The National Academy of Engineering and the National Research Council have released a report that examines the causes of the blowout of the Macondo well that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010. The report provides a series of recommendations, for both the oil and gas industry and government regulators, intended to reduce the likelihood and impact of any future losses of well control during offshore drilling. The committee that developed the report recommends that companies involved in offsh...

TRB Conference Proceedings on the Web 4: Offshore Wind Energy Projects: Summary of a Workshop summarizes a March 2010 workshop held in Washington, D.C., that examined the processes use by the former Minerals Management Service (MMS) for selecting and managing certified verification agents (CVAs) and for identifying appropriate standards for assuring good engineering judgment and practice; for reviewing and approving designs, fabrications, and installations; and for determining acceptable qualifications a...

TRB Special Report 305: Structural Integrity of Offshore Wind Turbines: Oversight of Design, Fabrication, and Installation explores the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE) approach to overseeing the development and safe operation of wind turbines on the outer continental shelf, with a focus on structural safety. The committee that developed the report recommended that in order to facilitate the orderly development of offshore wind ener...

TRB Special Report 306: Naval Engineering in the 21st Century: The Science and Technology Foundation for Future Naval Fleets examines the state of basic and applied research in the scientific fields that support naval engineering and explores whether Office of Naval Research (ONR) activities, under its National Naval Responsibility for Naval Engineering (NNR-NE) initiative, have been effective in sustaining these fields. The committee developed a series of conclusions and recommendations in five areas--t...

TRB has released an interim report of the committee examining methods for assessing the effectiveness of an operator’s Safety and Environmental Management Systems (SEMS) program on any given offshore drilling or production facility. The letter report presents nine methods for evaluating the effectiveness of an operator’s (i.e., lessee’s) SEMS program, presents the benefits and disadvantages of each method, identifies entities that could perform the audits, specifies the range of potential roles and quali...

The National Academy of Engineering and the National Research Council have released the interim report of the Committee on the Analysis of Causes of the Deepwater Horizon Explosion, Fire, and Oil Spill to Identify Measures to Prevent Similar Accidents in the Future. The interim report includes the committee’s preliminary findings and observations on various actions and decisions including well design, cementing operations, well monitoring, and well control actions. The interim report also considers manag...

TRB’s Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2166 contains 14 papers that explore ship-based greenhouse gas reduction negotiations; supply chain coordination for port sustainability; the berth-scheduling problem; a web-based foreign waterborne cargo data system; global port operations and their influence on port labor; measuring the concentration degree of container port systems; and the resilience framework for ports. This issue of the TRR also examines the sys...

TRB’s Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2162 includes 13 papers that explore stacking priority rules, scheduling trucks at cross-docks, system efficiency at container terminals, air pollution impacts of shifting freight from truck to rail, freight mobility constraints, and the use of passenger rail infrastructure for goods movement. This issue of the TRR also examines intermodal transfers at cargo terminals; truck productivity, efficiency, energy use, and c...

TRB is sponsored the Transportation Hazards and Security Summit and Workshop 2010: Focus on Implementation on August 23-26, 2010, in Irvine, California. The summit provided an opportunity for individuals to provide input on a three-year security and emergency management research implementation plan produced as part of a National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) project. The plan is intended for use by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ (AASHTO’s) Special C...

TRB's 2010 Joint Summer Meeting included a two-day Multimodal Freight Corridor and Waterways track that focused on integration of water transportation into the national transportation system and integrative multimodal freight corridor planning at the state and regional level. Presentations from the track are available online .

TRB cosponsored the conference on Transforming the Marine Transportation System: A Vision for Research and Development on June 29 - July 1, 2010, in Irvine, California. The conference explored progress in scientific and technical solutions to challenges in the areas of marine transportation and waterway management; examined potential research and technology needs in the MTS; and helped foster potential partnerships between federal, state, private, and academic institutions to address MTS issues. The...

TRB cosponsored the first joint conference of the nation’s Harbor Safety Committees (HSCs) and Area Maritime Security Committees (AMSCs) on June 8-10, 2010, in Jersey City, New Jersey. The combined what has previously been two separate events that provided an opportunity for the committees to engage in information exchange on current challenges, best practices, case studies, and lessons learned. The conference offered the opportunity for the committees to engage both public- and private-sector leaders on...

