|
|
|
|
May 22, 2006 -- Vol. 6 Issue 21 Written by Jack R. Simpson (unless otherwise noted), owner of J.R. Simpson & Associates, Inc. and contributing editor to The Waterways Journal.
| ||||||||
 In This Newsletter:
Thought For The Week
Things aren’t always what they seem to be. 
Editorial Comment From Jack
The New Orleans’ Levee System Really Was Inadequate! Duh!  In the “St. Louis Post-Dispatch” today (May 22) was a report from an independent group of engineers, giving an “F” to almost everyone as the grade relates to the New Orleans’ levee system. The conclusions reached by the engineers raise red flags. The story didn’t go into great detail about the inadequacies of the levee system. That is probably because in the weeks and months following Katrina’s rude passage along the Gulf, it was pointed out, among other things, that the system simply was not designed correctly. Designed incorrectly? That raises more flags! If the system was designed incorrectly and was inadequate for the job, then one must ask, “What were they designing for?” Did the engineers not know what the levees were to protect the city of New Orleans against? Just weeks ago, a report indicated that those who have been studying storms worldwide for years indeed did not and do not know how bad storms are. A weather ship intentionally headed into a great storm, and after all but losing their lives the scientists came away with information that seems to prove that hurricanes (and similar storms) are much worse than formerly believed. That being the case, the engineers (the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in this case) probably had no inkling of what they (and the people and area they were to protect) were up against. To think they did know is almost unthinkable. For if they really knew, then one must either conclude that the engineers were failures for not having determined the problem before looking for a solution. There is another possibility. As is often the case with nature, we are always discovering new things. For years we go along believing “A” to be true. Scientific reputations are made on the basis that “A” is true. Then one day, it is discovered that not “A” but “B” is true. Voilà! We have a whole new ballgame. So we might conclude that the engineers were operating on the basis of what they knew to be accepted truth at the time. We’re all guilty (?) of that. So the question might also be asked, “Was the levee system built adequately to protect the people and area against the level of storms the Corps honestly believed might come?” Perhaps we’ll never know that. However, we have had comments by the Corps that the present levee system could not be repaired (and replaced) to the degree that it could handle a Category 3 storm before the arrival of the new hurricane season at the end of May. So there you have it. New Orleans lies in the path of danger, and its levee system is inadequate. Where that leaves us is anybody’s guess, but it doesn’t bode well. What we have not discussed here is guilt. The reviewing committee said there is enough guilt to go around. The guilt relates to pre-storm preparation, not hurricane recovery efforts, which were a mess. It seems to us that in the aftermath of Katrina, numerous articles, including some emanating from the Corps, pointed out that “everybody” knew the levee system needed more work. Much work that was originally planned for the levees did not take place due to political decisions no to spend the money in that way and due to environmental opposition. In other words, money meant for levee work was redirected elsewhere. So where does that leave the Corps? This problem is exacerbated by the element of the unknown. Let’s say, just for conversation’s sake, that the Corps understood the dangers perfectly. Let’s say that their understanding was that the problem was unquestionably “A” and that they proposed solutions that they believed to be adequate to prevent disaster. Because no one knew differently, that conclusion was acceptable to everyone. If that were true (conjecture, of course), then why didn't those people in charge of the exchequer simply pay the bill and do the “fix”? What it boils down to is that the problem is political. Let’s put it this way. Teenager Fred takes the family car out for a drive and has an opportunity to check the tires. “Dad,” he says. “The tires are ready to go. The steel belts are showing. There’s no tread left. They are unsafe. We need new tires!” When dad refuses to finance the “fix” and a tire blows and the car is wrecked, whose fault is it? Dad is in charge of the exchequer. Right now the federal government is in turmoil over lots of serious problems requiring large sums of money. We might say, (pure conjecture, of course) that the Corps knows a lot more about its business than those in government know about theirs. Yet, Congress is in charge of the exchequer. Those in government have shown time after time that they are not very good stewards of the taxpayers’ money. What will they do now that the review of the New Orleans levee system has come out? Will they make excuses or pass the buck? At present the system is unfixed and hurricane recovery is still a big mess. Stay tuned!
For Those Inclined To Pray
 For those desiring prayer support for themselves or others, we invite you to join our Prayer Circle, which allows you to submit requests, thereby tapping into prayerful support of our 40 Circle members. There is power in prayer. Membership in the Circle and/or the submission of prayer requests is open to anyone and free. Request lists are sent out via email, generally, on the day they are received. Come join us!
