The U.S. inland waterway system is comprised mainly of the Mississippi River and its tributaries and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (see map below) and is one of the busiest, cost-efficient, productive and safest transportation systems in the world. The inland waterway system comprises 12,000 miles of navigable interconnected rivers, canals and intracoastal waterways serving the U.S. as water highways.

The U.S. also benefits from the coastwise trade of bulk liquid and dry products to ports along the East Coast, Gulf Coast and West Coast, as well as in Alaska and Hawaii.

Data as of December 31, 2023

Inland Tank Barge Fleet

• Petrochemicals and refined products 826
• Black oil 157
• Pressure 83
• Anhydrous ammonia 10
• Total 1,076
• Total Barrel Capacity 23.7MM

Inland Towboat Fleet

• Total 281

Coastal Tank Barge Fleet

• Refined products/petrochemicals 20
• Black oil 8
• Total 28
• Total Barrel Capacity 2.9MM

Coastal Tugboat Fleet

• Total 25

Offshore Dry-Bulk Cargo Fleet

• Dry-bulk barge and tugboat units 4
• Deadweight tonnage 79,000