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‘Excessive rains’ hinder Tulsa port’s May volumes

Chris Gillis
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Tulsa Port of Catoosa in Oklahoma said “excessive rains” last month hindered shipping to and from the port, with many barge tows idle since May 9.

   Tulsa Port of Catoosa in Oklahoma said “excessive rains” last month hindered shipping to and from the port, with many barge tows idle since May 9. 
   “The rapid flows have affected the entire McClellan-Kerr Arkansas Navigation System (MKARNS), bringing barge traffic to a standstill,” the port authority said. “Boats have been unable to sail on much of the 445-mile long waterway since early May, and it could be early July before shipping levels return to normal.”
   Due to the shutdown of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River navigation system, the barge cargo total for the Tulsa Port of Catoosa in May was 48,806 tons. Total shipping for the entire river systems in May was 60 percent lower than normal at 347,336 tons. Of that total, 157,200 tons were shipped through Oklahoma.

Chris Gillis

Located in the Washington, D.C. area, Chris Gillis primarily reports on regulatory and legislative topics that impact cross-border trade. He joined American Shipper in 1994, shortly after graduating from Mount St. Mary’s College in Emmitsburg, Md., with a degree in international business and economics.