The Marine Board held its 2010 Spring Meeting May 17-18, 2010, in Norfolk, VA at the Virginia Port Authority. The meeting was hosted by Jerry Bridges, Executive Director of the Virginia Port Authority. Issues covered at the meeting included: offshore platform safety and the current situation in the Gulf; a vision & strategy for the Arctic; port security; ship design innovations; offshore wind energy installations; and the marine highway. Marine Board agency liaisons also gave general updates and prov...

TRB sponsored the Offshore Wind Energy Workshop  from a March 25-26, 2010, in Washington, D.C. The workshop focused on hazards associated with offshore wind facilities, and on design and operational options for turbines, blades, towers, sub-structures, foundations, and electrical connections to the grid. The workshop highlighted processes and procedures that can be used within the Mineral Management Service’s regulatory regime to minimize risk to safety and the environment, protect the int...

TRB’s Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2100 includes the 2009 Thomas B. Deen Distinguished Lecture by Geraldine Knatz, which explores the evolution of U.S. seaports and the environmental initiatives enabling them to modernize and expand. This TRR also includes 10 additional papers that examine the impacts of climate change at U.S. ports, container terminal berth planning, the Lean Enterprise for improving seaport operations, performance indicators for roll...

TRB’s Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2097 includes 15 papers that explore backhaul opportunities using telematics data, transport impacts of collection and delivery points, freight transportation system resilience, time-dependent demand for truck parking facilities along a federal highway, and exposure-based charging for long multiple trailer truck permits. This issue of the TRR also examines microsimulation of off-hour delivery policies in urban areas, ...

TRB’s Special Report 297: Funding Options for Freight Transportation Projects explores ways to pay for projects that expand freight capacity or reduce the costs of freight transportation.  The committee that produced the report found that present finance arrangements are inadequate for maintaining and improving freight transportation system performance. The report calls for finance reforms that promote productivity gains by targeting investment to projects with the greatest economic benefit and by e...

TRB Conference Proceedings 45: U.S. Marine Salvage Assets and Capabilities in a Maritime Disaster is the proceedings of a September 2008 workshop that focused on a scenario involving an incident that shuts down the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.  The proceedings examine the threat and explore key issues relating to an efficient, effective, and coordinated U.S. salvage industry response to a worst-case marine casualty scenario.

March 2009: Maritime Disaster Workshop Proceedings The prepublication version of the Proceedings from the September 2008 Maritime Disaster Workshop is now available on-line . The final printed report will be available in early May.

The Ocean Studies Board of the National Academies’ Division on Earth and Life Studies has released a report that identifies ways to reduce waste, improve waste disposal at ports, and strengthen the regulatory framework toward a goal of zero waste discharge into the marine environment.  DELS, like TRB, is a division of the National Academies, which include the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council.

The July-August 2008 issue of TR News includes the following articles: Building the 21st Century Workforce: Creating a National Strategy The Louisiana Model for Transportation Workforce Development: Integrating Technical Assistance, Structured Training, Continuing Education, and Technology Transfer The Kentucky Engineering Exposure Network: State Program KEEN to Inspire and Guide Students Building an Education Infrastructure for Railway Transportation Engineering: Renewed Partnerships on New Tracks Deve...

TRB Special Report 293, Risk of Vessel Accidents and Spills in the Aleutian Islands: Designing a Comprehensive Risk Assessment provides guidance for a comprehensive risk assessment of vessel accidents and spills in the Aleutian Islands.  The report examines data related to the risk of oil, chemical, and other hazardous cargo spills from vessel traffic through the Aleutian Islands and identifies key information needed to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment.

TRB and the Division on Earth and Life Studies (DELS) have released TRB Special Report 291: Great Lakes Shipping, Trade, and Aquatic Invasive Species, which reviews existing research and efforts to date to reduce aquatic invasive species introductions into the Great Lakes and identifies ways that these efforts could be strengthened toward an effective solution.  Since its opening in 1959, the St. Lawrence Seaway has provided a route into the Great Lakes not only for trade, but also unfortunately fo...

July 2008 Great Lakes Shipping, Trade, and Aquatic Invasive Species The pre-publication version of TRB Special Report 291: Great Lakes Shipping, Trade, and Aquatic Invasive Species has been released. The report reviews existing research and efforts to date to reduce aquatic invasive species introductions into the Great Lakes and identifies ways that these efforts could be strengthened toward an effective solution. Since its opening in 1959, the St. Lawrence Seaway has provided a route into the Great Lak...

