Low water on LMR hurting cargo

Low water levels on the Lower Mississippi River (LMR) due to lack of rain have hampered fall 2022 barge shipments, especially on the stretch between Cairo, Ill., and Memphis, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). Groundings and dredging have closed sections of the river and halted barge movements for intermittent periods. Coast Guard District 8 in New Orleans reported a backup of more than 2,000 barges on the LMR in early October. Rain from Hurricane Roselyn eased the problem slightly in late October, but long-term forecasts do not anticipate enough rain to restore full river operations for at least several months, BTS said. Rail is the normal alternative, but the rail system can have difficulty absorbing a massive short-term shift. Moreover, concerns over a possible rail strike in 2022 have made shippers hesitant to rely on rail. (Work Boat 11/17/22) Low water hurting cargo movement on the Mississippi River | WorkBoat