Resolutions: 2024-2025
The resolutions below represent statements of position on priority items for the Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association (GICA) and recognizes the efforts of individuals who have contributed by extraordinary measure to the organization. They are reviewed and updated, as needed, each year and approved by membership at the annual convention.
Resolution I
The Association recognizes the continued efforts of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, state agencies including LA-DOTD and Texas Department of Transportation’s (TXDoT), as well as its own industry members who continue to manage, maintain, and navigate our waterway despite significant challenges posed by storms, fluctuating water conditions, aging infrastructure and budget realities. Recognizing the importance of inland marine transportation, decision makers must continue to carefully consider professional mariner input as they propose and promulgate new safety requirements, review and consider expansion along our waterways (both public and private) through the USACE permit review process and U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Safety Risk Assessments, manage barge traffic throughout the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW), and implement dredging and infrastructure repairs to improve safety and the efficient flow of commerce.
Resolution II
The Association continues to endorse ongoing efforts to enact full funding for the Capital Investment Strategy and applauds the efforts of lawmakers who are supporting this initiative to provide for recapitalization of inland waterways infrastructure. Additionally, the Association is pleased with changes to the cost share formula for IWTF projects. The Association fully supports a permanent 75/25% formula to help facilitate needed replacement and major rehabilitation projects. The Association will continue efforts to move GIWW studies forward and into the Capital Investment Plan. In particular:
- IHNC Lock Replacement
- Bayou Sorrel Lock Replacement
- Brazos River/Colorado Lock Replacements
The Association is extremely pleased the USACE’s FY2022 Work Plan, which included $2.8 million for the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) Replacement Study which will fully funds the completion of the IHNC Lock General Reevaluation Report (GRR) and Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). The completion of the GRR and SEIS are the critical next steps in the process to initiate the replacement of the IHNC Lock. The Association stands ready to continue to assist the USACE with community outreach to bolster local support for a new, modern, safer, and more efficient structure and see this project through to completion.
GICA provided extensive support over the past year to the USACE New Orleans District to support strategic communication with the local communities, in and around the IHNC Lock, to ensure they understand the long-term benefits of the Lock’s replacement for their community, as well as the maritime industry, to gain strong, local public support for this critical infrastructure replacement.
The Association is disappointed funding was not allocated to initiate the long-overdue Bayou Sorrel Lock replacement study in the latest House Bill. GICA will continue to coordinate closely with Waterways Council Inc. and the Inland Waterways Users Board, to champion the necessary funding to initiate a new study to reexamine erroneous lock delay data which had been improperly calculated resulting in an incorrect Benefit to Cost Ratio (BCR) during the initial lock replacement authorization. The negative BCR generated by the incorrect lock delay data stymied lock replacement activities despite construction being authorized under WRDA 2007. The study, and associated reevaluation to calculate an accurate BCR, is the critical first step to gain authorization to resume lock replacement. The Association urges the USACE to expeditiously complete the study and expedite lock replacement to facilitate the continued safety and economic viability of the waterway.
Resolution III
The Association again applauds TXDoT’s continued efforts to improve reliability of the GIWW in Texas. Focusing on choke points to clear traffic backlogs remains the right approach. TXDoT’s continued partnering with USACE on studies for the design and replacement of the Brazos River Floodgates and Colorado Locks is showing tangible results. Association members have been heavily engaged with the USACE throughout the past two years providing input to refine the proposed design of the Brazos River Flood Gates. This continued engagement will ensure the replacement structure will meet the needs of the maritime community for the next fifty plus years. GICA reaffirmed the Association’s commitment regarding the replacement of the Brazos River Flood Gates formally, in writing, to TXDoT’s Executive Director in June 2024 to ensure this critical infrastructure replacement project remains high on TXDoT’s list of priorities across the state. GICA also coordinated similar letters from the Association and member companies, at TXDoT’s request, to reaffirm the importance of this replacement project with senior state elected officials including Representatives Babin (R-TX) and Weber (R-TX). The Association continues to stand ready to assist and support all future efforts by TXDoT and USACE.
Resolution IV
The Association again affirms its support for Gulf states’ efforts and plans to restore and protect the coast and looks forward to continued participation in state led working groups planning and executing restoration projects. The Association is pleased to assist and provide input regarding the impact these projects may have on the inland navigation industry. Not only is a resilient coastline vital for the safety and health of coastal communities, but the very existence of the GIWW is reliant on the protection the coast affords. The value of our waterway cannot be overstated, and its protection should be a shared goal of states working to restore and protect our coastline from further erosion and damage while concurrently maintaining safe and efficient navigation throughout the system. To this end, the Association reviewed and provided feedback in 2023 to Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority’s latest Coastal Master Plan to ensure the needs of navigation are considered during all future coastal restoration and flood/storm surge protection initiatives. The Association has actively supported over the past year multiple ship simulations with the USACE at their Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) in Vicksburg, MS regarding the design, construction sequencing, and placement of the proposed Morganza-to-the-Gulf flood control structures. The Association’s efforts will ensure these critical flood control structures protect the communities in southern Louisiana while concurrently meeting the needs and supporting commercial navigation for the next 80 – 100 years.
