AWO and Vessel Security

Immediately after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, AWO recognized that the tugboat, towboat, and barge industry faced new challenges on maritime security. Building on the industry's long track record of cooperation with government to improve marine safety and environmental protection, in November 2001, AWO convened a meeting of senior leaders from industry, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to discuss security measures needed to protect industry assets and the nation's critical maritime infrastructure.

AWO, the Coast Guard, and the Corps agreed that AWO should develop a security plan to address the security risks associated with moving potentially hazardous cargoes by barge. In April 2002, seven months before Congress passed legislation mandating vessel security plans, AWO unveiled a Model Vessel Security Plan as a tool for member companies to enhance security procedures for their vessels. When the Maritime Transportation Security Act became law in November 2002, AWO worked with the Coast Guard to transform the Model Vessel Security Plan into one of the first Alternative Security Programs approved by the Coast Guard under the new regulations.

AWO continues to work closely with the Coast Guard to enhance maritime security on the nation's coasts, inland waterways, and in ports and harbors throughout the country. The men and women who crew the industry's 4,000 towing vessels and 27,000 barges are the "eyes and ears" of our nation's maritime transportation system and an essential partner in the Coast Guard's maritime homeland security mission.