62
THE BUSINESS OF TOWING Western Gulf Coast Edition – 2013 Section 2 9/10/2013 1 The Business of Towing

THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

THE BUSINESS OF TOWING

W e s t e r n G u l f C o a s t E d i t i o n – 2 0 1 3

Section 2 9/10/2013

1

The Business of Towing

Page 2: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

Transportation Contribution to GDP

(GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT)

By any measure, the U.S. has the most

well-developed Freight Transport

Infra-Structure in the World and it is

a global competitive advantage

DRY CARGO, 970M

78%

TRANSPORTATION’S ROLE IN U.S. ECONOMY

10.2%

GDP $15.6 TRILLION

DATA TIMEFRAME: 2011

Page 3: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

TRANSPORTATION’S ROLE IN U.S. ECONOMY

SOURCE: 2009 BUREAU OF TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS

WATER

4% AIR

4% OIL PIPELINE

1% MISC.

5%

RAILROAD

7%

HIGHWAY

78%

Annual U.S. Intercity Freight Bill Ton-Miles

WATER

11%

TRUCK

31%

OIL PIPELINE

21%

RAILROAD

37%

While water carriage requires just 4% of freight costs, it accounts for 11% of the ton-miles produced

Page 4: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

TRANSPORTATION’S ROLE IN U.S. ECONOMY

SOURCE: 2012 AMERICAN WATERWAYS OPERATORS/ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN RAILROADS

Comparison: Barge Industry versus Rail Industry

Barge Industry Class I Railroads

Miles of Right-of-Way 26,000 96,000

# of Barges/Freight Cars 28,000 364,000

# of Towboats/Locomotives 4,000 25,000

Annual Revenue $5 billion $68 billion

Page 5: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

TRANSPORTATION’S ROLE IN U.S. ECONOMY

SOURCE: 2012 AMERICAN WATERWAYS OPERATORS/ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN RAILROADS

Modal Comparison

Barge Rail Pipeline Truck

Geographic Coverage Limited to navigable

channels

Limits shipper

options

limited to build

network

ALL

Shipment size 1,500 ton minimum 100 ton minimum very large 40 ton minimum

Speed 5-10 MPH 25 MPH --- 50 MPH

Capital cost moderate high very high low

Operating cost low moderate very low very high

Environmental hospitability good poor good for existing

very bad for new

bad

Cargo Types bulk liquid or dry ALL bulk liquid ALL

Page 6: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

TRANSPORTATION’S ROLE IN U.S. ECONOMY

The United States Navigable Waterways System is an essential part of the nation’s transportation infrastructure

Under the Jones Act, the right to serve this market is reserved to U.S. operators (owned, operated and built)

Page 7: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

7

MARINE ASSETS

Page 8: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

8

There is a large variation in:

• size

• power

• construction, and

• area of operation

A towboat is a manned vessel that transports/pushes barges.

Page 9: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

Generally, there are four main types of towboats:

Page 10: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

LOWER MISSISSIPPI

RIVERS

Page 11: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

LOWER MISSISSIPPI OPERATIONS

LOCKING RIVER OPERATIONS

CANAL OPERATIONS

Towboats assigned to operating territories to achieve lowest possible unit towing cost

Page 12: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

LINEHAUL TOWBOATS

Power: 4,000 hp to 11,000 hp

Towing Capacity: Up to 60,000 tons (25 to 40 loaded barges)

Cost: $10,000,000 to $25,000,000 depending on power and configuration

Useful Life: 35 years, extendable to 50 years with major rehab at mid-life

Crew Size: 8 - 10 person

Fuel Consumption: 1 gallon per horsepower per day

Area of Operation: Lower Mississippi and Lower Ohio Rivers

Page 13: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

Power: 1,800 hp to 6,000 hp

Towing Capacity: 15,000 to 25,000 tons (9 to 16 loaded barges)

Cost: $5,000,000 to $15,000,000 depending on power and configuration

Useful Life: 35 years, extendable to 50 years with major rehab at mid-life

Crew Size: 7 - 10 person

Fuel Consumption: 3/4 gallon per horsepower per day

Area of Operation: Upper Ohio, Upper Mississippi, Tennessee and Illinois Rivers

LOCKING TOWBOATS

Page 14: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

CANAL TOWBOATS

14

Power: 1,000 hp to 2,000 hp

Towing Capacity: 3,000 to 8,000 tons (2 to 4 loaded barges)

Cost: $2,000,000 to $6,000,000 depending on power and configuration

Useful Life: 30 years, extendable to 45 years with major rehab at mid-life

Crew Size: 4 - 7 person

Fuel Consumption: 3/4 gallon per horsepower per day

Area of Operation: Gulf Intracoastal Waterways and Tributaries

CANAL TOWBOATS

Page 15: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

Generally, there are three main types of barges:

