As days grow shorter in fall and winter, inland waterway navigation faces fresh challenges. Over 12,000 miles of rivers, lakes, and canals across the U.S. move essential goods like coal, grain, and petroleum, acting as critical links in the nation's supply chain.
However, reduced daylight increases navigation risks and puts new ...
Operating in a marine environment brings unique lighting challenges. From the constant assault of salt water to the stress of high winds and vibration, commercial marine lighting faces harsh conditions daily.
Whether you manage a marina or operate commercial vessels, reliable lighting is critical. It's not just about visibility but about ...
Inland waters—rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands—host diverse marine organisms that have adapted to life away from the ocean. While "marine" often evokes images of sea creatures, many fascinating freshwater marine animals thrive in these environments.
This blog explores major inland marine wildlife you may (and probably have) encountered while navigating our ...
Lighting is often overlooked when operating or navigating a commercial pier's layout and safety features, taking a backseat to more prominent aspects like dock space and service facilities. However, proper lighting is not merely a matter of aesthetics—it's a critical component of safety, security, and operational efficiency.
This guide explores why ...
Navigational lighting on boats and barges isn't just about aesthetics—it's a critical component of maritime safety. Whether sailing through bustling harbors or navigating inland waterways at night, proper lighting ensures vessels are visible to others, helping to prevent collisions and ensure safe passage.
In this blog, we delve into navigational lighting ...
As picturesque as marinas may appear, with their bobbing boats and sparkling waters, working in these environments demands a keen awareness of safety regulations. Marine work presents unique challenges and hazards, ranging from slippery surfaces to heavy machinery.
Let's delve into the safety regulations governing marina work and why adherence to ...
As summer approaches, it's time to prepare your boat for long days out on the water. A clean vessel looks tremendous and ensures optimal performance and durability. With the right approach and a little elbow grease, you can keep your boat sparkling all summer.
Here are some essential tips for maintaining ...
The world turned its eyes toward Baltimore on Tuesday, March 26th, as a container ship that lost power crashed into a column of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and caused the entire bridge to collapse. This devastating accident threw vehicles and eight construction workers into the Patapsco River below. Amidst this tragedy ...
Commercial boating can be a dangerous industry. Navigators know that no matter the waters, their vessel's lighting must be top-notch. Additionally, knowing the dos and don'ts of marine vessel lighting is essential to ensure safety and compliance. Proper lighting is necessary for maintaining visibility on the water, preventing accidents, and ...
In the vast expanse of maritime history, the art of navigation has been a guiding beacon for sailors and explorers alike. From ancient civilizations to the modern age of technology, the evolution of vessel navigation systems has been a fascinating journey marked by innovation and ingenuity. Several changes in navigational ...
The United States is home to incredible waterways, from our rivers and streams to the Great Lakes to our coasts. Our waterways represent life, health, transportation, cities, and industry. So, when there are threats to the health of these waterways, boaters and community members need to watch out for these ...
The shipping and transportation industries play a pivotal role in the intricate dance of global trade and commerce. As we set our sights on 2024, several trends and considerations are poised to reshape the shipping container and supply chain landscape, influencing businesses specializing in marine lighting for commercial boats and ...
Commercial boating is an industry that relies heavily on vessels' safety and operational efficiency. One crucial aspect of ensuring vessel safety is conducting regular hull inspections. Hull inspections play a vital role in maintaining the structural integrity of a ship, optimizing maintenance schedules, improving port security, and protecting against the ...
As the colder months roll in, commercial boaters face unique challenges when navigating their vessels along inland waterways. While the North and Midwest regions of the United States are rich with major rivers, the onset of cold weather requires extra preparation to ensure the safety of both crew and cargo. ...
Inland marine boating has played a pivotal role in developing the United States, especially in commerce and transportation. At Archway Marine Lighting, we aim to promote safety for commercial boaters operating in inland waters. To understand the significance of our mission, it is essential to delve into the rich history ...
Commercial boaters worldwide are responsible for precisely navigating the water and handling cargo carefully. While safety is critical when vessels are out in bodies of water, it is also essential in the port. Ports can be busy, hectic places with many tasks that boaters and workers need to get done ...
Inland marine waterways are vital lifelines for commercial boaters and the wildlife that call these ecosystems home. They and anyone using our rivers recreationally should understand the significance of these waterways and their role in supporting a thriving ecosystem. As a provider of marine lighting products and safety gear, Archway ...
In the last three years, many people have paid extra attention to the supply chain both in the U.S. and globally. With economic effects derived from the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with the rise of e-commerce sales, supply chains have seen rapid changes. In this blog post, we will explore the ...
Transporting cargo on vessels requires proper planning and execution to ensure it is safely stored and brought to its destination. Cargo storage on vessels can be a complex process, especially for vessels that travel through inland marine waterways throughout the United States. This blog post will discuss the best practices ...
