ITCS Memo# 1723 - Self-Help Program

To: RIAC
From: Raymond Hopkins
Date: 3/28/01
Subject: Self-Help Program
ITCS Memo # 1723

As you know Melvin Price Lock and Dam is not equipped with a pull cable and we have not been able to get anyone to put a tug at the lock full time to be able to pull cuts. This leaves us with only one option and that is for us to rely on the Industry Self Help Program to transit through this lock. The queue at Melvin Price Lock continues to increase and one of the reasons is that we are getting resistance from many boats when they are asked to work with the self-help program and pull cuts at the lock. This unwillingness to help is causing the entire industry unnecessary delays. To eleviate this problem we have instituted a plan to have the lock pick the number 3, 6 & 9 boats in the queue to pull 5 cuts each, depending on whether there is 5, 10 or 15 boats in the queue. Some vessels are relaying to the lock that they have received orders from their particular company, to pull only the cuts of their own company vessels and have orders not to pull any other companies cuts. This is a problem because we all depend on the self-help program many times during the year. We ask that each company contact your vessels to make sure that they understand the importance of this program and that they must help when picked. Of course, there will genuine reasons why some vessels cannot help. When this does happen, the request for a pull boat will roll back to the next boat in line. If any company does not want to participate in this program please contact Raymond Hopkins, co-chairman of RIAC (314/481-8828) so that we can discuss the repercussions of not working with this program.