ARLINGTON, Va. and WASHINGTON, April 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In celebration of Earth Day 2016, today, The American Waterways Operators (AWO) and Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) released a fact sheet highlighting the many environmental and energy efficiency benefits of our nation's waterways. For example, did you know that...
- Barge transportation of commodities on our nation's waterways is the greenest way to move bulk freight. In 2014, more than 600 million tons of cargo valued at more than $230 billion moved on the inland waterways system with the lowest environmental impact among surface transportation modes.
- Towboats can push many barges loaded with freight (grain, soybeans, chemicals, petroleum, salt, sand, timber, rocks, and more) at one time. A standard inland river tow of one towboat pushing 15 barges moves as much cargo as more than 1000 semi-trucks, or six locomotives pulling 216 rail cars.
- Moving cargoes by barge produces little noise or air pollution as vessels glide silently through the water, away from shorelines.
- Modern trucks can move a ton of cargo 150 miles for each gallon of fuel burned.
Newer locomotives can move that cargo 478 ton-miles per gallon, but barges, pushed by towboats, can move it 616 ton-miles per gallon.
Our inland waterways are a critical solution to the nation's transportation challenges today and into the future. Waterways transportation is the most cost-competitive, fuel-efficient, congestion relieving mode that also offers the lowest carbon footprint.
Waterways are simply the GREENEST way to go.
ABOUT AWO and WCI
The American Waterways Operators is the national trade association representing the nation's tugboat, towboat and barge industry which operates along the rivers, coasts, Great Lakes and harbors of the United States. Barge transportation serves the nation as the safest, most environmentally friendly and most economical mode of freight transportation. For more information about AWO, please visit www.americanwaterways.com
Waterways Council, Inc. is the national public policy organization advocating for a modern and well-maintained national system of ports and inland waterways. The group is supported by waterways carriers, shippers, port authorities, agriculture, labor and conservation organizations, shipping associations and waterways advocacy groups from all regions of the country. Visit www.waterwayscouncil.org
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SOURCE American Waterways Operators
Related Links
http://www.americanwaterways.com
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