret the loss of members, we're willing to put our money where our mouth is when it comes to safety. The Responsible Carrier Program is the level of commitment AWO requires and we are willing to accept the loss of members who do not make that commitment." AWO President Thomas A. Allegretti commented, "The fact that the overwhelming majority of AWO members complied with the Responsible Carrier Program is an amazing demonstration of the industry's commitment to marine safety and environmental protection. Our results show that the companies dropped operate less than ½ of 1 percent of AWO member vessels. We view these results as a great victory for AWO's efforts to unequivocally demonstrate safety leadership and environmental stewardship. The RCP will continue to evolve and strengthen under the regular review of our accreditation board, which will ensure the incorporation of new technology and best practices, adoption of Coast Guard - AWO Safety Partnership recommendations, and tough audit principles, as we strive for ever higher safety standards."

###