Vision from Inland Navigation Technology '09 Workshop

A multi-agency Inland Navigation Technology '09 Workshop (INT '09) with the theme "Digital Technology's Impact on Safety and Efficiency" was held in Vicksburg, Mississippi, on February 3–4, 2009. Primary participants were the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the United States Coast Guard (USCG), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and representatives from the Unite States Inland Navigation Industry. The workshop presented current research and development efforts on digital technology educating attendees on current directions to expedite an effective adoption of digital technology to realize the "e-Navigation" vision. Following breakout sessions, the participants provided visions for the inland waterways for 2013 and 2020. There was agreement that the primary goal is to use electronic data to provide intelligent information to the vessel captain in order to make his/her job easier and safer. It was recognized this may be difficult to achieve due to the large amount of inter-agency coordination and standardized data formats/protocols required.