The Waterways Journal

09/16/2025

More than 5,600 people visited the Paducah, Ky., riverfront September 6 to cheer on 11 teams of paddlers in narrow, 40-foot-long boats surmounted by the heads of mythical Asian dragons. The Paducah Dragon Boat Festival is a main fundraiser for Paducah’s River Discovery Center. This year’s top sponsors were James Marine, Inc., Ingram Barge Company and Marquette Transportation Company. The 2025 competition marked the 10th anniversary of the festival, which returned for the first time since 2021.

More than 5,600 people visited the Paducah, Ky., riverfront September 6 to cheer on 11 teams of paddlers in narrow...

09/15/2025

Maritime Partners, LLC christened the mv. Ashley Anne August 22 in honor of the company's chief administrative officer, Ashley Simon. The christening was held at E.N. Bisso & Son, Inc's dock in New Orleans with a reception following at the Audubon Club in Audubon Park.

Watching vessels like the mv. Ashley Anne, christened by Maritime Partners on August 22, work along the Mississippi River

09/11/2025

After more than a decade in storage, 12 massive beams for the Chickamauga Lock Replacement Project are being barged to the site. The Nashville Engineer District began moving the first of the 12 upstream approach wall beams from the Watts Bar Dam in Spring Hill, Tenn., to the worksite in Chattanooga on August 29.

After more than a decade in storage, 12 massive beams for the Chickamauga Lock Replacement Project are being barged to the site.

09/10/2025

🚨 2025 Photo Contest Alert 🚨
We’re excited to partner with the Waterways Council, Inc. and We Work the Waterways — celebrating the people, culture, and stewardship of our nation’s waterways.
🗓 Open through October 10
👍Submit your best photos in one of four categories:
1. Faces of the Waterways
2. Faces of the Future
3. Faces of Culture
4. Faces of Stewardship

Submit here: https://weworkthewaterways.com/photo-contest/

09/10/2025

Capt. David Smith recounts the history of the mv. A.M. Thompson, launched in early 1949 and still at work today as the mv. Brooke McKenzie.

This is another column that was prompted by recent photos. These shots were of a towboat, resplendent in a coat of fresh summer paint, with closeups showing the vessel looking like new, belying its three quarters of a century in service. The April 23, 1949, issue of The Waterways Journal carried a s...

09/09/2025

Stakeholders met in Point Clear, Ala., August 13–15 for the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority’s 43rd annual conference. While the majority of the conference focused on current affairs and future development along the 234-mile waterway and wider region, a highlight of the gathering came the evening of August 14 when Don Waldon, the Tenn-Tom Waterway’s longtime administrator, discussed his new book, “Journey to the River: The Political and Engineering Challenges Endured to Build the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.”

Click here for more: https://www.waterwaysjournal.net/2025/09/05/tenn-tom-authority-holds-annual-conference

09/08/2025

Vicksburg, Miss.-based Golding Barge Line (GBL) recently took delivery of its 32nd towboat, the mv. Gage Golding, a retractable pilothouse boat designed by Sterling Marine, LLC and built by Steiner Shipyard in Bayou La Batre, Ala. The vessel is named after Warren “Gage” Golding, cousin of Golding Barge Line President and CEO Austin Golding.

Vicksburg, Miss.-based Golding Barge Line (GBL) recently took delivery of its 32nd towboat, the mv. Gage Golding

09/01/2025

Construction on a new main lock chamber over the footprint of the existing auxiliary chamber at Montgomery Locks and Dam at Ohio River Mile 31.7 in Monaca, Penn., is underway, with crews mobilizing within the past month to demolish the old lock.

Construction on a new main lock chamber over the footprint of the existing auxiliary chamber at Montgomery Locks and Dam.

09/01/2025

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬! Today, we recognize the thousands of mariners who work tirelessly to propel our industry forward. Your passion and dedication are the driving force, and we appreciate you more than words can say.

08/31/2025

In this week's Old Boat Column, Capt. David Smith discusses a personal favorite towboat, the mv. Frances Anne. It wasn't the largest, nor was it the most attractive or innovative towboat, Smith writes. Rather, it was the kindness of a captain aboard the Frances Anne that fostered and encouraged Smith's enthusiasm for a career on the river that continues to this day.

Click here for details:

Upon closer examination, across the stern could be seen welded letters proclaiming “FRANCES ANNE” and under that “MINNEAPOLIS, MN.”

08/30/2025

The America's River Roots is around five weeks away. The festival, to be held in the Cincinnati area October 8–12, will be somewhat like the Tall Stacks events from the past and will be a distinctive kick off for the nation's 250th birthday. Nine excursion boats from throughout the inland waterways will be on hand, including the true steamboats Belle of Louisville from Louisville, Ky., and the Natchez from New Orleans.

The America’s River Roots Festival will be held in the Cincinnati area October 8–12. The event will be somewhat like the Tall Stacks events from the past, but this particular event is billed as a “signature event to kick off America’s 250th celebration.” Nine excursion boats from throughou...

08/29/2025

Plaquemine, La.-based Verret Shipyard has delivered a pair of inland towboats to Southern Devall. The mv. Capt. Ronald Boudreaux and the mv. Capt. Billy Walker are both named for longtime Southern Devall captains.

Chemical and liquid fertilizer specialist Southern Devall LLC, headquartered in Sulphur, La., and with an operations center in Memphis, Tenn.