WorkBoat Launches One-Day Inland Waterways Conference in Memphis

Portland, ME (PRWEB) July 29, 2014

WorkBoat, the leading provider of news for the U.S. workboat market, has launched a one-day Regional Summit in Tennessee that will tackle challenges facing those who do business on the inland waterways.

The Regional Summit, The Future of the Inland Waterways, will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at The Peabody in Memphis. Topics to be covered include:

Inland Towboat Design & Trends
Towboat operators are always looking for ways to make their vessels more comfortable for crews and more fuel-efficient. Today’s towboats are designed to be less noisy, have bigger staterooms and galleys, and more heads and exercise areas. To reduce noise on towboats, operators have been adding items such as air bellows systems to reduce and eliminate vibrations. For fuel efficiency and reducing maintenance costs, more inland operators are turning to Z-drives. Some estimate fuel savings of close to 10% when comparing a 2,500-hp Z-drive to a 3,000-hp conventional drive. As far as maintenance costs are concerned, you don't have drive shafts, gearboxes, rudders, hydraulic steering gear, and other conventional parts to maintain.

Economic Outlook for the Inland Waterways
The inland business climate has seen steady demand on the liquid side, led by a boom in petroleum-related movements. For tank barge operators, the result has been record profits, strong balance sheets and excellent cash flow. It has also enabled operators to continue to build new equipment. On the dry cargo side, strong exports of soybeans, corn and wheat have helped operators this year. Hear from panelists about these commodities plus export coal and others. The panel will also take a look at barge construction, with building slots sold out in 2014 at Trinity and other barge builders.

Impact of Subchapter M on Inland Operators
Subchapter M is finally nearing the finish line. The Coast Guard has posted March 2015 on its regulatory agenda for the release of the towing vessel inspection final rule. The rule is a chance to elevate safety in the inland barge industry through the rule’s key component — requiring a Towing Safety Management System. The proposed TSMS requirements say, “Procedures must be in place to ensure safety of property, the environment and personnel.” Auditors must check if a company has “effectively implemented its TSMS throughout all levels of the organization, including onboard its vessels.” This panel will take a look at what a company must do to pass a TSMS audit.

Registration for the Summit at The Peabody in Memphis is available at: http://www.workboat.com/regional-summit-tennessee.aspx. Early Bird pricing is $395 and is available until Oct. 1, 2014. Advance Registration is $425. Onsite registration is $495.

The Future of the Inland Waterways
Memphis, Tenn, Oct. 14, 2014
8:00 am – 4:15 pm
The Peabody

More information can be found here: http://www.workboat.com/regional-summit-tennessee.aspx.

About WorkBoat
WorkBoat is part of the Diversified Business Communications portfolio of commercial marine events, publications and e-media products. The WorkBoat brand has been connecting qualified buyers with leading suppliers for more than 45 years. In print through WorkBoat magazine, online at WorkBoat.com, face-to-face at the International WorkBoat Show and through education with the Professional Series, WorkBoat delivers high quality information to all segments of the marine industry in North America. For more information, visit http://www.workboat.com.

The WorkBoat Professional Series provides the marine industry professionals with a way to stay on top of what's going on in the workboat industry and its outlook for 2014 and beyond — from business management to marine industry specific topics.

About Diversified Communications
Diversified Communications, based in Portland, Maine, provides information and market access through face-to-face events, publications and eMedia. Diversified serves a number of industries including: seafood, food service, natural and organic, healthcare, commercial marine, and business management. Diversified operates divisions in Australia, Hong Kong, India, the UK and Canada. For more information, visit: http://www.divcom.com.

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