American Maritime Partnership Responds to U.S. Tank Vessel Capacity

The American Maritime Partnership (AMP) has sent a letter to Shirley Neff of the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The letter emphasizes that the AMP believes that the current version of EIA’s report, Potential Impacts of Reductions in Refinery Activity on Northeast Petroleum Product Markets, understates the American tank vessel capacity by more than 50 percent.

The letter is detailed as follows:

Dear Ms. Neff:

Thank you for meeting with me, leaders of the American Waterways Operators, and senior representatives of four of the leading American tank vessel companies last week.

We are gathering, and will soon forward to you, detailed information about the American tank barge fleet. As you know, we believe that the current version of your report, Potential Impacts of Reductions in Refinery Activity on Northeast Petroleum Product Markets (dated February, 2012), understates the American tank vessel capacity by more than 50%. The report addressed only American tankers but not all tank vessels, including tank barges, which are a primary means of transporting petroleum products in the U.S. We believe that once all Jones Act tank vessel capacity is considered, EIA will find that there is ample American vessel capacity to address changes in petroleum product markets as result of northeast refinery closures.

We hope you will work to make the appropriate corrections to the report as quickly and as publicly as possible. EIA is a respected and influential voice and its conclusion in the report that American vessel capacity could be in “short supply” has led to a series of media stories and has impacted the public policy debate.

Thank you again for meeting with us and for your commitment to “getting it right.” Our organization, the American Maritime Partnership, represents all elements of the American maritime industry and is available to assist you on this and any future project.

Sincerely,

Mark Ruge, counsel to
American Maritime Partnership