38 American Journal of Transportation American Journal of Transportation ajot.com RORO Customer Service 877-918-7676 [email protected] Export Customer Service 800-225-1235 [email protected] Export Documentation 888-802-0401 [email protected] Credit & Collections 888-225-7747 [email protected] Import Customer Service 888-802-0403 [email protected] A SERVICE FROM BALTIMORE TO TRANSIT TIMES ANTWERP 17 DUBLIN 15 BELFAST 16 HAMBURG 14 LIVERPOOL 11 Direct Sailings Reliability ARC delivers second tunnel boring machine for Hudson Tunnel Project Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier (ARC) suc- cessfully completed the delivery of a second Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) for the Hudson Tunnel Project (HTP), marking another major milestone in one of the nation’s most critical passenger rail initiatives. ARC previously delivered the first HTP TBM in January 2026 aboard the M/V Endurance. The TBM components were discharged at the Port of Baltimore after being transported aboard the ARC Independence. The cargo was loaded in Zeebrugge, Belgium, following man- ufacture by Herrenknecht, a global market leader in tunnel boring technology based in Germany. Both machines will be used to construct a new two-track rail tunnel beneath the Hudson River, as well as support the rehabilitation of the existing North River Tunnels — an essen- tial rail link between New Jersey and Man- hattan which has been in service for over a century. Once operational, the two TBMs will work in tandem, simultaneously excavating the new tunnel tubes. “The Hudson Tunnel Project is a vital investment in the resilience of the Northeast Corridor,” said Chris Barber, ARC Group Senior Director, Cargo Preference Sales. “ARC’s end-to-end logistics capabilities ensure that critical project components move seamlessly from origin to job site, keeping major infrastructure timelines like these on track. As a U.S.-flag Ro-Ro carrier, ARC is proud to deliver oversized and mission-criti- cal cargo that supports infrastructure projects essential to the nation’s economic security.” Hudson River Tunnel Project The Hudson Tunnel Project will create approximately nine miles of new passenger rail track between New York and New Jersey, including a new, two-tube tunnel under the Hudson River. In parallel, the project will rehabilitate the 116-year-old North River Tun- nels, which opened for service in 1910 and sustained extensive damage during Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Designated as a critical and urgent infra- structure investment, the HTP will signifi- cantly improve reliability and capacity along the Northeast Corridor rail line, which stretches from Boston to Washington, D.C., and serves hundreds of thousands of daily passengers. In May 2021, the US Department of Transportation approved construction of the new tunnels, often referred to as the Gateway Tunnels. The new tunnels are scheduled to open in 2035, with rehabilitation of the exist- ing tunnels expected to be completed by 2038. ARC’s role in the Hudson Tunnel Project underscores the importance of U.S.-flag ship- ping in delivering the specialized, heavy, and time-sensitive cargo required to build and mod- ernize the nation’s most complex infrastructure. Specifically rated for cargo loads up to 240 metric tons, the ARC Independence is equipped with oversized drive lanes and door clearances that support the efficient roll-on/roll-off trans- port of tunnel boring machine components. The TBM components were discharged at the Port of Baltimore after being transported aboard the ARC Independence. prices are overwhelmingly driven by the price of crude oil. The impact of domestic transportation overall, much less transportation on Jones Act vessels, … is less than a tenth of a cent a gallon. So, this just pales in comparison even to federal taxes.” Making Money for the Oil Companies? Carpenter said the true impact of the Jones Act waiver is to allow oil compa- nies to make a profit without any benefit to the American consumer: “I think we need to be sober and clear eyed and recognize that there are folks, including some in the admin- istration who don’t like the Jones Act. There are many, many who like the Jones Act very much and understand its centrality, its foundational role … in the President’s mar- itime dominance agenda. But there are other folks who just don’t like it. And there are folks outside the administra- tion who are making money off this. You know, just yes- terday a major oil company did its quarterly … call with investors and they were brag- ging about how as a result of this Jones act waiver … they were able to move … crude that normally moves by rail in compliance with US law, I might add, … on a foreign flag vessel that is not subject to all those same legal obliga- tions as an American vessel or even an American rail car- rier. So, … let’s not forget that there are folks out there who see an opportunity to make a buck on this, and … they’ve got some sympathetic ears within the administration.” She said beneficiaries from the Jones Act waivers include: “We have seen oil companies, oil traders, I would say, who see this waiver as an opportu- nity to make some money, and they are doing that. We have seen foreign governments who, by the way, are not coming to our assistance in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but are happy to have their vessels, you know, moving cargo between US ports under this waiver.” Carpenter said that if there is a legitimate shortage of US vessels to transport oil or other essential products then there is a process for granting legit- imate waivers: “And again, if a shortage develops that a US vessel can’t meet, then there is a targeted waiver process that can be used.” Abolishing the Jones ACT? Carpenter was asked whether she thought the Trump admin- istration waivers could be imposed on a permanent basis so as to essentially abolish the Jones Act. She responded as fol- lows: “I think that making the waivers permanent would be a disaster for Homeland Security, for our economy. And I do not see that happen- ing. I think that the extension of this waiver has really gal- vanized concern that we need to stop this ASAP, that it is problematic. Now, I will tell you because I want every- body in our industry to be very clear eyed about this… We should understand that there are people out there who would like to see the Jones act go away perma- nently …That cannot be done without an Act of Congress. And I do not see that happen- ing because there is strong support for that (the Jones Act) …Everybody is … ener- gized and engaged and work- ing this issue hard, and they should be. Everybody should be treating this as a Mayday situation, not panicking, not freaking out, but really seiz- ing this opportunity.” Jones Act Supporters Will Be Heard in November Finally, Carpenter said the Trump administration’s deci- sion to extend the Jones Act waiver is not only galvanizing maritime labor, shipbuilders, tug and barge operators to build a broader US maritime coalition, but the threat to jobs has also motivated the Jones Act workers and employers to make sure that they are heard by House and Senate candidates running for office in the mid-term elections this November. Carpenter describes AWO’s membership as coming from “America’s tugboat, towboat and barge industry … Folks who own and operate towing vessels and barges through- out our inlet river system on all three coasts, on the Great Lakes, provide essen- tial ship docking and other harbor services in ports and harbors around the country.” Carpenter is also President and CEO of the American Mari- time Partnership (AMP). She says the American Maritime Partnership “is a coalition that really brings together all of the entities throughout the US domestic maritime industry in support of one goal, and that is the Jones Act.” Lakes domestic fleet, includ- ing tug and barge operators are well suited to efficiently handle over dimensional and heavy lift components, which are often constrained by size or weight restrictions over the road and via railway. Highway H2O continues to exhibit at the major break bulk conferences, includ- ing Rotterdam and Hous- ton where you can find the delegation from Highway H2O. For Highway H2O, the capacity is there, the network is there and the opportunity is there. Visit www.hwyh20. com for more information. (WAIVER – continued from page 34) (POISED – continued from page 36)
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