Asphalt barges in Pine Bluff (Ark.) that can’t move need to be in Muskogee, Robinson said. Quality Liquid Feed has molasses barges tied up and waiting at Rosedale, so they are having to truck and rail molasses to the port here, he said.

“They have to have molasses or stop production,” Robinson said.

There are many costs to having barges stuck along the way, Robinson said.

Companies with loaded barges on the river that can’t move are charged a demurrage penalty, or lease fee, Robinson said.

“Quality Liquid Feed has been paying it for several weeks now,” he said.

Paragon Industries has had to unload barges already loaded and truck the contents to Memphis, Tenn., Robinson said. That’s added expense.

Water transport is cheaper than rail or truck, Robinson said.

“Everybody is anxious for the river to get back in operation,” he said.

Flooding along the Arkansas, Verdigris and Grand rivers and all along the Mississippi River and its tributaries, including the McClellan-Kerr, are in the same shape now, Robinson said.

Barges of Dal-Tile raw materials, including feldspar from Turkey and clay from Ukraine, make up 21 percent of the Port of Muskogee’s inbound barge business, he said. Some of those raw products were shipped to New Orleans and then loaded on barges.

When much of the material arrives here, it is stockpiled at the port and delivered to the tile plant when needed, Robinson said. Stockpiles are lower than usual.

Barge tonnage for the Muskogee port was higher in 2007 than any other year, port records show.

“The future looks very bright for waterborne transportation — which is very good for the Port of Muskogee,” Robinson said.

Reach Donna Hales at 918-684-2923 or Click Here to Send Email