Page 16: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge
Page 17: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

Liquid Tank Barges

17

More diversity than hoppers; two main types:

• Clean petrochemical linehaul barges

• Oversized petrochemical barges

Page 18: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

Liquid Tank Barges

18

Capacity:

Size:

Useful Life:

Hull Type:

Cost:

Mix of single hull and double hull

$950,000 to $2,000,000 depending on size and configuration

1,500 to 4,000 tons (10,000 bbls to 30,000 bbls) when loaded to a 9'

draft150’ to 300’ long, 35’ to 54’ wide, 10’ to 13’ deep

25 years, extendable to 40 years with major rehab at mid-life

Page 19: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

The Lower Mississippi is an open

river with no lock structures,

allowing larger tows moving

more than 80,000 tons

Page 20: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

¼ Mile 1,145’

280’

Maximum Tow Sizes BELOW CAIRO, IL TO NEW ORLEANS

Page 21: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

¼ Mile 1,145’

105’

Maximum Tow Sizes ABOVE ST. LOUIS, ILLINOIS, OHIO, TENNESSEE

Page 22: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

1,454′ Willis Tower

(formerly Sears Tower)

1,250′ Empire State

1,568′ Lower Mississippi Tow Length

Page 23: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

1092′

¼ Mile

1,145’

35’

105’

200’

USS Abraham Lincoln

Page 24: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

Why are barges such odd sizes?

Q :

Page 25: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

The navigable channel is maintained by the

Army Corps of Engineers using Lock & Dam structures.

The standard lock chamber size limits the barge

length, width and depth.

A :

Page 26: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

Lock Chamber – 600’

110

LINEHAUL TOW

UNIT TOW

Page 27: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

HOW A LOCK WORKS

Page 28: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

HOW A LOCK WORKS

Page 29: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

HOW A LOCK WORKS

Page 30: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge
Page 31: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

31 31

Page 32: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge
Page 33: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

Advantages of Inland Barge Transportation

Page 34: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

Transporting freight by water is also the most energy-efficient choice

For one ton of cargo per gallon of fuel…

• A barge moves 616 miles

• A rail car moves 478 miles

• A truck moves 150 miles

Ton-miles Traveled per Gallon of Fuel

Advantages of Inland Barge Transportation

Page 35: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

Advantages of Inland Barge Transportation

Inland waterways transport generates fewer emissions than rail or truck per ton-mile.

Barge transportation generates the lowest emissions as measured in grams per ton-miles in four standards tracked by the EPA:

• PARTICULATE MATTER (PM)

• HYDROCARBONS (HC)

• CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) • NITROGEN OXIDES (NOX)

Page 36: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

Today’s Barge Industry Economic Impact of Barge Transportation

36

33,000 PEOPLE EMPLOYED

ABOARD TUGS & TOWBOATS

MORE THAN

30,000 PEOPLE EMPLOYED

BY SHIPYARDS

500,000 WORKERS IN INDUSTRIES

THAT RELY ON RAW MATERIALS DELIVERED BY BARGE

ALMOST

$5 BILLION CONTRIBUTED BY INDUSTRY

EACH YEAR TO NATION’S ECONOMY

$750 MILLION COMBINED YEARLY TOTAL INDUSTRY PAYS IN

PAYROLL AND CORPORATE INCOME TAXES

Page 37: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

Today’s Barge Industry Type and Number of Barges Operated (2012)

37

Open 7,274 35%

Cover 10,520 50%

Total Dry 17,794 85%

Total Liquid 3,188 15%

Total Barge Fleet 20,982 100%

Page 38: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

Major Commodities

shipped on U.S. Waterways

(Tons)

Chemicals

37M

Coal

170M

Petroleum Products 145M

Crude Materials

108M

Farm Products

75M

Other

23M About 560 million tons of

cargo move each year on

the U.S. inland waterways,

most of it in bulk (2012)

38

Page 39: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

Today’s Barge Industry Dry Cargo Barge Market (2012)

39

Other includes Alumina, Salt, Cement, Fertilizer, Forest Products, etc.

46%

21%

22%

7% 5%

Coal

Agriculture

Construction

Steel

Other

Page 40: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

Presently, Ingram is the largest dry cargo carrier

40

Source: Informa Economics, March 2012 Barge Fleet Profile & Public Financial Filings Ingram’s numbers are YTD and reflect the May 2012 acquisition of U.S. United Barge Line, LLC

Ingram 4,459 25%

AEP 3,199 18%

ACBL 1,961 11%

ARTCO 1,786 10%

Cargo Carriers 1,278 7%

SCF 1,167 6%

Crounse 1,035 6%

Subtotal 14,885 83%

Total Industry 17,996 100%

Page 41: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

Industry dry cargo fleet has been stable since 2000

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

19

75

19

76

19

77

19

78

19

79

19

80

19

81

19

82

19

83

19

84

19

85

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

20

06

20

07

20

08

20

09

20

10

20

11

Construction Retirements

Ill-considered legislation incents barge construction boom that results in gross over-capacity

