As of June 23, we have 40 new members and 6 renewals!   

QUESTION:

Would you pay $30 a year to use the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway?

Whether you are cruising locally in your area from Chesapeake, Virginia to Miami or accomplishing a portion of America’s Great Loop, the ICW will be part of your experience.  Meandering securely through and connecting boaters to some of early America’s most historical waterfront communities, national seashores, some of the southeast’s beautiful resort areas, is just one small part of what the ICW does for us. Docking where skippers and crew are welcomed with warm hospitality and local cultural history, is something we all enjoy. 

Without a doubt the ICW is indeed a national treasure, as well as a maritime super-highway. , the US Department of Transportation, which oversees the welfare of the US highway system, has designated the ICW as a Marine Highway, acknowledging the ICW’s capacity to serve a number of economic and environmental concerns. For example, energy efficiency in the movement of freight in barges that can move one ton of freight 576 miles per gallon of fuel, cleaner air through reduction of carbon emissions per ton mile, and significant economic value. In NC alone, as reported in 2006 study, businesses along the ICW generated over $257 million in annual sales, over 4000 jobs with $124 million in wages, resulting in federal taxes and fees paid $35.6 million and $21.4 million in state taxes and fees. Florida recently determined the economic impact to be right at $17 BILLION. Virginia, Georgia, and South Carolina, have somewhat similar stories to tell. 

Unlike other major land highways, where tolls may be in place to help maintain them, no such fees exist to use the ICW. That’s right, no “user fees.” Why? Because the funds used to maintain it are part of a political football, the national budget.

So why did we ask the question, would you pay $30 a year to use the ICW ?  In one word, POLITICS !!  

We all know that congress has control of the ICW’s sustainability and very existence via its funding in the national budget. Funding to maintain its ability to serve the original as well as the minimal capacity for maritime usage. It is a full time effort to bring the ICW’s critical needs before those in congress who will determine the funds allowed for use to sustain the viability of “our ICW”.

In 1999, business along the ICW or near the ICW saw this need and organized the national non-profit Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association (AIWA), because they saw the rapidly declining condition of the ICW and the lack of congressional interest. Lack of interest, because in most of the USA, there is no economic impact derived from the ICW. The political concerns were with a few east coast states, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Yet the national benefits of increased freight movement capacity, reduced negative environmental impact, even with the impact of reducing highway congestion thru water freight movement, and reduced fuel consumption, the American Trucking Association (ATA) reports of serious driver shortages now and projected through 2030’s. Concerns which seem to be fall on deaf ears,  due to lack of constituent input, no GRASS ROOTS SUPPORT  concerning the ICW’s needs or its significant value.

 We boaters, seasonal cruisers, using the ICW from all over this great nation, have an opportunity to voice our concerns, express the needs to properly fund the sustainability of this national treasure, the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.  Your individual membership in the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association gives its executive director and board members a chance to show our federal legislatures the broad based membership interest and support the waterway has, plus as a member you will be receiving reports of successes as well as immediate needs that we as individuals can write to our own federal representatives with facts that need to be shared and request their support when the budget process is underway. Just maybe this will stop some of the providential thinking and gain a broader based we are all in this together attitude supporting the ICW maintenance budget needs.

 ONLY $30 dollars a year and your voice and your expression of concern is made available to THE VOICE OF THE ATLANTIC INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY. 

  The photos below are from the recent meeting between the AIWA Board members and other supporting members of Congress.

Click here for the latest  AIWA report on Funding Priorities for Fiscal 2024.

CRUISERS NET CHALLENGE:

We would like to set what we think is a minimal goal of FIFTY BY FIFTY.

That is, fifty new individual members in fifty days from the date of this article, i.e. JUNE 27! We will publish the results on Cruisers Net.  

Click HERE for an individual membership! 

Our team at Cruises Net and all the marine businesses who depend on your travels along the ICW say THANK YOU! and hope that many more than fifty will join in support of the AIWA’s tireless efforts on our behalf. Editor’s note: As of June 5, Director Brad Pickle reports 25 new members!

Here are a couple of links to some supporting materials and AIWA contact information if you would like more information:

AIWA Website: https://atlanticintracoastal.org/

AIWA May Newsletter: https://cruisersnet.net/aiwa-may-2023-newsletter/

PLEASE let’s all join in to keep this maritime resource and national treasure alive, well, and in tip top shape.

FIFTY by FIFTY is the GOAL

Will You Step Up and Be Counted ?

Thank You !

HIGHFIELD, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is the leading builder of aluminum-hulled RIBs. Performance and strength are the key features of every HIGHFIELD RIB.  Their advanced hull designs and Italian-influenced interior styling, keep alive the reputation of a dry-riding, seaworthy and stable craft that can handle rough conditions, as well as please the discerning eye.