Economy
March 31, 2014
Barge Shipping Experiencing Delays in Upper Mississippi
Written by Sandy Williams
Barge shipping is beginning to accelerate as winter ice melts on US waterways. The MID-SHIP Report says navigation has resumed on the Illinois River and the middle section of the Upper Mississippi, north to Clinton, Iowa. The Upper Mississippi is still ice covered and chunks of ice on both rivers are slowing barge transit. The South Chicago River is 50 percent covered by ice ranging between 6” to 8” thick. MID-SHIP warns that melting snow and ice will create navigational challenges due to high waters, fast currents and flooding.
Railway transit suffered delays during the particularly severe winter weather this year and has resulted in congestion at East Coast coal export terminals.