Strong rate environment of early 90s results in a second, less-pronounced bubble

10-year

Construction 6,345

10-Year

Retirements 7,213

Source: Informa Economics

Page 42: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

42

GRAIN EXPORTS

• Nearly 100M tons annually

• 72% of soybean and 61% of corn exports by barge

Page 43: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

COAL FOR POWER PLANTS

• 227M tons annually – inland, lakes, coastal

• 20% of utility coal supplied by waterway

Page 44: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

44

Today’s Barge Industry is challenged by several issues…

Page 45: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge
Page 46: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

117 out of 240

Locks are over

50 years old

46

Page 47: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Age in 2012 (Years)

47

0-9

10-19

20-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70-79

80+

3

9

16

17

53

31

19

55

39 60% > 50

AGING LOCK INVENTORY (242 CHAMBERS) Includes all operational deep and shallow draft Corps and TVA navigation locks and control structures

Page 48: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

McAlpine

Emsworth

John Day

L&D 15 Lockport

Bayou Sorrel

Belleville

Lock and/or Dam Requiring

Major Emergency Maintenance

Major Closure – Industry Accident *

Hannibal

Holt

* Montgomery

Braddock

Barkley

*

Inner Harbor

48

Major Locks and Dams Requiring Emergency Repairs November 2002 through Feb 2012

Price Aux * Greenup

Cheatham

Markland L&D 27

* Wilson

Page 49: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

Dwindling Resources

1977-2011 Current $ and 1996 Constant $ *

Inland Waterways O&M Funding

* Fuel-Taxed Waterways Only

Page 50: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

Dwindling Resources

AGING INFRASTRUCTURE + DWINDLING RESOURCES = INCREASING “DOWNTIME” AT LOCKS

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Unscheduled Mechanical Breakdown Unscheduled Scheduled

Page 51: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

Although service interruptions have been manageable so far, O&M related outages continue to concern the Barge Industry and its customers

51

CRUMBLING LOCK WALL, LOWER MON 3, OPENED IN 1907

CONCRETE DETERIORATION AT CHICKAMAUGA LEAKING SPARE MITER GATES, UPPER MISS LOCK 19

Page 52: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

Fertilizer

Aggregate

Grain

Cement

Agriculture Support Oilseed

Farming

Petroleum

Chemical

Steel Manufacturing

Coal

Waterborne Transportation

Power Generation

INDUSTRIES AT RISK

Page 53: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge
Page 54: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

Regulatory Challenge

• Jones Act

• Safety Management Systems

• Federal authorities may change release flows on the Missouri River, which could negatively impact barge transportation on the Upper Mississippi

• Various states have imposed their own regulations on the federal waterways system. Their goals and regulatory enforcement can be inconsistent, making compliance difficult [VGP & NPDES]

54

Page 55: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge
Page 56: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

Safety Challenge

Ingram is actively involved with several public and private initiatives to further improve safety along the inland waterways:

Safety Partnerships

Responsible Carrier

Simulator Training

56

Page 57: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

57

Page 58: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

MARGIN DRIVERS

Page 59: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

What are the Major Variables for Direct Cost?

What are the major variables for direct cost? • Labor

• Fuel

• External Services (e.g., cleaning, shifting, etc.)

• River operating conditions

• Ratability of shipments

• Equipment utilization level

Other Variables

• Strategic – Vessel Construction

• Tactical – Insurance Operator/Terminal Vetting (SIRB, TMSA)

59

Page 60: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

How are Barge Rates Calculated?

Contract of Affreightment (Voyage); Term/Time Charter; Bareboat

• Most spot rates are market driven, with a floor near carrier’s variable operating costs

• Long-term contract rates are also market driven, but set at a level which generates a satisfactory return on investment

• For both spot and term contract bids, a distinction is made between fronthaul and backhaul movements, to optimize round-trip revenues and earnings

60

Page 61: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

Keys to Improved Equipment Productivity

What are keys to improved equipment productivity?

1) Faster loadings and unloadings

2) Heavier loads per barge; bigger barges

3) Complete removal of cargo to avoid cleaning expense & time

4) Reliable schedules and forecasts

5) Ratable shipments; less seasonality

6) Balanced traffic flows

61

Page 62: THE BUSINESS OF TOWING - Brownwaterbrownwateruniversity.org/2_Business_of_Towing.pdf · The Business of Towing. ... The standard lock chamber size limits the barge ... Today’s Barge

Section 2 The Business of Towing

62

9/10/2013

The Business of Towing

Coming up: Stakeholder Partnerships