AWO Letter - April 2, 2026

cmoore@americanwaterways.com 04/02/26

Jones Act Waiver: AWO on High Alert; Join April 7 Virtual Meeting for Latest Updates. As our industry navigates the challenges posed by the Trump Administration's issuance of a broad 60-day Jones Act waiver under 46 USC 501(a), AWO is working full-out to mitigate negative impacts on AWO members in the short term and leverage this situation to strengthen the Jones Act's long-term future. Join us April 7 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern for a members-only virtual meeting to discuss the latest developments and get your questions answered.

Interested in doing more to amplify AWO's Jones Act advocacy?

Make plans now to attend the AWO Spring Convention and Barge-In. If ever there was a time to make your voice heard on Capitol Hill, this is it. Let's make this the biggest, most geographically and operationally representative Barge-In we've ever had. You can register here.
Share information on what you're seeing in your markets and hearing from your sources about foreign vessel fixtures, capacity issues, etc. Good situational awareness is important to the success of our advocacy, and our friends on Capitol Hill are hungry for information. We are highly sensitive to confidentiality and antitrust concerns and will work with you to ensure that any information you share with us is deployed with care.
Stand by for opportunities to support public affairs initiatives, including op-eds and social media campaigns, highlighting the importance of the Jones Act to American mariners, workers -- and voters.

Defending the Jones Act is Job #1--and the Barge-In is Where We'll Get the Job Done. The May 13 Barge-In will be a crucial moment in which Members of Congress will hear directly from you--not only about the impact of the Jones Act waiver on American vessel operators and American employees, but also about the necessity of the Jones Act for American maritime dominance now and in the future.

AWO will get you in the door--and that will be your opportunity to make your voice heard. Your presence on Capitol Hill is needed to encourage Congressional action to prevent additional unnecessary waivers from being issued, and to reinforce policies that support the domestic maritime industry.

The 2026 Barge-In will be the culmination of ongoing AWO efforts to push back hard against the Jones Act waiver. We are reaching out early and often to lawmakers, key staff, and allies with a coordinated, all-of-the-above strategy that makes crystal-clear our position and what we expect from our supporters and champions in Congress.

To register for the 2026 AWO Barge-In, please go to Spring Convention & Barge-In | The American Waterways Operators. And if you have any questions about AWO's Congressional strategy on the Jones Act waiver, please contact Craig Montesano, AWO VP -- Legislative Affairs, by email or at 703-907-9612.

Executive Committee Recommends Next AWO Vice Chair, Treasurer. Last week, AWO's Executive Committee unanimously voted to recommend Brian Hughes, President of Hughes Bros. and AWO's Treasurer for the last five years, for election as AWO's next Vice Chairman of the Board, and Angela Grett, Vice President -- Corporate Affairs at Ingram Barge Company, for election as AWO's next Treasurer. Following a vote of the Board of Directors in May, they will serve alongside incoming Chairman Matt Woodruff of Kirby Corp. and outgoing Chairman Patrick Sutton of ACBL as part of AWO's senior elected leadership team. We look forward to welcoming Brian and Angela into their new roles!

NMC to Begin Issuing Electronic Medical Certificates. Effective April 1, and beginning when Department of Homeland Security funding restores operations at the National Maritime Center (NMC), the Coast Guard will begin emailing electronic versions of medical certificates. Initially, only medical certificates that do not include a medical waiver will be emailed to mariners, though there are plans to email certificates with waivers in the future. AWO is working with NMC leadership to obtain clarity on including authorized thirdparties in the email communications chain, guidance on how mariners should sign electronic medical certificates to avoid needing to print them, and consistency across all Coast Guard Sectors in accepting electronic certificates.

AWO Submits Comments on Transportation Digital Infrastructure Strategy. AWO recently responded to a Department of Transportation (DOT) request for information regarding the establishment of a transportation digital infrastructure national strategy. The strategy will guide DOT's research and development of digital infrastructure to modernize the country's transportation networks. In our comments, we highlighted key needs of maritime to ensure that our mode of transportation is given equal consideration to other modes and address challenges unique to our industry.

