AMP Motion to Intervene in Jones Act Constitutional Challenge Granted. Koloa Rum Company, aided by the Pacific Legal Foundation, recently sued the Trump Administration to block enforcement of the Jones Act by claiming the law is unconstitutional. In an effort to bolster the government's defense of the law and protect the interests of their members, the American Maritime Partnership, joined by the Maritime Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, moved to intervene in the case. Last week, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted that motion, ensuring that AMP -- with AWO as a leading member -- can have maximal impact in shaping the outcome of this critical legal challenge. 

Coast Guard Expands Unlimited Tonnage Pathway for Mariners on ATBs. The Office of Merchant Mariner Credentialing recently took action to ease the pathway for mariners on articulated tug-barges (ATBs) to earn unlimited tonnage officer endorsements. While 46 CFR 11.211(d) had limited sea service credit based on the aggregate tonnage of ATBs to a two-for-one basis up to 50% of required sea service, the Coast Guard will now credit mariners on ATBs with an aggregate tonnage above 1600 GRT day-for-day toward the required sea service on vessels over 1600 GRT for mariners seeking a raise-in-grade for unlimited tonnage officer endorsements. 

AWO Plans Mariner Credentialing Regulatory Reform Virtual Meeting. The AWO Mariner Credentialing Working Group will meet virtually on Thursday, July 10 from 2-3 PM (Eastern) to continue discussing member ideas for de-regulatory actions the Coast Guard can take to improve mariner credentialing. The President's Executive Order on Restoring America's Maritime Dominance requires agencies to deliver a report that identifies "any requirements for credentialing mariners that are unnecessary, insufficient, or unduly burdensome and provide recommendations for reform." This is a key opportunity to safely improve efficiency and remove barriers to mariner credentialing that AWO intends to leverage based on member feedback. If you or a member of your company would like to join the discussion and share your ideas for reform, contact Patrick Parsons.

Coast Guard Renames Districts. On July 3, the Coast Guard announced that it has renamed its operational districts from numerical to geographic designations. The Coast Guard explained: "Updating operational districts to regional names will more clearly align districts with their areas of responsibility, facilitate collaboration with interagency partners, and ensure the American public and maritime stakeholders can easily find and understand the districts in which they live, recreate and operate," adding that this transition will not impact operations or change existing geographical district boundaries.

The new geographic names are as follows:

• District 1: USCG Northeast District
• District 5: USCG East District
• District 7: USCG Southeast District
• District 8: USCG Heartland District
• District 9: USCG Great Lakes District
• District 11: USCG Southwest District
• District 13: USCG Northwest District
• District 14: USCG Oceania District
• District 17: USCG Arctic District

USCG Cyber Rule Takes Partial Effect July 16; Towing Vessels Not Affected. New reporting requirements under the Coast Guard cybersecurity rulemaking published in January take effect on July 16. However, this change will not impact towing vessel operators, who are already required to report cyber incidents pursuant to 33 CFR 6.16-1. Other requirements of the rule, including personnel training and the requirement for a cybersecurity plan, take effect in 2026 and 2027, respectively; more information on the regulation's current implementation timeline can be found here. AWO has and will continue to advocate for an extension of the compliance deadlines and a reevaluation of the rulemaking to better fit the operations of vessel owners of all sizes. We are also engaging with member working groups to develop resources to assist members in complying with the new requirements, including a cyber training guide and cyber addition to the AWO Alternative Security Program.

Please reach out to Liam Morcroft with any questions or if you are interested in joining one of AWO's Cybersecurity Working Groups.

AWO Joins Coalition Letter Supporting Supply Chain Stability. AWO recently joined over 225 other transportation and logistics organizations in a letter urging the Administration to take steps to minimize supply chain congestion and disruption from ongoing trade policies and negotiations. While supporting the Administration's trade efforts, the letter expresses concern that resulting surges in vessel and cargo traffic have the potential to recreate disruptions like those experienced during the pandemic. 

AWO Comments on Department of Interior Deregulatory Efforts. AWO recently submitted comments to the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) in response to its regulatory reform request for information. While DOI is not a primary regulator of AWO members' businesses, its actions can have significant impact on maritime transportation through its oversight of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). AWO's feedback to BOEM stressed the importance of robust communication between the agency and stakeholders to ensure impacts on barge and towing vessel operations are considered when leasing offshore areas. Our comments to FWS recommended the use of enhanced and developing technology, as opposed to blanket operational controls, to better track and inform endangered species conservation. 

AWO PAC and Inside Elections. AWO PAC has partnered with Inside Elections for another special edition, featuring election analysis of Alabama and Illinois Senate races and the New Jersey Governor's race.

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.

Summary of Navigating to Zero - June 2025. In the June edition of AWO's Navigating to Zero Safety and Sustainability Newsletter, we highlighted the upcoming Summer Safety Meeting in Chicago on August 13-14; reviewed recent incidents and investigations from the Coast Guard, NTSB, and OSHA; and spotlighted Sandra Ashford of Ingram Barge Company in our Safety Professional feature. We also shared details on recent high-water navigation incidents; new reports of concern and safety alerts addressing crane strikes, fall overboard fatalities, and fire detection system limitations; updates on the SIRE 2.0 implementation timeline; Coast Guard changes to the UWILD Program; an invitation to participate in a National Mariner Wellness Survey; and much more. 

