News | Press | June 27, 2001

The Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association has provided the following information on barge transportation on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway:

Barges transport 2.3 million tons of cargo per year on the GIWW between Corpus Christi and Brownsville. Major commodities are:
• 1.8 million tons per year of petroleum products
• 220,000 tons per year of iron and steel products
• 164,000 tons per year of sand and gravel products
• 111,000 tons per year of fertilizer products
• 72,000 tons per year of sugar products

Despite the late 1990's addition of refined products pipeline capacity from Corpus Christi to the lower Rio Grande Valley, petroleum products tonnage transported by barge has been fairly constant over the past decade. The 41% population growth in Hidalgo and Cameron counties most likely accounts for growth in refined products demand.

Barge transportation is economically efficient

Transport costs for the 2.3 million tons per year moving by barge on the GIWW are about $12 million per year. Transport costs would increase to $24 million per year if the cargo had to move by alternate means due to closure of the GIWW between Corpus Christi and Brownsville. It costs only $1.1 million per year to maintain the GIWW, but closure would cost the regional economy $12 million per year in incremental transport costs!

Barge transportation reduces highway and rail congestion

One standard size barge moves the same amount of cargo that requires 58 trucks or 15 railcars to move. If the GIWW were closed, moving the same cargo by truck would put 97,788 new trucks per year on the road between Corpus Christi and Brownsville! This is almost 270 new trucks per day on Highway 77! Moving the same cargo by rail would put 25,290 new railcars on the railroad and may require new right of way and trackage!

Barge transportation is environmentally friendly

One gallon of fuel can move one ton of cargo 59 miles by truck, 202 miles by rail or 514 miles by barge! Because of this fuel efficiency, barge transport is far more environmentally friendly than truck or rail. Regional air emissions of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides would increase by 1,449% if cargo currently transported by barge moved to trucks, or 257% if it moved to rail!

Barge transportation on the GIWW between Corpus Christi and Brownsville is the safest, most economically efficient, fuel efficient and environmentally friendly way to serve the regional economy! Closing the GIWW would have significant negative traffic safety, economic and environmental impacts on the region!

The Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association (GICA), organized in 1905, is a nonprofit association working to protect and maintain the Intracoastal Waterway.

Sources:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Waterway Tonnages
Effect of Closing the GIWW Below Corpus Christi Bay on Expenditures for Transportation, Texas A&M 5/98
U. S. Census Bureau, Census 2000
Environmental Protection Agency, Emission Control Lab