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Tug and Barge Industry to Hold Annual Southern Region Meeting in New Orleans; Gesture of Support for Struggling Gulf Coast Region

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The American Waterways Operators (AWO), the national trade association for the tugboat, towboat and barge industry, today announced that it will hold its annual Southern Region meeting in New Orleans on January 19-20, 2006. This is a gesture of support for the economically hard-hit Gulf Coast region, an important region for the industry's vitality and one in which many tug and barge companies operate and/or are headquartered.

AWO President Tom Allegretti remarked, "We believe it is very important to demonstrate to the people of the Gulf Coast region that our industry stands with them in good times and bad. Many of our member companies' operations in that area were severely damaged by hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and have experienced first-hand the devastating effects of those storms. We hope that in this small way, we can encourage others to bring business back to New Orleans and help the region's economy rebuild its strength."

The tugboat, towboat and barge industry has also assisted the post-hurricane efforts in other ways. For example, several homes built by Habitat for Humanity volunteers were recently barged down the Mississippi River to be delivered to hurricane victims before the holidays. The journey was chronicled on the NBC-TV "TODAY" Show. Also, an extensive cleanup effort by the nonprofit organization "Living Lands & Waters" was launched in the Gulf Coast region with the support of many AWO member companies.

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