On The Waterfront
House Approves $4.98 Billion For Civil Works On May 17, the House Appropriations Committee approved by a voice vote is FY 2007 appropriations, which includes $4.984, some $250.8 million more than President Bush requested and $345.3 million less than Congress appropriated for this year (adjusted for emergency spending, the Waterways Council points out). The Appropriations Committee provided $415 million for Inland Waterways Trust Fund financed lock and dam projects, which represents a record level of funding for those projects again this year. Notable was the fact that the committee ignored the President¹s proposal to omit funding for the Industrial Lock at New Orleans, Kentucky Lock and John T. Myers and Greenup Lock auxiliary lock extensions on the Ohio. Committee members provided $10 million for Kentucky Lock, $18 million for the Industrial Lock, $2 million for the John T. Myers project, and $200,000 for the Greenup design. As the Waterways Council reports, no funds were included in the bill to continue pre-construction engineering and design of Upper Miss/Illinois Waterway improvements. The council described that as "unfortunate." (As for movement on the Water resource Development Act issue, there appear to be signs that Senate floor action may take place some time in June.)  However, Worth Hager, president of the National Waterways Conference, tells us that the "final package of the Senate WRDA is almost finished. Once completed, it will be hotlined again with the amendments and time agreement -- probably this week. And, Senator Frist has indicated his willingness to go forward. One of the hold-ups has been, not surprisingly, the Feingold-McCain faction. While they were already able to gain inclusion for provisions that many waterway groups consider worrisome, they still want to see the final package before they decide how many more amendments they want to offer. All told, there may be around 10 amendments between those and others expected.
"Rumor has it that some in OMB are pushing the Administration to support this WRDA, particularly with the inclusion of Section 2006 on the Water Resources Coordinating Council. They are advancing that body as an opportunity to reform and constrain policy so as to shut down large projects, particularly those for navigation and flood control, while supporting more environmental restoration projects continuing the trend OMB has advocated over the last number of years (since certain people went to work in the Water Branch.) That development does seem to add fodder to the boasts of some in the more radical "environmental" community that they regularly have a hand in writing OMB policy, no matter the Administration in charge." (Editor's note: I can only suggest that your turn to the Internet or to your own newspapers for details and year-to-year comparisons. They should show up in "The Waterways Journal.")
Towboat Simulator Project Launched in Mandeville, La. On May 18 officials from Delgado Community College at Mandeville, La., launched the school’s first towboat simulator, a training device intended to become the cornerstone of their new instructional facility for maritime training. Delgado’s maritime program was closed down after Katrina struck. The simulator is the first of its kind in the state, and its wholesale value is estimated at between $150,000 and $200,000. The progress is a result of Delgado partnering with Florida Marine Transporters, Inc., a Mandeville company that provides towboat and barge services along the Mississippi River and Gulf.
Paducah, Ky., Propeller Club Presents Maritime Day Awards The Propeller Club, Port of Paducah, Ky., presented Maritime Day awards at a ceremony held May 20 in Paducah. Dave Dewey was honored as Port Person of the Year, and Ann Mills, coordinator of special projects Ministry on the River, was honored as Maritime Person of the Year. (Editor’s note: Our congratulations to both of the honorees.)
Firm Plans Ethanol Plant Near Superior, Iowa, May Ship By Barge Green Plains Renewable Energy is planning to build an ethanol plant near Superior, Iowa, a 50 million gallons per year facility, which is to include a barge dock to move product by river. The plant is scheduled to begin producing ethanol in 2007. The first phase of construction will involve plant and dock construction, while the second phase will double plant production its manager said. (We were reminded that while 50 million gallons sounds like a lot, it represents only about 40 loads for a 30,000-bbl.-sized tank barge at 42 gallons per barrel.) Green Plains is building a similar plant in Shenandoah, Iowa, which will begin producing ethanol in the spring of 2007. Also River/Gulf Energy will break ground later this year for a new ethanol plant to be located at Buffalo, near the Quad Cities on the Mississippi River. “The DesMoines Register” reports that River/Gulf Energy is associated with River/Gulf Grain Co., a Quad Cities-based grain merchandiser and river-terminal operator, and Alter Barge Line, which operates on the Mississippi.
American Commercial Lines Gets $30 Million Barge Contract American Commercial Lines, Inc., reportedly has announced that a $30 million, multi-year contract has been secured from Statia Terminals New Jersey, Inc., to build ABS-certified ocean tank barges. Statia is a division of Valero, LP.
Kirby Corp Reportedly To Buy Global Power Reuters reported recently that Kirby Corp’s wholly owned subsidiary Marine Systems Inc., has agreed to pay $100 million for the privately held company that owns Global Power Systems, L.L.C. The deal is expected to close in June.
