AWO Welcomes New Members. AWO is delighted to welcome three new members:

• EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants specializes in risk management, property and casualty, employee benefits, specialty programs, and private client services.
• Master Boat Builders, Inc., crafts work boats, including tugs and offshore vessels, and built the U.S.'s first all-electric tugboat.
• The South Jersey Port Corporation operates marine terminals across seven South Jersey counties, managing the Balzano and Broadway Terminals in Camden, Salem Marine Terminal, and the developing Paulsboro Marine Terminal.

Please reach out to Caitlin Kidd with any questions.

Coast Guard-AWO Safety Report Demonstrates Industry's Commitment to Safety, Environmental Protection. Each year, the National Committee of the Coast Guard-AWO Quality Partnership reviews a report prepared by the Coast Guard Office of Investigations and Casualty Analysis tracking key towing industry safety metrics. This year's report surveys data from 1994 to 2024. For 2024, the projected rate of fatalities for towing vessel crewmembers is 5 per 100,000 full-time employees. While we are waiting on 2024 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the report affirms that between 2021-2023, the towing industry fatality rate trended below not only the BLS fatality rate for transportation sector workers but also the rate for all workers. In addition, the 2024 projected tank barge oil spill rate is 0.25, or one quart, per million gallons transported, with 92.7% of the oil spilled from tank barges attributable to two incidents. The report also shows that from 2023 to 2024, the number of incidents involving towing vessels or barges investigated by the Coast Guard dropped by more than 20%.

Coast Guard-AWO Quality Partnership Discusses Agency-Industry Cooperation. Coast Guard-AWO Quality Partnership National Committee Co-chairs RADM Wayne Arguin, Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy, and Jennifer Carpenter, AWO President & CEO, recently led senior officials from the Coast Guard's Inspections & Compliance directorate and AWO Executive Committee members in a dialogue aimed at enhancing our partnership. RADM Arguin discussed how the Coast Guard's Force Design 2028, which includes an initiative to recruit 15,000 new servicemembers, may impact the marine transportation system and the service's marine safety mission. Discussion also focused on towing vessel operators' recurring need to schedule inspections on short notice due to operational and commercial demands and how the Coast Guard can accommodate these requests. Jennifer Hnatow, the National Towing Vessel Coordinator, provided a review of inspected towing vessel data and enforcement statistics. The data shows that from 2024 to 2025, there has been a slight increase in both the number of inspected towing vessels and the TSMS option population, and that TSMS option vessels continue to be subject to fewer detentions than Coast Guard option vessels.

AWO Meets with MARAD Acting Administrator, Other Senior Leaders. On August 8, AWO President & CEO Jennifer Carpenter, in her dual capacity as Chair of the American Maritime Partnership, met with Mr. Sang Yi, Acting Maritime Administrator, to discuss how MARAD and the domestic maritime industry can work together to expand opportunities for the U.S.-flag fleet. AWO also recently met with Michaela Noble, MARAD's Associate Administrator for Environment and Compliance, to discuss our ongoing work with the agency to promote industry innovation, safety, and sustainability.

Commercial Harbor Craft Rule Lawsuit Continues to be Held in Abeyance. In March, AWO joined the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) in petitioning federal courts to review the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's final action to partially grant California authority to enforce its Commercial Harbor Craft (CHC) Rule. As anticipated, EPA requested that the cases be held in abeyance for 90 days while the Trump Administration reviewed the matter, which had been decided under the previous Administration. EPA has now requested to hold the cases in abeyance a further 120 days, which AWO and AFPM do not oppose. AWO will use this period to continue discussions with members and EPA officials over the future of the CHC Rule.

Coast Guard Releases 2024 Flag State Control Report. The Coast Guard has released its 2024 Flag State Control Domestic Annual Report, which reviews the current status of the U.S. inspected vessel fleet and summarizes the Coast Guard's enforcement activities. In 2024, there were 4,927 inspected towing vessels (ITVs) and 4,922 inspected barges in the U.S. fleet of responsibility. The average age of ITVs was 35 years, making it on average the oldest of the inspected commercial vessel types. The deficiency rate (or ratio of number of vessels to number of deficiencies) for ITVs was 1.3 - only inspected barges, at 0.4, had a lower rate. In 2024, the ITV fleet had the highest number of reportable marine casualties with 1,063, but only 22% of the fleet was involved in a reportable marine casualty as compared to 43% of the self-propelled cargo vessel fleet. Only 5% of the inspected barge fleet was involved in a reportable marine casualty, with 243 incidents.

