Osprey Line Makes Record Container Tow

M/V Bill Watson, with a 15 barge tow traveling through Baton Rouge.

Osprey Line, LLC, recently completed the largest single unit tow container movement in the history of the U.S. Inland Waterway System. The 15 barge tow was loaded with 375 containers (750 TEU) of agricultural products from Memphis to New Orleans and Houston. Osprey Line worked closely with six major steamship lines to move the cargo to Gulf of Mexico ports for export on container vessels. The volume transported is the equivalent of some ocean going vessels in the container trade, and several times larger than the majority of vessels employed in the short sea shipping trade in Europe. "This voyage is an illustration of what we are accomplishing here at Osprey Line. The service is a great alternative to truck and rail on routes along the inland waterway system and the Gulf of Mexico. The U.S. Inland waterway system is an amazing resource that can readily be used to alleviate congestion along existing rail and highway corridors. When you combine Osprey Line¹s inland service with our Gulf of Mexico service, we provide an all-water system extending from the heartland of the United States to ports such as New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Houston, and Tampa. With partners like Kirby Corporation and Cooper T. Smith, we have the resources to respond to projects such as this container move and provide consistent reliable service."