July 2008: Risk of Vessel Accidents and Spills in the Aleutian Islands: Designing a Comprehensive Risk Assessment The prepublication version of  TRB Special Report 293, Risk of Vessel Accidents and Spills in the Aleutian Islands: Designing a Comprehensive Risk Assessment has been released. The report provides guidance for a comprehensive risk assessment of vessel accidents and spills in the Aleutian Islands. The report examines data related to the risk of oil, chemical, and other hazardous cargo sp...

TRB’s Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2033 includes eight papers that explore quadrimaran ferries, analysis of container port competition, interaction between transport, infrastructure, and institutional management of a port system, optimization of internal transport cycle in a marine container terminal, drayage operations at the Port of Houston, Texas, a waterways curriculum for introducing the marine industry to youth, inland water transport in I...

July 2007: The US Coast Guard released the summer 2007 edition of the Proceedings of the Marine Safety & Security Council . The focus of this edition is waterways management and it includes an article on the Marine Board, found on pp. 23-26.

The Polar Research Board, part of the National Academies’ Division on Earth and Life Studies (DELS), and the Marine Board, part of the Academies’ Transportation Research Board, have released a report that explores the current and future needs for icebreaking ship capabilities of the United States.  The Committee that produced the report concluded that the nation continues to require a polar icebreaking fleet that includes a minimum of three multi-mission ships and one single-mission ship.  The...

March 2007: Polar Icebreaker Study Available The final report Polar Icebreakers in a Changing World: An Assessment of U.S. Needs, a USCG-funded study prepared by a committee of the Polar Research Board and the Marine Board, is now available from National Academies Press. Marine Board members Ron Kiss, Bob North and past member Steve Scalzo, all served on the study committee.

The September-October 2006 issue of TR News includes the following articles: Toward More Golden Anniversaries: Securing Transportation’s Place in the National Policy Agenda Freight Transportation Industry Roundtable: Fostering a Dialogue with Federal Policy Makers The Containership Revolution: Malcom McLean’s 1956 Innovation Goes Global Container Shipping and the Economy: Stimulating Trade and Transformations Worldwide The 40-Foot Container: Industry Standard Faces Challenges and Change Can ...

September 2006: Polar Icebreakers in a Changing World: An Assessment of U.S. Needs The Polar Research Board, part of the National Academies’ Division on Earth and Life Studies (DELS), and the Marine Board, part of the Academies’ Transportation Research Board, have released a report that explores the current and future needs for icebreaking ship capabilities of the United States. The Committee that produced the report concluded that the nation continues to require a polar icebreaking fleet that includes ...

The Marine Board's 2005 Annual Report describes the organization, membership, and program scope of TRB’s Marine Board, which provides a forum for the exchange of information relating to maritime transportation and related economic, environmental, and technology issues in a broader context. The report also highlights recent activities and publications of the Marine Board. To receive a printed copy of the report contact Joedy Cambridge .

July 2006: Marine Board 2005 Report The Marine Board's 2005 Annual Report describes the organization, membership, and program scope of TRB’s Marine Board, which provides a forum for the exchange of information relating to maritime transportation and related economic, environmental, and technology issues in a broader context. The report also highlights recent activities and publications of the Marine Board. To receive a printed copy of the report contact Brie Schwartz .

June 2006: Conference Proceedings The Eighth Annual Harbor Safety Committee Conference Proceedings are now online.

The Division on Earth and Life Studies (DELS’) Polar Research Board and TRB’s Marine Board Committee on the Assessment of U.S. Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker Roles and Future Needs has released an interim report that highlights the most urgent and time-dependent issues associated with its continuing assessment of the current and future roles of U.S. Coast Guard polar icebreakers in supporting U.S. operations in the Antarctic and the Arctic.  The interim report examines present and expected future use...

TRB’s Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 1909 examines short-run grain movements of the inland waterway system, long-term forecasting of world grain trade by gulf exports, measuring the nontraditional benefits and costs of inland navigation, European transport policy and the Danube River, rural water transport and development, geographical characterization of ship traffic and emissions, and oil spills in maritime transit. Individual TRR Journals, which are ...