Coast Guard Designates New Waterways Commerce Cutters as "Chief Petty Officer Class." In another step forward for the recapitalization of the Coast Guard's aging river tender fleet, the Service has announced that each Waterways Commerce Cutter (WCC) will be named in honor of a Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer to recognize these leaders' impact and legacy. The new fleet of WCCs is critical to maintaining aids to navigation to facilitate the safe, secure, and reliable movement of commerce through America's marine transportation system, which supports $5.4 trillion of economic activity annually. The Coast Guard has received initial approval to produce the first eight WCCs, supported by $162 million in funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, allowing the Service to accelerate production rates and deliver three cutters ahead of schedule.

AWO Joins Maritime Coalition in Urging DHHS to Speed Adoption of Oral Fluid Testing. While oral fluid testing was approved as part of the federal drug testing program administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation in 2023, it can only be implemented by employers once at least two laboratories have been approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to process test samples. More than two years later, there are still no approved laboratories. AWO joined a letter to DHHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. with the Passenger Vessel Association, Chamber of Shipping of America, and Offshore Marine Services Association to advocate for technical measures DHHS can take to ease the approval process for laboratories while upholding the validity of testing outcomes. AWO will continue to advocate with DHHS and the Coast Guard for timely implementation of oral fluid testing so that members have maximum flexibility in upholding drug-free workplaces. 

AWO PAC and Inside Elections. AWO has partnered with Inside Elections for another special edition, featuring an update on states' redistricting efforts.  

AWO Hosts Atlantic Region Roundtable In New York. AWO Atlantic Region Chairman Nathan Hauser of Moran Towing Corporation and AWO staff led a member roundtable discussion on Staten Island last month. Conversation focused on AWO's efforts to build broad bipartisan support for the Jones Act, recent legislative wins on harassment reporting and Hudson River anchoring policy, AWO's regulatory relief initiative, and various regional, state, and safety priorities. Sabrina Taylor from the Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) company discussed the CHPE cable-laying project on the Hudson River and efforts to monitor vessel activity to reduce the risk of anchor strikes; Nadia Adam from the Staten Island Industrial Alliance (SIIA) presented on her organization's work with state and local stakeholders to promote Staten Island's working waterfront. AWO members interested in learning more about SIIA's Transportation and Infrastructure Summit on September 19 can contact Brian Vahey. The roundtable was followed by a luncheon with representatives from U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York and Northeast District. Thank you to all the members and guests who participated.

Hays Tug and Cottrell Contracting Host Joint Tug and Dredge Tour in Philadelphia. Many thanks to Larry Strohm with Hays Tug and Launch Service and Devon Carlock with Cottrell Contracting Corporation for hosting Congressional staffers from Pennsylvania and Delaware on a tour of Cottrell's dredging operation at Marcus Hook Anchorage in Philadelphia. Staff from the offices of Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) were in attendance, and Bill Doyle with the Dredging Contractors of America was on-hand to provide additional perspective and expertise.

MDTA Issues Recommended Best Practices for Bay Bridge Transits. The Maryland Transportation Authority recently shared a list with AWO of recommended best practices for vessel operators transiting under the Bay Bridge. MDTA developed the recommended practices, which focus on speed reduction, in collaboration with the Maryland Pilots. These best practices are part of an ongoing effort across multiple states to assess bridge vulnerabilities and use that information to develop guidelines for vessel transits. AWO is working with the states to ensure towing vessel industry input is included in these evaluations.

AWO Presents at GICA Annual Seminar in New Orleans. AWO Southern Region Vice President Jill Bessetti and Senior Director of Safety and Sustainability Michael Breslin recently presented at the Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association (GICA) annual seminar in New Orleans. GICA represents more than 150 companies operating through a 1200-mile stretch of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Jill and Mike highlighted AWO's advocacy relating to navigation concerns and work as part of the Joint Hurricane Protocol. We thank GICA for the opportunity to present to its members.

AWO and Northern Marine Host Towboat Tour in Lemont, IL. On August 15, AWO and Northern Marine hosted a towboat tour on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. Bria Scudder, the Deputy Governor of Illinois for Public Safety, Infrastructure, Environment, and Energy, joined the tour along with staff from the offices of Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL), Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL), and State Rep. Nicole La Ha (R-IL). AWO thanks Northern Marine for sponsoring this successful towboat tour!

AWO Holds Midwest Region Region Roundtable and Coast Guard Luncheon. AWO held a Midwest Region roundtable meeting on August 12 at Amrize in Chicago, Illinois. Topics discussed included AWO's federal and state advocacy work, state paid leave laws, the Brandon Road Interbasin Project, and efforts to rename the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. Following the roundtable, members joined Coast Guard MSU Chicago for a luncheon discussion. AWO thanks all members who participated in the roundtable and Amrize for hosting the event.