The American Waterways Operators (AWO) pressed Congress Tuesday to get the long-awaited towing vessel inspection rule published before the current Coast Guard commandant’s watch is over next year.
When maritime historian, Jerry Roberts, picked up a copy of the National Geographic from 1954 and saw pictures of a tugboat race at the New York pier, he was set on reviving the tradition that vanished in the 1960s.
In draft recommendations released June 27, the U.S. said it wants to modernize the treaty to better reflect Northwest priorities. The feds want to add "ecosystem functions" as a third primary purpose of the treaty, alongside flood control and power generation. But as drafted, the recommendations make fish the first priority.
Although the Columbia River looked fairly affable and calm that day, Mother Nature often ensures the river is neither of those things. His top priorities, Cline said, are "just keeping everybody safe and keeping the tow in one piece." On the water, he added, "we don't go in a straight line."
Last summer's drought that continued through the winter wasn't just bad news for ranchers and farmers. There were big worries about what it would mean to the Mississippi River, too.
