Resolutions: 2025-2026
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. It is the position of the GICA Board of Directors that U.S. Coast Guard-operated Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) systems should be owned, operated, and maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard and should not be privatized.
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 is in the final phases of completing the IHNC Lock General Reevaluation Report (GRR) and Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS), major facets of the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) Replacement Study. 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. The Association also spearheaded strategic communication and outreach to Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and various Department of Defense logistics support elements regarding the IHNC Lock replacement initiative and associated public comment period. The Association’s pro-active engagement ensured any vulnerabilities or critical impacts associated with the Lock’s operation regarding commercial and military fuel shipments was documented and considered in any future discussions/deliberations regarding the criticality of the replacement effort.
The Association is very pleased funding was allocated in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers FY25 Work Plan to initiate the long-overdue Bayou Sorrel Lock replacement study. GICA will continue to coordinate closely with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers throughout the new study to reexamine erroneous lock delay data which had been improperly calculated during previous replacement study efforts 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 new replacement 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 the 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 several 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 in the next century. 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 with Representative Weber (R-TX) in March 2025 in support of an appropriations request for the USACE to accept funds from the state of Texas to remove the Brazos River West Gate. 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 Coastal Master Plan and is currently engaged in the development of the 2029 Coastal Master Plan to ensure the needs of navigation are considered during all future coastal restoration and flood/storm surge protection initiatives. The Association continues to support the USACE 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.
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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 to provide state-of-the-art cybersecurity protections and 24/7 IT support to best protect Association operations. Over the past year the Association initiated automated financial accounting practices to streamline fiduciary management practices to optimize the Association’s operational efficiency. In 2025 the Association acquired a Starlink portable internet system to maximize Association resiliency and responsiveness when most needed by membership. These proactive steps greatly enhance the Association’s overall readiness and resiliency to meet membership needs.
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Resolution VI
The Association affirms its lead role in partnering with the U.S. Coast Guard, NOAA and the Corps of Engineers regarding hurricane and other emergency preparedness and response needs of shallow draft navigation interests on the Gulf Coast. The Association’s response to Hurricane FRANCINE in September 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 FRANCINE’S post-storm impacts across multiple USCG Captain of the Port Zones, and the subsequent closure and rapid reopening of the GIWW from the Calcasieu Lock to New Orleans, is a testament to the inter-agency coordination and mutually supportive interagency relationships GICA maintains throughout the GIWW.
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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 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 collaboratively to support safe and efficient inland maritime transportation.
GICA appreciated the opportunity to participate in the Waterways Council, Inc., February 2025 Capitol Hill Fly – In and meetings with Representatives Trent Kelly (R-MS), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Michael Guest (R-MS), Mike Ezell (R-MS) and Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) regarding GIWW infrastructure 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.
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Resolution VIII
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The Association recognizes the impact on safe and efficient navigation posed by the numerous aging moveable bridges throughout the state of Louisiana. The Association is working closely with Governor Landry’s Louisiana Ports and Waterways Investment Commission (LPWIC) to highlight the risks and vulnerabilities of moveable bridges advocating for the installation of fixed bridges in strategic locations to enhance mariner and public safety and the resiliency of the inland transportation system supported by the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The Association will continue to build on the strong relationship 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 safety and efficiency of marine operations.
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Resolution IX
The Association would like to recognize and thank Seamen’s Church Institute for providing volunteers to assist in administering and conducting our 120th Annual Seminar.
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Resolution X
The Association expresses its sincere appreciation to our 120th 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.
2025 SEMINAR SPONSORS:
PLATINUM
Waterways Council Inc.
Ingram Barge Lines
Parker Towing Company, Inc.
Enterprise Marine
Kirby Corporation
Florida Marine Transporters
The Cooper Group
Canal Barge Company
The Port of Houston Authority
Harbor Towing
The Teichman Group
Calhoun Port Authority
GOLD
Golding Barge Line
AccuTrans
MG Transport Services
Port of Bay City
Magnolia Marine Transport
West Side Calhoun County Navigation District
Marquette Transportation
Pine Bluff Sand and Gravel
SILVER
McDonough Marine
BRONZE
Bergan Marine System
Dale’s Welding & Fabricators, LLC.
