Citation

Newstrand WW. Transp. Res. Rec. 1990; 1263: 77-82.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1990, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

The major spill from an onshore oil tank in Pennsylvania, which caused major pollution on the Ohio River system, generated considerable concern about a similar happening in Minnesota. This study was made in response to that concern. Records of liquid cargo movements on Minnesota's portion of the Upper Mississippi and of spills into the water were reviewed to determine historic patterns and the effectiveness of the commercial navigation system in handling liquid cargoes.

RESULTS of the study show that barges carry nearly a billion gallons of liquid cargo each year in Minnesota. Spills from navigation functions, that is vessels and terminals, account for 0.00003% of the volume carried. The study also showed that the majority of spills into the river system came from nonnavigation activities. Over a 4-year period, 106,287 gal of contaminating liquids were spilled into the navigable portion of the Mississippi system in the state. Of that total, navigation activity contributed only 4,099 gal. Also reviewed in the study was the makeup of the tanker barger fleet that plies the upper river. Nearly 87% of the fleet is made up of double-hulled barges. Double-hulled barges are rapidly replacing the remaining 13% of the fleet.

Record URL:
http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1990/1263/1263-008.pdf

Language: en

Keywords

Waterway Transportation; Barges; Ships--Navigation Systems; Water Pollution--Oil Spills