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56 Maritime Professional 2Q 2011 Inland Waterways: They’ve beaten Rail & Trucks in virtually every measurable category comparing the modes for safety, fuel efficiency, stack emissions and economy of scale. In fact, it isn’t even close. And, while the Obama Administration seems intent on spending more than USD $50 billion in the next five years on high-speed rail, to the ultimate detriment of the nation’s intermodal system and the domestic waterfront itself, the numbers just do not add up. It just makes more sense to move bulk com- modities, including all manners of petroleum and fuels, on the water. See for yourself using the chart below: S Stats Inland Waterways Rule on Transport Efficiency No Contest: the Backbone of America’s Marine Highway is its Inland Waterways Statistics U.S. Inland Waterways Statistical Comparison Barge/Inland Towing Rail Truck Economy of Scale One 15-barge tow 216 railcars / 1050 Large Semi 6 locomotives Tractor-Trailers CO2 Produced tons (per million ton miles) 19.3 tons 20.8 tons 71.6 tons Fuel Expended ( ton miles per gallon) 576 413 155 Injuries per accident (adj. for quantity moved) 1 125.2 2,171.5 Fatalities per accident (adj. for quantity moved) 1 22.7 155 Emissions (grams/ton-mile) NOx 0.469 0.654 0.732 Emissions (grams/ton-mile) Particulate Matter 0.01164 0.01624 0.018 Emissions (grams/ton-mile) CO2 17.48 24.39 64.96 Large Spills Across Modes (Number / 2001-2004) 25 115 643 Large Spills Across Modes (Amount in Gallons) 470,579 1,147,105 2,698,490 Source: Modal Comparison of Domestic Freight Transportation Effects on the General Public. Report Prepared for: U.S. Maritime Administration and National Waterways Foundation.