View and listen to presentations given at TRB’s 2005 Joint Summer Conference held July 10-12, 2005, in Boston, Massachusetts.  This year’s conference combined the annual TRB Summer Ports, Waterways, Freight, and International Trade Conference with the Joint Summer Meeting of the TRB Planning, Data, Finance, Administration, Freight, and Management Committees.

TRB’s Marine Board held its 2005 Spring Meeting on April 12-14, 2005, in Memphis, Tennessee.  The meeting focused on issues relating to inland waterways but also included presentations on the U.S. Navy's sea basing initiative, and safety and security implications of liquefied natural gas transport.  Selected presentations from the meeting are available online.

The Marine Board's 2004 Annual Report describes the organization, membership, and program scope of TRB’s Marine Board, which provides a forum for the exchange of information relating to maritime transportation and related economic, environmental, and technology issues in a broader context. The report also highlights recent activities and publications of the Marine Board.  To receive a printed copy of the report contact Mary Kissi .

TRB’s Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board 1871 examines the economic foundations of the Ohio River Navigation Investment Model, the development of container barge services on small waterways, the role of technology in achieving environmental policy for maritime transportation systems, and inland sulfate deposition from marine emissions in North America. Individual TRR Journals, which are published on an irregular basis throughout the year, consist of collec...

TRB Conference Proceedings 30: Marine Salvage Capabilities: Responding to Terrorist Attacks in U.S. Ports—Actions to Improve Readiness is the report of the TRB Marine Board Workshop on Marine Salvage Response Capability held on August 5-6, 2003, in Washington, DC.  The workshop addressed economic, legal, forensic, environmental, and human casualty issues related to salvage. The report contains a summary of workshop discussions and committee recommendations highlighting important topics and issues a...

TRB Special Report 279 - The Marine Transportation System and the Federal Role: Measuring Performance, Targeting Improvement calls upon the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to take the lead in assessing the performance of and improving the nation's entire marine transportation system. In particular, the report recommends that the DOT should begin immediately to develop reports on the condition, performance, and use of the marine transportation system and seek a mandate from Congress to produce su...

To improve its study on the feasibility of improving or expanding barge transportation on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers should revamp the models it is using to estimate future waterway traffic demands, says a new report from the National Academies' Water Science and Technology Board and Transportation Research Board. This is the first of three reports expected to be produced by the National Academies on this issue.

The Marine Board's 2002-2003 Annual Report describes the organization, membership, and program scope of TRB’s Marine Board, which provides a forum for the exchange of information relating to maritime transportation and related economic, environmental, and technology issues in a broader context. The report also highlights recent activities and publications of the Marine Board.

TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 497: Financing and Improving Land Access to U.S. Intermodal Cargo Hubs offers guidance on strategies for financing improvements to cargo hub and intermodal freight facilities. These strategies focus on existing and emerging funding sources and on developing partnerships between government agencies, cargo hub operators and users, and local communities.

TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Synthesis Report 320: Integrating Freight Facilities and Operations with Community Goals identifies practices that have been or are being used by private-sector freight companies and public transportation agencies in citing their facilities, modifying their operations, and managing their community relations. “Good neighbor initiatives” and balancing practices employed by metropolitan planning and economic development organizations, local governm...

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board 1820 examines diverse developments in water transportation and international trade in California, Florida, South America, the Netherlands, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Issues examined include evaluation of the design and operational costs of intermodal rail systems; ways to improve cost-quality features of barge transport; analysis of transportation system access to port areas; the feasibility of linking routes and services b...

TRB Special Report 273 - Shipboard Automatic Identification System Displays: Meeting the Needs of Mariners assesses the state of the art in Automatic Identification System (AIS) display technologies, evaluates current system designs and their capabilities, and reviews the relevant human factors aspects associated with operating these systems. View report summary as published in TR News 232 May-June 2004

The usefulness of Commodity Flow Survey data is being undermined by reductions in the sample size, which shrank from 200,000 firms in 1993 to 50,000 firms in 2002, according to a letter report released by a National Academies committee, covered by TRB and the Committee on National Statistics, reviewing the Bureau of Transportation Statistics' survey programs.

According to Oil in the Sea III: Inputs, Fates, and Effects, a report by the National Academies' Ocean Studies Board and TRB's Marine Board, nearly 85 percent of the 29 million gallons of petroleum that enter North American ocean waters each year as a result of human activities comes from land-based runoff, polluted rivers, airplanes, and small boats and jet skis, while less than 8 percent comes from tanker or pipeline spills.