Business View Magazine - July 2023

183 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 10, ISSUE 7 reducing emissions, and industry resources are being developed to support companies of all sizes, from all parts of the country, on their individual sustainability journey. The tugboat, towboat and barge industry is also poised to play a critical role in the buildout of the emerging American offshore wind industry, a win-win for clean energy and American jobs. In addition to serving as a major economic driver and safety and sustainability leader for American commerce, marine transportation is also integral to our nation’s security. America’s commercial AMERICAN WATERWAYS OPERATORS ( AWO) mariners support the Coast Guard’s homeland security mission by serving as eyes and ears on our domestic waterways, where much of our nation’s critical infrastructure is located, and are often the first on scene to rescue mariners or civilians in distress – including on 9/11, when an armada of tugboats and other civilian vessels helped evacuate over 500,000 people from Manhattan, the largest maritime evacuation in history. The U.S. military relies on our industry to support its readiness as well. Tugboats routinely provide ship-assist service to safely guide aircraft carriers,