Accessing the Intracoastal Waterway System from Texas - Business

Did you know that you can access the inland waterway system from Texas? Geography buffs know that fact, but businesses not taking advantage of affordable barge shipping may not be familiar with the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway system.This system can be accessed from several ports along the Gulf Coast including the Marine Port in Orange, TX.

The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) is a 1,300 mile long canal that runs from Brownsville, Texas to St.Marks, Florida.The Marine Port in Orange, TX is conveniently located on the northern edge of Texas.The Gulf Intracoastal waterway has access to the Intracoastal waterway which includes the Gulf canal.The entire intracoastal waterway is over 3,000 miles long.Ships leaving the Marine Port from Orange, TX or other Gulf ports also have worldwide sea access via the Gulf waters.

Some Facts of Interest

Following are some facts published by the Texas Department of Transportation which manages the Texas portion of the Gulf canal.

>> Texas portion of GIWW is 423 miles long

>> In 2002 there were 63 million short tons of cargo moved in Texas alone

>> Value of 2002 barged Texas cargo was $25 billion

>> In 2002 it took 99,970 barge one-way trips to move cargo via the GIWW

There is another reason for businesses to use barges for cargo transport.It is one of the safest modes of transportation for people and inventory.In 2002,Texas had 1,035 hazardous spills on highways and only 2 by water transportation.The GIWW is busy but not crowded and provides timely effective goods shipment.

When you ship goods by barge out of the Marine Port in Orange, TX you are also get increased capacity and more efficient fuel utilization. Studies have shown that a single barge has the capacity of 15 railcars or 60 semi or box trucks.A barge can travel 514 miles on a single gallon of fuel while a railcar can only go 202 miles and a truck 60 miles.

Environmentally responsible businesses will also be happy to learn that a barge has lower emissions of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen.Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi,Alabama and Florida work closely with the Corps of Engineers and plans are in place to protect the environment while promoting use of the canal at the same time.

North or South or Both Ways!

Once the barge leaves the Marine Port, Orange, TX maintains,a barge can go south to the tip of Texas or northeast towards the Florida panhandle. At any major port along the way, like New Orleans or Mobile, cargo can be unloaded to an industrial park warehouse or directly loaded onto trucks or railcars.Your business has access to a national road and railway system at that point.

The port in Orange, TX is only one service offered.There is also a shipyard and an Industrial Park of Orange, TX. By using intermodal containers, shipments of business inventory is made as efficient as possible.If your business hasn't done so already, then it's time to investigate the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.You may well be very surprised at what you learn.

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