NEWARK, N.J., March 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Shifting freight traditionally carried by road or rail to water routes can be an integral part of a cost-effective and energy-efficient intermodal supply chain. Industry leaders will discuss in depth the increasing benefits of marine highways at the Seventh Annual Journal of Commerce North American Marine Highways & Logistics Conference in Baltimore, April 6-7, 2010.

Sonney Jones found that the best solution to a meandering supply-chain was a straight line -- across the Gulf of Mexico.

Jones is the division director for transportation at Dallas-based Dal Tile Corporation. Its supply chain to the East Coast was a tangle of trucks, trains and ocean carriers, he said, until the company partnered with SeaBridge Freight.

SeaBridge Freight is one of the pioneers on America's marine highways and operates vessels between the ports of Brownsville, Texas, and Tampa, Fla. Company founder Hank Hoffman brought his trucking background to the maritime environment and worked with Dal Tile to streamline its logistics.

Jones and Hoffman will join an outstanding list of speakers at the Seventh Annual Journal of Commerce North American Marine Highways & Logistics Conference, April 6-7, 2010, at the Conference Center at the Maritime Institute near Baltimore. The event will illustrate for shippers how use of marine highways -- moving freight by water that is traditionally carried by road or rail -- can be an integral part of a cost-effective, energy-efficient and sustainable intermodal supply chain.

Confirmed event speakers include leading experts in the growing field of maritime intermodal logistics:

• U.S. Secretary Ray LaHood.
• U.S. Congressman Elijah Cummings, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
• Former USDOT Secretary Mary Peters and Deputy Secretary Mort L. Downey.
• Frederick J. Harris, President, General Dynamics NASSCO.
• Larry L. "Butch" Brown, Exec. Director Mississippi DOT, President AASHTO.
• Rockford Weitz, Senior Fellow, Institute for Global Maritime Studies Inc.
• Ed Whitmore, President, Norfolk Tug Company.
• Bruce Wood, President and CEO, Hamilton Port Authority.
• Blair McKeil, President and CEO, McKeil Marine.
• Stephen Pepper, President, Humboldt Logistics.
• Gregg M. Ward, Vice President, Detroit Windsor Truck Ferry.
• John Mimikakis, Senior Policy Manager, Environmental Defense Fund.
• Edward Anthes-Washburn, Program Coordinator, Massachusetts Seaport Advisory Council.
• Henning Mohn, Principal Consultant, Det Norske Veritas (Americas) Inc.
• Jonathan D. Kaskin, Director, U.S. Navy Office of Strategic Mobility and Combat Logistics.
• Paul H. Bea, Jr., Coastwise Coalition, Chairman, Ferguson Group.
• Joseph W. Cappel, Senior Manager, Business Development Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority.
• James J. Corbett, University of Delaware Professor, College of Earth, Ocean and Environment; Civil & Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering.
• Jeanine M. Hoey, Program Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
• J.J. Keever, Senior Deputy Executive Director, Virginia Port Authority.
• C. James Kruse, Director, Center for Ports and Waterways, Texas Transportation Institute.
• Terrence M. Moore, Director, Business Operations AEP River Operations.
• Barbara Nelson, Principal Transportation Planner, Richmond MPO.
• Fernando Pereira, Commercial Manager, Port of Progreso, Mexico.

The JOC North American Marine Highways & Logistics Conference is sponsored by the U.S. Maritime Administration, General Dynamics NASSCO, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the I-95 Corridor Coalition, the Conference Center at the Maritime Institute, the American Public University, Masters, Mates & Pilots, MEBA, the Propeller Club International and the New Bedford Port, Mass.

For more information and registration, visit www.joc.com/events.

Since 1827, The Journal of Commerce has been the most trusted source of intelligence for international logistics executives to help them plan global supply chains and better manage day-to-day transportation of goods and commodities in the United States and internationally. To become a member of The Journal of Commerce click here. JOC members have access to the weekly print and digital magazine, Web site and a 10% discount on all JOC Events and trade shows, UBM Global Trade Directories and select PIERS products.

About UBM Global Trade: UBM Global Trade, formerly Commonwealth Business Media, Inc., has been the leading provider of proprietary data, news, business intelligence and analytical content supporting commercial maritime, rail, trucking, warehousing and logistics industries worldwide since 1827. The company's portfolio of more than 100 online, print and interactive workflow business solutions includes The Journal of Commerce, The Journal of Commerce Events, PIERS Global Intelligence Solutions and an array of international trade and transportation databases and directories. UBM Global Trade, a subsidiary of United Business Media Limited, is headquartered in East Windsor, NJ, with offices throughout the United States and in Canada and Hong Kong. For more information, explore www.ubmglobaltrade.com or call 800-221-5488 (+1-609-371-7700 outside the U.S. and Canada).

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SOURCE The Journal of Commerce

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