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ACC & AWO Renew Safety Alignment Agreement
ACC & AWO Renew Safety Alignment Agreement
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) and American Waterways Operators (AWO) have renewed their long-standing safety alignment agreement to strengthen operational standards across the U.S. inland waterways supply chain.
The agreement reinforces coordinated safety protocols for the transportation of chemical products by barge, ensuring that vessel operators and chemical producers maintain consistent safety expectations, audit processes, and performance benchmarks.
This collaboration integrates ACC’s Responsible Care® program with AWO’s Responsible Carrier Program, promoting structured risk management, incident prevention strategies, and continuous improvement across inland marine logistics.
Key Focus Areas
Standardized safety management systems
Shared audit frameworks and compliance verification
Incident reduction and risk mitigation
Enhanced communication between shippers and carriers
The renewal signals continued commitment to maintaining a high level of operational discipline within inland marine transportation — particularly important as regulatory scrutiny and environmental expectations intensify.
Why This Matters
1.Strengthens Supply Chain Safety
Chemical transportation carries inherent risks. Aligning safety frameworks reduces variability in standards and improves accountability throughout the logistics chain.
2.Reduces Operational & Liability Risk
Standardized compliance programs lower the likelihood of accidents, environmental spills, and reputational damage — critical for stakeholders managing hazardous cargo.
3.Supports Regulatory Readiness
As environmental and safety regulations evolve, structured partnerships like this help operators remain audit-ready and compliant with federal and state authorities.
4.Enhances Industry Credibility
By proactively reinforcing safety standards, both ACC and AWO demonstrate industry leadership — helping build trust with regulators, customers, and the public.
The renewed agreement underscores a broader industry trend: collaboration between cargo owners and vessel operators is becoming essential to ensuring safe, compliant, and resilient maritime logistics systems.
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