Operating Challenges

on the Inland Waterway’s

Presentation to the

Marine Board

April 13, 2005

Dr. Craig Philip

CEO

Ingram Barge Company

1

January 6th

1 The ING5618 breaks loose from a dock near Pittsburgh

2 16 AEP/MEMCO barges break loose from the Cardinal Plant, closing Pike Island Lock

3 An AEP/MEMCO tow breaks apart at Belleville Lock, damaging several gates on the dam

2

3

Cincinnati

Pittsburgh

Nashville

Baton Rouge

New Orleans

Paducah

Cincinnati

Baton Rouge

Pittsburgh

Nashville

4

5

Huntington

January 7th

4 Operations cease on the Big Sandy River and do not resume until January 18th

5 The M/V Virginia Ingram cannot pass under bridges in Cincinnati

New Orleans

Paducah

Baton Rouge

Pittsburgh

Nashville

6

January 9th

6 Ingram Marine Group continues to shuttle tows through Cincinnati on boats that fit under the city’s bridges

- The M/V Elizabeth M, a Campbell Transportation boat, sinks just below Montgomery Lock resulting in 4 fatalities

New Orleans

Paducah

Elizabeth M below Montgomery Lock

Cincinnati

Baton Rouge

Pittsburgh

Nashville

7

New Orleans

8

9

January 11th

7 Additional rains restore the Belleville pool just as the Coast Guard was about to close navigation

8 Markland Dam - an Excell Marine tow of 9 loads breaks apart and goes through the gates

9 The gauge at Baton Rouge exceeds 28 feet, triggering the Coast Guard’s “WATCH”phase

Pittsburgh

11 JT Meyers Lock closes due to high water● A pass is established at

Newburgh● Tow sizes and hours of

operation are restricted

10

New Orleans

11Paducah

Cincinnati

Nashville

Baton Rouge

January 12th

10 Locks close on the Monongahela River due to high water● Montgomery Lock re-opens● The Coast Guard establishes a safety zone on the Ohio

River above Montgomery restricting tow sizes and hours of operation, and requiring helper boats

● Markland Lock is open during daylight hours only

Pittsburgh

13

New Orleans

12

Paducah

Cincinnati

Baton Rouge

January 13th

12 An AEP/MEMCO tow strikes the IC railroad bridge near Cairo, sinking one barge

14

January 14th

13 7 barges break away from Evansville Harbor Service including two IBCO loads

14 A safety zone is established on the Illinois River

Pittsburgh

January 15th

New Orleans

Baton Rouge

15 Three Crounse barges break away from Shenango DockOne becomes lodged in a gate at EmsworthOne strikes a bridge and sinksOne strikes Dashields Dam and sinks

Belleville remains in operation during evening hours as salvage efforts continue

15

PaducahNashville

January 16th thru the 19th

New Orleans

Baton Rouge

January 16th

16 Illinois River closes to linehaul traffic

January 18th

● Locking operations close at Belleville due to low water

Salvage continues despite bitter cold

January 19th

● Operations resume on the Illinois River within Safety Zones that remain in place until February 1st

16

PaducahNashville

16

New Orleans

Baton Rouge

January 20nd

17 A Kirby tow strikes a bridge new Bayou Sorrell, limiting M/V operations to evening hours only until January 31st

January 22nd

18 The Baton Rouge gauge exceeds 35 feet, triggering the Coast Guard’s “IMPLEMENTATION” phase that further reduces tow sizes and requires helper boats

17

PaducahNashville

New Orleans

Baton Rouge

18

New Orleans

January 25th

19 An ARTCO tow of 30 barges strikes the Vicksburg bridge- none are sunk20 A 1400 HP tug operated by Molly Lee Towing Company sinks near Gnot’s

Fleet, causing on apparent fatality

19

PaducahNashville

New Orleans

Baton Rouge

20

Baton Rouge

New Orleans

January 26th

21 An Inland Marine Management tow hits the bank above Smithland Lock, halting operations until a damaged barge is stabilized

January 27th

22 A second ARTCO tow strikes the Vicksburg bridge, sinking two barges

21

Paducah

Nashville

22

Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge

1

Cincinnati

Pittsburgh

Nashville

Baton Rouge

January 27th

1 The ING5618 is removed from the back side of Neville Island where it has rested since a break away on January 6th

New Orleans

Paducah

January 27th

ING5618 removal

3

Cincinnati

Pittsburgh

Nashville

Baton Rouge

February 1st

3 Belleville re-opens nearly a month after the dam gates were damaged

New Orleans

Paducah

2323 The M/V Hortense Ingram strikes the

Vicksburg bridge, sinking 1 barge and damaging 5 others

Baton RougeNew Orleans

New Orleans

February 2nd

24 The Baton Rouge gauge crests at 38.5 feet, just below the 39 foot reading that triggers the Coast Guard’s “EMERGENCY” phase

24

PaducahNashville

New Orleans

Baton Rouge

24 Baton Rouge

New Orleans

PaducahNashville

New Orleans

Baton Rouge

25

February 10th

25 The M/V CSS Arkansas operated by Carline Fleet sinks after a collision with a blue water vessel

25

Baton Rouge

PaducahNashville

New Orleans

Baton Rouge

26

February 11th

26 The Baton Rouge gauge falls below 35 feet, ending the Coast Guard’s “IMPLEMENTATION” phase

Lesser restrictions continue with the “WATCH” phase

26 New Orleans

Baton Rouge

Opportunities to Improve Mariner Effectiveness in

Difficult Operating Conditions

◘ Unified network wide plan, developed jointly by industry, the Coast Guard and Corps of Engineers detailing practical operating responses to extreme conditions (underway)

◘ Instrumentation installed at key locations to track and report on key operating measures (especially current speed and direction)

◘ “Dedrifting” the river at key locations