The American Waterways Operators - Annual Reports 2016 | Page 7

5
Industry Value
to the Nation
AWO is proud to be the national advocate for America’s tugboat, towboat and barge industry,
the largest segment of the U.S. domestic maritime fleet. Our industry’s 5,500 tugboats and
towboats and 31,000 barges fuel the American economy by transporting 800 million tons of
domestic cargo each year and supporting nearly 300,000 American jobs across the nation,
including some 39,000 family-wage careers for the men and women who crew our vessels.
The industry pumps some $9 billion into the American economy annually, including $4.7 billion
in wages and compensation and $1.2 billion in taxes to federal and state governments.
Barge transportation is the safest, most environmentally friendly and most cost-efficient
mode of cargo transportation, producing lower air emissions and fewer spills than other modes,
reducing congestion on our nation’s overcrowded roads and rails, and lowering transportation
costs for American shippers. The domestic maritime industry also plays a critical role
in our homeland security, supporting the U.S. Coast Guard by serving as the eyes and
ears on our nation’s inland and coastal waterways and ports.
2016 ANNUAL REPORT CHARTING THE FUTURE