Pursuant to NGFA Barge Freight Trading Rule 18(I), the
NGFA declared that the mid-Mississippi River opened for navigation as of
7
a.m. on Feb. 27. NGFA Barge Freight Trading Rule 18(I) provides as
follows: “The Dubuque and South (Mid-Mississippi)
opening commences the first 07:00 hours of the first business day after
the first tow originating at or below Winfield,
MO, reaches Dubuque, Iowa. Said tow
shall include at least one empty dry cargo covered barge suitable for
loading. The Mid Miss opening shall be determined by a
majority vote of a three person committee appointed by the NGFA Chairman and
shall be announced by publishing the committee’s confirmation of the opening on
the NGFA website.”
As set forth in the rule, the
three-person committee appointed by NGFA Chairman Tom Coyle determined that the
Mid-Mississippi River was open after the Joe Pat Eckstein reached Dubuque at
12:10 p.m. on Feb. 26 with at least one empty dry cargo covered barge suitable
for loading. Serving on the NGFA
committee are: Laurie Hiler,
chairperson, manager/owner of Seneca Transportation LLC, Clayton, Mo.; Brant Harper, manager of marine
department, Bunge North America Inc., St. Louis, Mo.; and John Trampas, manager of grain freight
sales, Ingram Barge Co., Nashville, Tenn.
