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Mark Fletcher, co-owner of Ceres Barge Line, argues Isaac's rain could be a big relief for the Mississippi River.
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Well I think has pummeled parts of the gulf region but the heavy rain has helped one area the Mississippi River my next guest says the rain is a welcome relief to the droughts and is a game changer for the -- barge industry joining me now is a co owner of a -- line located in east think those.
Not Fletcher joins us now mark thank you so much for joining us.
How would you describe the situation because the Mississippi is -- it depends on what section you're talking about.
We know the problems with the drought what those eyes that could bring to the Mississippi and in particular the barge industry.
Well if it brings the kind of range that are predicted -- course of models are changing every year every update every couple hours.
But the brings a kind of range that they talk about that we should have some relief of course long term relief means what -- that we have coming after that.
But I would say for the next fifteen to thirty days we should has some relief that would give us.
At least a few feet of water to maybe several -- water to alleviate some the real problematic here is one of the biggest areas we've had is that problems from the Greenville Mississippi area we've had.
Several barge -- -- down there where they -- -- break up but so we shut down the river for maybe twelve to 24 hours while that person gathers his -- up.
And then traffic clears again until it's very narrow channel until someone else might go aground on their so we really need Memphis and south and care in south we really need the water.
So of the body is still backed up both north and south found right now.
Well they've backed up for what we have as of thirty to 40% capacity reduction in terms of grass trees -- and then on each -- we have.
Probably -- twenty to 30%.
Cut back in terms of towing capacity in other words if they took thirty to forty barges.
Karen south it might only be able to take twenty you're 25 depending on of course part of vote.
I read I have my may be run by four I read somewhere the flooding that they historic flooding last year room moved a lot of the settlement around which is made it -- to dredge this year because of the low warp to levels.
Well that's probably true you know I'm.
I'm told I I haven't been a riverboat pilot specific -- specifically myself.
But I am told that when you have prolonged periods of relatively high water -- of course is changing the river bottom and we haven't been back to these lower levels.
Probably in the manner that we are now since.
Probably since 1980 AME we've had a few points of low water.
Right in the last five or six years but not consistently like we have been some really since 88 and an 88 in some ways it was even worse because.
I don't think the corps of engineers was quite as prepared as they are today they've they've -- -- structures in the last twenty years and of really assisted -- in trying to keep that channel open and helping the river to -- itself.
And finally -- wanted to ask you did does this mean that the costs are also starting to pile up and do those eventually get passed on to the consumer.
Well can they cost -- pileup the -- capacity reductions in the extra towing -- to pile up for every carrier out there.
You know you would hope that we have enough demand did to try to offset some of those.
Cost increases but it's been a struggle and because the drought is such a huge impact of the the size of the crop of the corn crop from the soybean crop -- we're gonna have this year.
That are not only are our concerns today with nearby traffic but from an export standpoint we have a terrifically reduced.
Out of corn that's gonna be exported next year.
And so really for us 2013.
Is a real question mark as to what we will do -- we get through another crop -- Now it's tough when you're dealing with mother nature Mark Fletcher we wish you smooth sailing -- every -- thank you so much for joining us appreciate it.