Commercial boaters face many risks while navigating open waters. One of the most significant risks is severe weather. High winds, heavy rain, thunderstorms, hail, and other weather conditions can risk the crew's and cargo's safety. Therefore, it's essential to be prepared and know how to handle these situations. This blog ...
One of the most unique parts of the United States is its geographic landscape. Across the contiguous 48 states are mountains, forests, deserts, lakes, rivers, and just about any natural feature you can think of. The inland waterway systems throughout the U.S. are critical for shipping, transportation, recreation, and conservation.
As ...
The inland marine industry is one of the fastest-growing industries today, with an increasing number of vessels used for various activities such as cargo transport, passenger transport, and fishing. Marine equipment is crucial in ensuring these vessels' safe and efficient operation. However, like other equipment, marine equipment requires proper maintenance ...
Heading out onto the water at night can be a wonderful experience, but you don't want to forget about safety. From adding LED lights to taking the proper precautions, you should be doing plenty of things to stay safe while boating at night. Below are three safety tips for boating ...
Our rivers, lakes, and streams all play a crucial role in the environmental life of the United States. Our inland waterway systems are places for wildlife, recreation, transportation, and more. Dredging is one of the many processes that keep these waterways healthy and functional. As people continue to build property ...
When it comes to using LED lighting for marine applications, the list of benefits is long! They're much more energy efficient and help save money and the environment, but that's just one significant advantage of upgrading to LEDs. They keep docks and marinas safe, businesses well-lit and recognizable, and can ...
Mother Nature is often unpredictable, and the effects of extreme weather can be seen across the country's waterways. Hurricanes can be incredibly impactful on the marine logistics industry, and it's crucial for both commercial and recreational boaters and boat operators to understand how to lessen that impact.
Large ports bear the ...
While most of our customers come to us for their commercial lighting needs, many are like us and enjoy their recreational boats when they are not working on the water. Boating is already fun enough; imagine how better it can be when you customize your boat with LED lights! Whether ...
Upgrading to marine LED lighting is one of the quickest and easiest ways to boost the sustainability and energy efficiency of barges, marine vessels, and facilities along the waterway. Still, the upfront cost of investment can often cause sticker shock. Because marine LED upgrades may be considered a luxury and ...
For organizations looking to support sustainable supply chains, barge transportation is a must. Now, more than ever, stakeholders and consumers are looking to spend their money on businesses that create sustainable consumer products and use strategies that reduce environmental impact from start to finish. By opting for barge transportation when ...
We see truckers and trains transporting goods across the country daily, but how often do we think about the barges on the inland waterways keeping the US economy moving? American inland waterways are a critical part of our infrastructure. They transport over 600 million tons of freight annually for importing ...
While most of our customers come to us for their commercial lighting needs, many are like us and enjoy their recreational boats when they are not working on the water. Boating is already fun enough, so imagine how better it can be when you customize your boat with LED lights! ...
Up and down waterways across the world, some docks and facilities help house and transport hazardous and industrial materials. The lighting around these areas needs to be a thoughtful consideration. Specialty marine LED lighting products and fixtures are made specifically for hazardous and industrial docks, barges, and facilities.
Hazardous location lighting ...
Whether you're an amateur boater just getting your sea legs or you've been running a barge crew for years, it's always important to understand and follow basic marine safety guidelines and regulations. Below are a handful (but certainly not all) of important marine safety tips when you're on the dock ...
For organizations and individuals that invest time and money in keeping their vessels well-maintained, it only makes sense to keep the dock in good condition too. Besides posing a hazard to vessels, dock damage can create safety liabilities and even potential electrical issues.
Remember that the dock stays in the water ...
With over 30 years of experience in marine lighting and LED lighting technology, we’ve been asked plenty of questions along the way. We’ve made a list of marine LED lighting FAQs to help streamline the process as you decide on the best marine LED lighting for your project. As always, ...
Not all marine LED lighting is created equal. It’s easy to think that the best option is the cheapest — but that’s not always the case. Lower quality lighting has a shorter lifespan and can be far less energy efficient, negating the switch to LED lighting for these purposes in ...
If you’re looking to replace or upfit your current exterior marine lighting with cost-efficient LED options, you’re reading the right blog post! Lighting on inland waterways is crucial for safety and navigation, among other reasons, and it’s crucial to get the retrofit process right the first time.
These are some of ...
Our combined experience and deep understanding of marine lighting have taught us quite a few lessons about the ins and outs of marine lighting -- along with which marine lighting mistakes to avoid. From the docks to the vessels, pay close attention to the details to optimize exterior marine lighting. ...
A barge is defined as a type of marine vessel that’s mainly used for cargo transportation. They don’t move independently like a boat; they float and are towed or tugged by other vessels. Barges are flat-bottomed to ensure maximum cargo capacity and are used in lakes, canals, inland waterways, and ...