Resolution V
The Association reaffirms its responsibility to its members to return a significant service and value for the membership dues and support those members provide. The Association will continue to leverage technology to further streamline processes to reduce administrative overhead and enhance service delivery to Association membership and will redouble its efforts to identify areas where members expect, or desire, improved value for their membership. The Association contracts with a third-party Information Technology (IT) service company to provide state-of-the-art cybersecurity protections and 24/7 IT support. These proactive steps protect Association computer assets and communications with Association membership and greatly enhance the Association’s overall readiness and resiliency to meet membership’s needs.
Resolution VI
The Association affirms its lead role in partnering with the U.S. Coast Guard, NOAA and the Corps of Engineers with regard to hurricane and other emergency preparedness and response needs of shallow draft navigation interests on the Gulf Coast. The Association’s recent response to Hurricane BERYL in July of 2024 reaffirmed and validated the strong relationship GICA has expertly crafted over the years with the USACE and USCG through the refinement of the post-KATRINA Joint Hurricane Protocol. The safe, rapid and efficient response to BERYL’s post-storm impacts across multiple USCG Captain of the Port Zones, and the subsequent closure of the GIWW for its entire reach in Texas, is a testament to the value of strong inter-agency coordination and the mutually supportive relationships GICA has fostered over several decades.
Resolution VII
The Association affirms its support for sister waterways associations and organizations focused on the inland waterways industry. The Association recognizes the value of a unified voice in working with these partners to enhance navigation safety and efficiency. The Association stands with Waterways Council, Inc., American Waterways Operators, Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority, Warrior Tombigbee Waterway Association, Texas Waterways Operators Association, Louisiana Association of Waterway Operators and Shipyards, Greater New Orleans Barge Fleeting Association, and others working toward the common goal of efficient, safe, and economical U.S. inland waterborne commerce.
GICA appreciated the opportunity to participate in the Waterways Council, Inc., February 2024 Capitol Hill Fly – In and meetings with Representatives Troy Nehls (R-TX), Brian Babin (R-TX), Randy Weber (R-TX), Kay Granger (D-TX) and Senator John Cornin (R-TX) regarding GIWW infrastructure needs and concerns.
GICA also appreciates the collaborative relationship with the American Waterways Operators and their willingness to partner with GICA to develop a nationwide Bridge Event Reporting Program (BERP) to facilitate the formal collection, analysis and response to mariner issues and concerns when interfacing with moveable bridges. This joint initiative will enhance situational awareness of latent safety issues involving moveable bridges and facilitate effective communication with bridge operators to address these concerns reducing risk.
Resolution VIII
The Association recognizes the impact on safe and efficient navigation posed by the numerous aging bridges throughout the state of Louisiana. The Association will continue to build on the enhanced relationships and communication developed over the past several years with LA-DOTD and endeavor to support this critical state agency to meet the needs of both the maritime and shoreside public served by the numerous bridges under their purview. The Association will also leverage and enhance our relationship with the Louisiana Association of Waterway Operators and Shipyards, the USCG District Eight Bridge Program, and the Louisiana Multimodal Commerce Commission to ensure the needs of the maritime community are better understood and properly taken into consideration when decisions involving moveable bridges are made in Louisiana which may impact the safe and efficient movement of marine traffic. The Association appreciates LA-DOTD’s Bridge Program Managers making a presentation during the 119th Annual GICA Seminar. This presentation greatly enhanced the relationship GICA has crafted with LA-DOTD over the past several years and increased Association member awareness of the challenges and needs of the bridge managers regarding their infrastructure and interface with commercial mariners. In addition, the presentation enabled LA-DOTD leadership to hear directly from Association membership and vessel operators regarding our industry’s navigation safety concerns related to movable bridges.
Resolution IX
The Association would like to recognize and thank Seamen’s Church Institute for providing volunteers to assist in administering and conducting our 119th Annual Seminar.
Resolution X
The Association expresses its sincere appreciation to our 119th Annual Seminar sponsors. Without their support for our Seminar, and our year-round Association activities, our waterway would not be as safe, efficient, and effective as it is.
SPONSORS:
PLATINUM
AccuTRANS
American Commercial Barge Line
Calhoun Port Authority
Canal Barge Company
Enterprise Marine
Florida Marine Transporters
Harbor Towing and Fleeting
Ingram Barge Company
Kirby Corporation
Parker Towing Company, Inc.
The Cooper Group
The Port of Houston Authority
The Teichman Group
GOLD
Golding Barge Line
Magnolia Marine Transport
Marquette Transportation Company
Matagorda Co. Nav District No.1 / Port of Palacios
McGriff Marine
Valero
Waterways Council Inc.
West Side Calhoun County Navigation District
Yazoo River Towing
SILVER
Dale’s Welding & Fabricators, LLC.
McDonough Marine
Pine Bluff Sand and Gravel
BRONZE
John Bludworth Shipyard, LLC
GOLF – HOLE SPONSORS
ARCOSA
Ingram Barge Company
Keiland Construction
Marathon Petroleum Co.
Marine Fueling Service
MG Transport
Oil Recovery Company, Inc.
Orion
Reliant Maritime Solutions
WIMOs
GOLF – FOOD SPONSORS
American Commercial Barge Line
Marquette Transportation Company
Sewart
Turn Services
USI Insurance Service
