The Waterways Journal Weekly
Encyclopedia
The Waterways Journal Weekly is the news journal of record for the towing and barge industry on the inland waterways of the United States
, chiefly the watershed of the Mississippi River
and its tributaries and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway
.
Known as “The Riverman’s Bible,” the periodical has published continuously from St. Louis, Missouri
, since 1887. It is the only American maritime publication that focuses exclusively on the inland waterways of the United States
, and one of the few remaining family-owned, advertiser-supported trade weeklies of any description.
One of the magazine’s most popular features is a river-history column called the Old Boat Column that runs each week, generally on the third to last page. Presently written and edited by Alan L. Bates, the Old Boat Column is of particular interest to non-specialist readers with a general interest in the history of the inland waterways. Before Bates, the column was written for decades by James V. Swift (1916–2002) who worked for The Waterways Journal in various capacities for 60 years.
The publication’s wide-ranging news articles provide a window into the people and technology behind a thriving major sector of industrial transport in the United States. Topics covered include towboat
launches and christenings, inland shipyards, lock and dam construction, marine salvage
, admiralty law
, the Army Corps of Engineers, dredging news, inland ports and terminals, barge
and towboat
construction and launches, new technology relating to towboats, and regulations of the U.S. Coast Guard, Environmental Protection Agency, and other federal agencies that affect inland waterways commerce, as well as news about major commodities that travel the waterways, such as grain, coal, steel and fertilizer.
The Waterways Journal also closely covers the actions of organizations that support waterways interests, including the Waterways Council Inc. (WCI), the American Waterways Operators
(AWO), National Waterways Conference, Inland Rivers Ports and Terminals, and the Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association (GICA).
Editorials in the journal often address federal, state and local regulation
as they relate to the rivers and waterways and those who use them for transport.
The Waterways Journal publishes authoritative reference works for the river industry. These include the Inland River Record, a complete listing of inland commercial vessels updated annually, and the Inland River Guide, an annual directory of companies with waterways-related business, including barge and towing companies; harbor fleeting companies; terminals; shipyard and repair facilities; refuelers and boat store companies; contractors and dredging companies; marine brokers, surveyors and insurers; diving and salvage companies; and distributors and manufacturers that have an inland waterways customer base.
The Herman T. Pott National Inland Waterways Library, housed at the University of Missouri at St. Louis, is developing a keyword-searchable archive of past Waterways Journal issues.
Since 1989, The Waterways Journal Inc. has published Heartland Boating, a Midwestern pleasure boating magazine that publishes 8 times a year.
It also annually publishes Quimby’s Cruising Guide, an authoritative guide for pleasure boaters to 9,436 miles of waterway on 22 rivers and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Arranged by river, then river mile, it includes information on locks
, towns, restaurants, bed and breakfasts, landmarks, and local history.
Since 2009, The Waterways Journal Inc. has also published the bi-monthly International Dredging Review. Edited by founder Judith Powers, the IDR covers the international dredging industry, related industries, and their customers, including but not limited to public and private ports and government agencies, environmental and land reclamation
interests, hydrographic surveyors, and vendors to the dredging industry.
Inland waterways of the United States
The inland waterways of the United States include over 25,000 miles of navigable waters. Much of the commercially important waterways of the United States consist of the Mississippi River System—the Mississippi River and connecting waterways.Almost all of the navigable rivers and canals in...
, chiefly the watershed of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
and its tributaries and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway
Gulf Intracoastal Waterway
The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway is the portion of the Intracoastal Waterway located along the Gulf Coast of the United States. It is a navigable inland waterway running approximately 1700 kilometers from Carrabelle, Florida, to Brownsville, Texas.The waterway provides a channel with a controlling...
.
Known as “The Riverman’s Bible,” the periodical has published continuously from St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, since 1887. It is the only American maritime publication that focuses exclusively on the inland waterways of the United States
Inland waterways of the United States
The inland waterways of the United States include over 25,000 miles of navigable waters. Much of the commercially important waterways of the United States consist of the Mississippi River System—the Mississippi River and connecting waterways.Almost all of the navigable rivers and canals in...
, and one of the few remaining family-owned, advertiser-supported trade weeklies of any description.