Whether you’re new to the maritime industry or have been up and down the river countless times, brushing up on terminology is a great way to keep learning. Here’s a list of commonly used terms.
Bank: Also known as the riverbank, this is exactly what it seems -- the land on ...
We couldn’t create a series about waterways around the world without exploring the Grand Canal in China. The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is the oldest and longest man-made canal in the world to date. It begins in Beijing, China, and stretches 1,115 miles to the southern city of Hangzhou. It links ...
In this blog post, we're continuing our discussion about important waterways around the world. I've already talked about the waterways of Europe and the Suez Canal, but now it's time to explore the Panama Canal and its role in waterway transportation.
Located in Panama and connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, ...
It’s not often that inland waterways make mainstream news, but Egypt’s Suez Canal has been showing up in plenty of headlines lately. The artificial canal that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea makes up part of the Silk Road that facilitates travel between Europe and Asia and is ...
Just like with any other form of transportation, lighting systems are the key to safely traveling at night or in limited-light environments. Marine navigational lighting is perhaps one of the most important factors in operating a vessel and the knowledge of this lighting is heavily tested throughout nautical training.
In fact, ...
Barge transportation not only accounts for nearly one-fifth of the country’s freight, but it also carries the lowest unit cost due to capacity and is a sustainable approach compared to road and rail logistics. Consider this: The capacity of one 15-barge tow equals 216 rail cars or 1050 trucks. While ...
Exploring the World of Barges. Whether you’re new to the marine industry or you’re a more seasoned veteran, it’s always fun to visit the basics of barges. Did you know we have been using marine barges in the modern world since before the Industrial Revolution?
A barge is defined as a ...
Because we work with customers across the inland waterways in the US, it’s easy to understand what kind of impact they have on the commerce and economy of the country. However, there are inland waterways that support maritime logistics in areas all over the world. In this post, we’ll dive ...
Just like the roadways and railways have regulations and rules to keep everyone safe, so too do the inland waterways. The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972, also called the 72 COLREGS, were created to help better manage waterways for safety and legality. Within these regulations are the ...
Working on inland waterways is an inherently dangerous profession, and tugboat and barge workers are especially susceptible to danger. There’s huge potential for danger across the industry, but some accidents are more common than others because of the inherent dangers.
Stranding and foundering are probably the most common losses experienced by ...
Barges are crucial for keeping the inland waterways running smoothly, and you may be surprised to find out there are several types of these amazing vessels that are used all over the world. The official definition of a barge is just that -- a marine vessel that’s primarily used to ...
Although this year’s hurricane season is winding down, it’s been one of the most active in recent history. As the country continues to recover from the impact of a series of storms -- and watches out for new ones that are forming late in the season -- it’s important to ...
Inland waterways in the US are a critical part of our infrastructure. They transport over 600 million tons of freight every year for both importing and exporting, and their origins can be traced back over 400 years back to the colonial period. To say that inland waterways are integral to ...
The US Coast Guard (USCG) is an integral part of “maritime safety, security, and stewardship” and has been a part of countless rescue and search missions, Homeland Security operations, and environmental protection. A large part of their mission is also the management of the Marine Transportation System (MTS) that makes ...
In the past couple of weeks, our lives have been significantly impacted by the spread of the coronavirus. A lot of us may feel anxious and concerned about it all, but we at Archway Marine Lighting are certain that the country as a whole will overcome this obstacle and any ...
The Past and Present of Inland Waterways. Even though the nation’s inland waterways help facilitate the transportation of 600 million tons of freight each year, many of us still don’t know the history of waterways or how they’re currently maintained to keep things moving seamlessly. From their origin to how ...
Choosing LED Marine Lighting. With 30 years of experience in the marine lighting and supply industry and our knowledge of LED technologies, we’ve learned a thing or two about exterior marine lighting best practices. Pilot boats, tugs, barges, and more — we’ve tackled a wide range and seen our fair ...
The Benefits of Barge Transportation. When it comes to logistics, barges are an often-overlooked mode of transportation. While truck and rail transportation is commonly used and more visible, there’s plenty of evidence to support the benefits of transporting goods across waterways instead of land. Ranging from financial to environmental, there’s ...
While most of our customers come to us for their commercial lighting needs, many are like us and enjoy their own recreational boats when they are not working on the water. Boating is already fun enough, imagine how much better it can be when you customize your boat with LED ...
Barge Access Safety Tips. Barge employment is a highly risky job, and there’s no shortage of resources available and safety guidelines to follow for preventing injuries in this like of work. Simply getting on a barge from the dock and disembarking from the barge can be dangerous, not to mention ...
2019 International WorkBoat Show. This week, our very own Leo Bye and Josh Vaughn attended the annual International Workboat Show in New Orleans, Louisiana. The International WorkBoat Show is the largest commercial marine trade show in North America. It is a trade-only conference and expo for commercial vessel owners, operators, ...