Take the Vanderbilt Research Survey. Vanderbilt University researchers are asking inland maritime stakeholders to take a survey in support of an American Bureau of Shipping-funded project. The survey seeks to identify a potential demonstration or pilot project to advance the development and use of new fuels, propulsion systems, and technologies on the inland waterways. Responses are confidential and no personally identifiable information will be collected; to enhance confidentiality protections, please do not use names of any specific individuals or companies in your responses. Survey results will only discuss responses in the aggregate. The survey takes approximately 10-12 minutes to complete.

AWO Hosts Coast Guard Sector Luncheon in Memphis. On March 16, AWO members including Marquette Transportation Company, ACBL, Ingram Barge Company, James Transportation, and Wepfer Marine engaged in a luncheon discussion with officials from Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River. During the luncheon, CAPT Kristi Bernstein commended industry for its great work during last year's low-water season, which resulted in a 44% reduction in waterway closures compared to the previous year. Other topics discussed included upcoming Coast Guard personnel changes, buoy tender scheduling, and operational flexibility for vessels already in transit when low-water restrictions are implemented.

AWO Participates in Port Coordination Team During Collision on Lower Miss. AWO Southern Region Vice President Jill Bessetti and AWO members provided a unified voice for the towing industry during the recent collision of two deep-draft vessels that collided on the Lower Mississippi River. Thanks to this effort, the Coast Guard knew whom to contact for collaboration in keeping commerce moving and ensuring the safe and efficient movement of cargo in this crowded river. Please contact Jill Bessetti when critical incidents in the Southern Region are impacting your operations.

AWO Joins Forces with We Work the Waterways in Madisonville, LA. AWO Southern Region Vice President Jill Bessetti joined representatives from current and prospective AWO member companies to build connections with Louisiana students and encourage interest in the maritime community. The event, held on March 26th, 2026 at the Maritime Museum Louisiana, attracted almost 200 students from high schools across St. Tammany Parish. Through hands-on learning, sharing career journeys, and networking with educators, these events help to reach the maritime leaders of tomorrow. If you would like more information on events happening in your area, please reach out to Jill Bessetti.

Maritime Leaders Converge in Seattle for National Harbor Safety Conference. Safety advocates from across the country heard from AWO Senior Director -- Safety and Sustainability Mike Breslin, Ingram Barge Company's Matt Lagarde, and a lineup of industry speakers during this biennial event, which highlighted the critical role of harbor safety committees and the broader maritime transportation system.

This year's theme, "Resilience," struck a particular chord with the conference's 150 attendees in light of the Coast Guard's absence due to the DHS shutdown. The situation underscored the importance of collaboration, adaptability, and local leadership in maintaining safe and efficient waterways.

AWO PAC and Inside Elections. AWO PAC has partnered with Inside Elections for another special edition, featuring analysis of U.S. Senate races in Ohio and Alaska, a rundown of U.S. House and Senate primary results in Illinois, and more.

AWO PAC is the connected political action committee for The American Waterways Operators and serves as the trade association's separate segregated fund. As a trade association, AWO is prohibited from using general treasury funds or membership dues to make federal contributions. AWO is one of the most effective advocacy associations in Washington, DC, and relies on voluntary personal contributions to fund AWO PAC.

AWO PAC supports federal candidates who are champions of the U.S. tugboat, towboat and barge industry and who are leaders on issues important to our industry. AWO PAC is dedicated to protecting AWO members' investments in the safest, most environmentally responsible and most economical mode of freight transportation and safeguarding the integrity of the Jones Act to protect the bottom lines of our members.

AWO PAC may solicit contributions from individuals of a member company once the member representative gives AWO written prior approval.

Spring Convention & Barge-In Registration Now Open! AWO's Spring Convention & Barge-In is approaching, and the hotel room block closes April 22. If you're planning to attend, be sure to register and reserve your room soon to take advantage of the discounted rate before it expires. Don't wait--register and book your hotel room today to secure your spot!

Sponsorship opportunities are still available for companies interested in increasing their visibility and supporting this important industry gathering. To discuss how your sponsorship dollars can support this effort, contact Carmina Smith.