HBC Barge Files For Voluntary Bankruptcy Liquidation HBC Barge LLC, reportedly filed for voluntary Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation in federal court in Pittsburgh, Pa. HBC tried to reorganize under Chapter ll in 2004. The firm has no remaining assets, the company lawyer said, but it filed the new petition “as a means of settling several lawsuits and potential claims against it.”
Demolition Project Demolishes Warehouse — Unexpectedly By Fire An abandoned warehouse on the Orange Street Wharf, itself a nonworking facility for more than a decade, was destroyed May 17 by fire, which started during its demolition. The blaze also spread to the nearby Market Street Wharf. The Orange Street Wharf is located in the Lower Garden District of New Orleans. At first firefighters were hampered by a stopped train that blocked the roadway. A two-mile stretch of the river was closed for the duration. At one point helicopters were carrying large buckets of water from the Mississippi and dropped them on the fire. The building collapsed about an hour after the fire started. The identification of its contents is unknown.
Ship Fire At Northrop Grumman Forces Evacuation The Mississippi Press reports that on May 20 a fire aboard a ship under construction at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems at Pascagoula forced the evacuation of workers and did extensive damage to the ship. Under construction was the DDG-103, an Arleigh Burke class destroyer. There were no injuries. Fire engulfed two levels of the ship and took about 90 minutes to control. The blaze started in an area where electronics are stored.
You can contact the editor directly at jacksimpson@littleriverbooks.com.
advertisement
The River School - Deck and engineer licenses, radar observer, tankerman, fire and water safety courses, video programs. Travel classes in convenient locations. (800) 238-7113 www.riverschool.com
From Our Readers
Re: Patron Saints (question repeated) If St. Joseph is the patron Saint of carpenters, who is the patron Saint of Towboaters? Larry Richardson (Editor’s note: Anybody got a clue? I do know that if you go to Google and put in as key words “Patron Saint of Mariners”, you will get tons of stuff.)
Re: Patron Saint of Mariners It’s Santa Claus, of course. Charlie Lehman
Re: Patron Saint of Mariners In reference to the question about who the Patron Saint of towboaters is, around here we say it’s Saint Nicholas…the Patron Saint of mariners. Our chapel here is the St. Nicholas Chapel…named accordingly. Thanks for continuing to educate me! Ann Mills Coordinator of Special Projects Ministry on the River 111 Kentucky Ave. Paducah, KY 42003 www.seamenschurch.org
Re: National Gateway (?) in Photo Center The vessel shown in the picture labeled as the National Gateway [in your Photo Center] might not be that vessel. The National Gateway is 138 x 44 and 5,000 hp. that is, of course, if there isn’t another National Gateway. Anyway, thanks for the web site. Ed Henleben Ingram Barge Company St. Louis Operations Manager (Editor’s note: We will be replacing it next week with a photograph taken by the late Bill Evans. Thanks for calling it to our attention. It was so difficult to see that we never questioned it.)
Re: Miscellaneous I am a boat delivery captain, out of Tampa Bay, formerly a teacher and school principal in Illinois and Wisconsin. August 1, I leave on a 4,000 mile roundtrip from St. Pete FL to St. Paul, MN. I was very pleased to run across your business and website. I love river travel and you have some great resources there. My boat is a one-of-a-kind 25’ canal boat style trawler. Its 20 HP 3 cyl. Perkins pushes it 5-6 mph, so I’m hoping for a not too rainy summer…I’m sure you know the Mississippi from Cairo to the upper locks can run that fast (or more) after a little rain. If necessary, I’ll have to get truck-hauled from Paducah to above St. Louis. At any rate, I’ll be sending some photos to your photo gallery during the trip. And I’ll be enthusiastically encouraging people to check out your business. I’ve also started a blog, which I’ll use as a photojournal during my St. Pete/St. Paul trip starting August 1. There are already some things on there from previous trips you might find interesting. Captain Brion Kerlin St. Petersburg, Fla. Brionkerlin@yahoo.com captainbrion.blogspot.com
Welcome To Our Site Ring
Site Name: Maritime Attorney – Jones Act & Admiralty Law Owner: Tim Akpinar URL: http://www.mycounsel.us Description: Tim Akpinar provides legal counsel for ocean and inland mariners, as well as recreational boating, with salvage, contract, injury, Jones Act, warranty and other maritime law. Former engine room officer – unlimited horsepower license. Free initial consult.
advertisement 1/4
 Collectible Towboats / Barges / Models for sale. Custom design or choose from large list of inland waterway companies. American Towboater Logo Wear for sale includes T-Shirts, Sweatshirts, Golf Shirts and Hats. For info and pricelist, call 502-241-1118 (Fax No. 502-241-1976) or email cherokeebb@insightbb.com. For closer look, check out website: www.cherokeebarge.com
Bring this ad to the Grafton Towboat Festival and you will receive 10% off entire order.