One of the magazine’s most popular features is a river-history column called the Old Boat Column that runs each week, generally on the third to last page. Presently written and edited by Alan L. Bates, the Old Boat Column is of particular interest to non-specialist readers with a general interest in the history of the inland waterways. Before Bates, the column was written for decades by James V. Swift (1916–2002) who worked for The Waterways Journal in various capacities for 60 years.
The publication’s wide-ranging news articles provide a window into the people and technology behind a thriving major sector of industrial transport in the United States. Topics covered include towboat
Towboat
Not to be confused with the historic boat type with the same name, also called horse-drawn boat.A towboat is a boat designed for pushing barges or car floats. Towboats are characterized by a square bow with steel knees for pushing and powerful engines...
launches and christenings, inland shipyards, lock and dam construction, marine salvage
Marine salvage
Marine salvage is the process of rescuing a ship, its cargo, or other property from peril. Salvage encompasses rescue towing, refloating a sunken or grounded vessel, or patching or repairing a ship...
, admiralty law
Admiralty law
Admiralty law is a distinct body of law which governs maritime questions and offenses. It is a body of both domestic law governing maritime activities, and private international law governing the relationships between private entities which operate vessels on the oceans...
, the Army Corps of Engineers, dredging news, inland ports and terminals, barge
Barge
A barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. Some barges are not self-propelled and need to be towed by tugboats or pushed by towboats...
and towboat
Towboat
Not to be confused with the historic boat type with the same name, also called horse-drawn boat.A towboat is a boat designed for pushing barges or car floats. Towboats are characterized by a square bow with steel knees for pushing and powerful engines...
construction and launches, new technology relating to towboats, and regulations of the U.S. Coast Guard, Environmental Protection Agency, and other federal agencies that affect inland waterways commerce, as well as news about major commodities that travel the waterways, such as grain, coal, steel and fertilizer.
The Waterways Journal also closely covers the actions of organizations that support waterways interests, including the Waterways Council Inc. (WCI), the American Waterways Operators
American Waterways Operators
The American Waterways Operators, is the national trade association for the U.S. tugboat, towboat and barge industry.For more than 60 years AWO has promoted the contribution of the domestic waterways transportation industry to the U.S. economy. AWO acts as the principal advocate for the U.S....
(AWO), National Waterways Conference, Inland Rivers Ports and Terminals, and the Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association (GICA).
Editorials in the journal often address federal, state and local regulation
Regulation
Regulation is administrative legislation that constitutes or constrains rights and allocates responsibilities. It can be distinguished from primary legislation on the one hand and judge-made law on the other...
as they relate to the rivers and waterways and those who use them for transport.
The Waterways Journal publishes authoritative reference works for the river industry. These include the Inland River Record, a complete listing of inland commercial vessels updated annually, and the Inland River Guide, an annual directory of companies with waterways-related business, including barge and towing companies; harbor fleeting companies; terminals; shipyard and repair facilities; refuelers and boat store companies; contractors and dredging companies; marine brokers, surveyors and insurers; diving and salvage companies; and distributors and manufacturers that have an inland waterways customer base.
The Herman T. Pott National Inland Waterways Library, housed at the University of Missouri at St. Louis, is developing a keyword-searchable archive of past Waterways Journal issues.
Since 1989, The Waterways Journal Inc. has published Heartland Boating, a Midwestern pleasure boating magazine that publishes 8 times a year.
It also annually publishes Quimby’s Cruising Guide, an authoritative guide for pleasure boaters to 9,436 miles of waterway on 22 rivers and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Arranged by river, then river mile, it includes information on locks
Locks
Locks may refer to*Lock, a fastening device*Locks of hair*Dreadlocks, matted coils of hair, known as locks*Lock , a device for transferring vessels between bodies of water of different levels...
, towns, restaurants, bed and breakfasts, landmarks, and local history.
Since 2009, The Waterways Journal Inc. has also published the bi-monthly International Dredging Review. Edited by founder Judith Powers, the IDR covers the international dredging industry, related industries, and their customers, including but not limited to public and private ports and government agencies, environmental and land reclamation
Land reclamation
Land reclamation, usually known as reclamation, is the process to create new land from sea or riverbeds. The land reclaimed is known as reclamation ground or landfill.- Habitation :...
interests, hydrographic surveyors, and vendors to the dredging industry.