Program areas at AWO
Advocacy - awo serves as the leading national advocate for the tugboat, towboat and barge industry with the u.s. congress, administration, federal agencies, and state governments. Awo promotes the industry's value to the nation as a driver of the u.s. economy that provides family-wage jobs and moves the nation's freight safely while reducing air and water pollution, relieving traffic congestion, and protecting homeland security. Awo staff and members advocate for sound legislation, regulation and public policy that enables the industry to continue to provide jobs and move the nation's commerce safely, sustainably and efficiently.
Public affairs and communications - awo generates promotional materials and media coverage to help raise awareness of the tugboat, towboat and barge industry's contributions to the u.s. economy, security, and environment among policymakers and the general public and crafts communications to inform the awo membership of public policy developments and encourage member engagement in awo's work.
Safety and environmental sustainability - awo supports members in building the competencies, best practices and capacity to operate at the highest standards of safety, sustainability, efficiency and innovation. To that end, awo sets safety management system standards; provide forums for safety professionals; creates and distributes marine safety communications; develops safety and sustainability tools and resources; supports compliance with safety and security regulations; and engages and advocates through safety partnerships with public and private sector entities.
Membership meetings - awo conducts meetings at the national and regional levels to educate members on public policy issues facing the tugboat, towboat, and barge industry and promotes safety, security and environmental stewardship. In 2023, awo held two in-person board meetings/national conventions, three in-person annual regional meetings and two in-person safety meetings. Attendance at these events ranged from 55-175 members. Awo also held a series of smaller hybrid regional roundtable gatherings throughout the summer.