Boat Photo Center
 Feast your eyes on another 20 vessels in the Photo Center again this week. The guys are keeping me busy. They include: the Lew Simms, Roger K from Jesse Lybarger; two each of the E. L. Crain and Arkwright, and the Herb Carpenter from Eric M. Johnson; the New Dawn and City of Joliet from Charles A. Perrin; two of the King George, the Caleb Lay and Bill Stegbauer from Ron Richardson. The A. L. McCabe and Carl L. Johnson from Brent Maletic; the Valda from Craig Nowack; the Aug V from Thomas Waller; and the Richard E. Waugh, Queen City and Darin Adrian from John Miller. Click here to see the latest pictures.
advertisement
Beyond WordsWeb Site Design, Search Engine Optimization, Graphic Design Web site design, graphics, Flash animations, search engine optimization, e-commerce, typing services, database management. Check out our portfolio of past projects, then contact us at 636-477-8518 for more information.
Recipe Box
Do you have a good recipe you’d like to share? Submit your recipes here!
The Book Beat
 We just got a new supply of Dorothy Heckmann Shrader books, which represent a vast amount of good history and detail about steamboating on the Missouri River over the past 150 years. They include: “Steamboat Legacy”, “Steamboat Treasures” and “Steamboat Kid”, a great buy on all three soft-cover books for under $35 plus S&H.
I call your attention again to “Backing Hard Into River History”, a very good volume covering a hundred years of river commercial navigation development on the Mississippi River and tributaries, et al. It gets better with time. The book sells on our web site for $20 plus S&H, which is about $10 under the retail price of the book. Two books going at fire-sale prices include “In Search of Moon River” and “Let The Lower Lights Be Burning.” Price is less than wholesale plus S&H. When you are ordering other books, be sure to pick up these.
 Self-publishing your book:
Self-publishing your book is a good way to go, but there are booby traps everywhere. Call us at 314/921-4419 to find out how your book can be published without experiencing the problems many writers have faced. Remember, when you self-publish with us, you pay the costs, but you get the books. With some subsidized printing schemes, you don’t.
New Book Coming We want to forewarn those interested in putting their thoughts into print that a new book called $elf-Publish for Profit (by avoiding the booby traps) is on the way. The book, by Jack R. Simpson, is based on half a century of journalism and publishing experience. Now in the hands of the editor, the book will be sent off to the printers within weeks. Just to advise you in advance, I will offer a $4.50 discount to every buyer who orders and pays in advance before the release date. There will be more information on that later, but to inquire, contact Jack at jacksimpson@littleriverbooks.com.
Get More Visitors To Your Web Site - Join The U.S. Inland Waterways Site Ring!
This is a web ring owned by Little River Books. It is dedicated to those who work, rest, or play on the inland waterways of the United States. Owners of river-related commercial or private sites can apply to join, bringing together as many waterways related sites as possible. Sign up (FREE), put the code on your page, and watch your hits skyrocket! Let’s see if we can make this one of the biggest and best river site rings on the web. Benefit from other river sites’ traffic and gain new visitors. If you sell a river-related product on your site, this is the ring for you! (You must copy and past the site ring graphic onto your web site as soon as your site is approved.) Check out the sites currently in the ring and their hit statistics as a direct result of being in the site ring.
Tow Talkin'
May 22, 2006 By Kathy Flippo  This past week was one of very little river traffic past Clinton, Iowa, UMR Mile 517. All that I saw were two of ARTCO’s Cooperative boats, the Venture and the Ambassador, and ARTCO’s beautiful American Beauty and their Coral Dawn. Ingram had the Mvs. Samuel B. Richmond and the Queen City up here. And then there was the surprise of the week.
The Mv. Floyd H. Blaske went down on May 16th. Nothing unusual about that, but she is no longer an ACBL boat! She’s been repainted whiter than white and carries Inland Marine logo and flags. And that was the traffic that I saw this past week. The river is coming up again because of a week’s worth of rain. It isn’t…to continue reading, click here. See you on the Web, Jack Little River Books jacksimpson@littleriverbooks.com Don't forget to visit our web site! |
||||||||
