American Waterways Operators

The American Waterways Operators Honor & Excellence in Rescue Operations (HERO) Award recognizes rescues undertaken by AWO member company employees that demonstrate selflessness, skill and bravery. Check out our video highlighting recipients of this award, and the important role that tugboat, towboat and barge industry mariners play in keeping our waterways safe – learn more at https://lnkd.in/eXrt6_P7

AWO members are a tight-knit community - and Mary McCarthy, Moran Towing Corporation, and Cherrie Felder, Channel Shipyard Co, share a friendship that is a great example of the ties that connect the tugboat, towboat and barge industry. Mary explains: “I first met Cherrie two months after I started working at AWO in 2006. I moved down to New Orleans in August 2010 and Cherrie generously reached out to welcome me with dinner at the Southern Yacht Club. A few years later, Tim Morton, Elissa Deloach, and I co-founded ADMIRALTY, a young people in maritime networking group, and we invited Cherrie to be our first Legend (aka a guest speaker). In the intervening years, Cherrie’s and my work and personal lives have intertwined. We served together on Board of Directors of the Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association (GICA) and are active in the women in maritime groups WISTA and WIMOS. Cherrie hosted a bridal shower for me in 2016, and we have spent countless birthdays and just random weekdays drinking wine on our porches and talking about life, love, and barges. Cherrie has been a great friend, both personally as well as professionally. She is always my first call both when I have good news to share or need help. Even though we are members of different generations, we both emphatically agree that age is just a number. I am so grateful that the maritime industry brought us together and that I have made a friend for life in Cherrie Felder.” #ttbconnected #maritime

Thank you to Curtin Maritime, Corp. for hosting a welcome lunch for attendees ahead of last week’s AWO Fall Convention and Board of Directors Meeting in Long Beach! It was a great start to a great and productive couple of days. #awofallconvention #longbeach #maritime

Read about the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalizing VIDA performance standards, the U.S. Coast Guard revising surveillance policy to accept motion-activated recordings, and more in this edition of the AWO Letter #maritime #waterways https://ow.ly/XGOz50TI3R8

Yesterday's AWO Board of Directors Meeting was productive and engaging. Today the Fall Convention kicks off here in Long Beach! #awofallconvention #maritime

AWO Chairman Kelly Teichman kicks off today’s AWO Board Meeting in Long Beach, CA #awofallconvention

Regional VP, Northeast Capt. Nathan Hauser and Moran Towing Corporation of Philadelphia hosted Reps. Ed Neilson, Kerry Benninghoff, and Perry Warren on a tug tour on the Delaware River on September 19. During the tour, AWO and Moran highlighted the importance of the #maritime industry in PA.

AWO Pacific Region VP & Regional Team Lead Peter Schrappen, CAE and Western Towboat Company VP Russell Shrewsbury recently served as tour guides on the Port of Seattle’s working waterfront tour of the Ship Canal, Ballard Locks and Lake Union

Earlier this month, maritime leaders from around the country flew to Seattle to participate in a fundraiser golf tournament to raise money for the Seattle Maritime High School, with sponsors including AWO members Foss Maritime Company and Crowley. Pictured: Joan Saelee of BAYDELTA MARITIME INC., Joel Morton of Crowley Maritime, and AWO Pacific Region VP & Regional Team Lead Peter Schrappen, CAE

AWO leadership and staff recently visited new AWO Affiliate member Gunderson Marine & Iron -- thank you to Pete Roney for showing us the shipyard and giving a great tour!