Please submit your Q2 Safety Statistics Reporting Program data before July 31, and don't forget to share high value near misses and your mariners' heroic acts through the AWO HERO Award program.

Stay on top of tugboat, towboat and barge-related safety news in AWO's Navigating to Zero newsletter (NTZ). Contact Deanna Wisniewski to set up email delivery and catch up on past editions available exclusively on the AWO app (iPhone | Android). 

Coast Guard Requests Hickman Hardpoint Economic Impact Data. Over the past few years, numerous vessel groundings have occurred at Hickman hardpoint near mile marker 920 on the Mississippi River during low water. This issue was discussed at length during AWO's Ohio Valley Region Roundtable in Paducah on June 17.

Efforts by the Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and U.S. Geological Survey are underway to improve the channel at Hickman but are dependent upon funding availability. To assist these efforts, the Coast Guard has urged AWO member companies to submit company-specific economic impact data caused by the Hickman hardpoint. Names of companies that submit this information will not be made public and the Coast Guard will use only the economic data as it works to secure additional funding to improve the situation at Hickman. The economic data will be compiled by the Coast Guard and presented in aggregate form to protect company-specific information. Preliminary economic impact data can be found here. Please email economic impact data to LCDR Samuel Kulp at MSU Paducah. 

AWO Holds Ohio Valley Region Roundtable and Coast Guard Luncheon in Paducah. AWO held an Ohio Valley Region roundtable meeting on June 17 at the Seamen's Church Institute in Paducah, Kentucky. Over 40 members joined the roundtable to discuss a variety of topics including AWO's federal and state advocacy work, inspection scheduling flexibility, credentialing issues, and Hickman hardpoint navigation challenges. Following the roundtable, members joined MSU Paducah and the Towing Vessel National Center of Expertise for a luncheon. AWO thanks all members who participated in the roundtable and SCI for hosting the event.

AWO Holds Southern Region Roundtable and USCG Sector New Orleans Luncheon. AWO's Southern Region Roundtable, held June 24 in New Orleans, was a day of collaboration, insight, and connection for the over 70 members in attendance. Executive Committee members Angie Fay of Blessey Marine Service and Matt Woodruff of Kirby Corporation led a discussion on AWO best practices to deter emissions from barges, with expert input from Kirby's Morgan Johnson. Kelly Denning with the Louisiana Maritime Academy updated members and solicited feedback on recruitment and curriculum development. Members also received reports on legislative and regulatory advocacy from AWO staff. 

The roundtable was followed by the Sector lunch, featuring CAPT Gregory Callaghan and his senior team. Discussion topics included Subchapter M scheduling and consistency, availability of USCG inspectors and support for the USCG/industry ship rider program.

Afterwards, participants enjoyed a networking reception sponsored by Southern Region Chairman Patrick Smith of Yazoo River Towing and Vice Chairman David Lane of Canal Barge Company. 

There's Still Time to Register for the Atlantic Region Roundtable in NYC. AWO will be hosting its Atlantic Region Member Roundtable on July 23 in Staten Island.  This is an important opportunity for members to discuss timely national and regional advocacy issues, from the Coast Guard Authorization Act, to AWO's deregulatory agenda, to the development of the Atlantic Coast fairway, among other important priorities. The roundtable will be followed by a luncheon with U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York.  To register for the roundtable, click here or contact Brian Vahey at bvahey@americanwaterways.com. 

Pacific Region Roundtable to Take Place in San Francisco July 18. Register today to attend this annual gathering of members and AWO staff. Join us to hear about and offer feedback on priority issues, including the latest on California regulations as well as other regional issues from around the West Coast and federal matters in Washington, DC. Guest speakers will include Jen Cohen of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association and Scott Humphrey of the Marine Exchange of the San Francisco Bay Area. After the meeting, personnel from U.S. Coast Guard District 11 will join us for lunch. 

AWO's Summer Safety Meeting is August 13-14 - Register Today! Join AWO members this summer in Chicago for the Summer Safety Meeting, where we will focus on the challenges and opportunities the industry faces as we adapt to an evolving safety landscape, and provide updates on AWO safety initiatives and programs.

All members are invited to join us for our opening reception at 5 pm on August 13 at the Loews Hotel. (The Tankering and Barge Operations Subcommittee and Safety Committees will hold members-only meetings earlier that afternoon.)

Programming will continue on the morning of August 14 with incident review and lessons learned presented by AWO members and afternoon educational sessions including presentations on human performance, an introduction to the new Center for Maritime Innovation, a new mariner wellness study conducted by the Seamen's Church Institute and Yale University, and our American Waterways HERO Award ceremony. A closing reception and social dinner that evening will close out our Summer Safety Meeting.

Reserve your room and register today! Please contact Caitlin Clark with any questions.