Waterways Journal

From the crest of the Rocky Mountains along the Continental Divide and the eastern slopes of the Cascade Range flows one of North America’s great river systems: the Columbia River and its largest tributary, the Snake. #TheWaterwaysJournal #WJHorizons waterwaysjournal.net/2026/03/27/col…

The Old Boat Column tends to detail a lot of vessels that became “firsts” of their kind. For a change, the next two weeks it will look at two boats that were “lasts.” In this installment, Capt. David Smith tells the story of the steamer Lone Star. #WJ waterwaysjournal.net/2026/03/27/a-s…

@American_Cruise recently announced that its newest cruise vessel, the American Encore, has successfully passed its sea trials. The vessel has left Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Maryland and is going to the west coast with Capt. Andrew Gillilan at the helm. waterwaysjournal.net/2026/03/27/acl…

Neil Maunu has been executive director of the @PNWaterways (#PNWA) for about three years. He was the guest on the most recent WJ Talk podcast. What follows is a condensed Q&A version of that conversation. #TheWaterwaysJournal waterwaysjournal.net/2026/03/27/qa-…

When the U.S.S. Kidd returns to Baton Rouge this spring, the World War II destroyer will have a new look, but most importantly, a longer lifespan and a brighter future. #TheWaterwaysJournal #MaritimeIndustry #USSKidd #WWII waterwaysjournal.net/2026/03/13/wor…

Spread across 70 acres in Port Arthur, Texas, Vessel Repair is a diversified shipyard built to thrive with market trends or demands and, largely, regardless of weather conditions. #TheWaterwaysJournal #MaritimeIndustry #VesselRepair waterwaysjournal.net/2026/03/13/ves…

The casual observer probably wouldn't guess it, but Mike's Inc.'s mv. Pammie is celebrating its 100th birthday this year. Originally named the F.H. Shepard and built at an unknown shipyard in Memphis, Tenn., in 1926, the Pammie has been part of Mike's Inc. waterwaysjournal.net/2026/03/13/mik…

On March 6, Birdon America hosted senior leaders from the U.S. Coast Guard, industry partners, local officials and members of the community for a keel authentication ceremony for the first three Waterways Commerce Cutters. #TheWaterwaysJournal waterwaysjournal.net/2026/03/13/fir…

A recent conversation between Capt. David Smith and Capt. Cecil Duncan, whose father once worked on the mv. Delmar R. Traver, inspired this week's Old Boat Column, which explores that vessel's history. #TheWaterwaysJournal #OldBoatColumn #MaritimeHistory waterwaysjournal.net/2026/03/06/the…

The @PortSLouisiana marked the completion of a new dock access bridge at its Globalplex Intermodal Terminal, calling the project a reliability and capacity upgrade designed to keep cargo moving even when one access route is out of service. waterwaysjournal.net/2026/03/06/por…

David Yarbrough, executive director of Tulsa Ports, is celebrating his 20th year with the organization, which dates to 1971. This exclusive interview with 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘑𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭, Yarbrough discusses the port's history, and his time there. waterwaysjournal.net/2026/03/06/dav…

The U.S. Coast Guard will open a new training center at the site of the former Birmingham-Southern College, located in the Bush Hills neighborhood of Birmingham, Ala. #TheWaterwaysJournal #USCoastGuard #maritimeindustry waterwaysjournal.net/2026/03/06/coa…

The River Discovery Center in Paducah, Ky., is inviting visitors to come experience the romance of the rivers for themselves this Valentine’s Day. The center will host “speed weddings” and vow renewals every 15 minutes from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. February 14. waterwaysjournal.net/2026/02/06/riv…

Nashville, Tenn.-based Hines Furlong Line (HFL) has closed on its acquisition of the river division of Campbell Transportation Company (CTC). HFL announced completion of the acquisition on January 30. #TheWaterwaysJournal waterwaysjournal.net/2026/02/06/hin…

Capt. David Smith takes a closer look at the mvs. Aetna-Louisville and Allied-Ashland, once the most powerful towboats on the inland waterways. #TheWaterwaysJournal #OldBoatColumn #MaritimeIndustry waterwaysjournal.net/2026/02/06/rev…

On January 22, Convent, La.-based Associated Terminals, a provider of stevedoring, terminal operations and marine logistics services on the Lower Mississippi River, held a christening ceremony for two barge-mounted Liebherr cranes. waterwaysjournal.net/2026/02/06/ass…

A new modular dredging concept under development by Wing Marine could offer inland waterway operators and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers a more flexible and less disruptive way to maintain navigation channels, ports, harbors and reservoirs. waterwaysjournal.net/2026/01/30/win…

In the midst of nationwide wintry weather, columnist Capt. David Smith explores how mariners in years past grappled with snow, sleet and ice. #TheWaterwaysJournal #OldBoatColumn #MaritimeIndustry waterwaysjournal.net/2026/01/30/dea…

A winter storm that hit much of the inland waterways system January 24-26 has continued to cause impacts a week later, with below-freezing temperatures persisting in many areas. #TheWaterwaysJournal #MaritimeIndustry #WinterStorm waterwaysjournal.net/2026/01/29/pro…

Blessey Marine Services honored one of its longtime captains January 14 at the company's WEB Fleet in Channelview, Texas, with the christening of the mv. Capt. Daniel Armstrong, the company's first Tier 4 towboat. #TheWaterwaysJournal #MaritimeIndustry waterwaysjournal.net/2026/01/29/ble…