２００５年９月１２ 日……密苏里州圣路易斯市……拥有２５０００名会员的美国大豆协会今天在得知南路易斯安娜港口允许４７英尺以下船舶重新航行的消息后，松了一口气。这一决定使得能承载５５０００吨大豆的巴拿马型及更大吨位的船舶能安全地恢复出口活动。
“美国大豆出口竞争性极大地依赖密西西比河和巴拿马型船舶的经济效率，”美国大豆协会总裁、南达科他州西布朗斯谷的大豆种植者鲍勃•梅兹说。“对深吃水船舶重新开放港口是在使南湾中部重新运作起来的努力中最重要的步骤。”
美国价值１８０亿美元的大豆作物中每年有一半以大豆、豆粕、豆油和其它增值的大豆产品形式出口海外。２００４年新奥尔良港口地区担负了１５７０万吨的大豆出口，代表了全美大豆出口总量的６２％。该港口还出运了１８０多万吨豆粕，接近全美豆粕出口总量的４５%。
“大豆生产者们要特别感谢灾情处理指挥架构中的美国陆军工程部队、海岸警卫队、交通运输部、国土安全部、农业部和所有地方官员，他们同我们的出口行业紧密配合，重新建立起该地区的海洋交通运输，”梅兹说。
过去的一周，随着船只在河道中航行安全性的确定，河运逐步增加。像驳船和拖轮那样的浅吃水船只，和吃水低于３９英尺的远洋货轮在上周早些时候已经通航，这使得一些谷物码头恢复了驳船卸货和远洋船舶装货作业。但是必须在清除密西西比河西南入海口沙洲航道上的两个不明水下障碍物以后，陆军工程部队和海岸警卫队才能准许吃水深度超过３９英尺的船舶通行。
“美国大豆协会还要感谢所有在港口操作拖船、拖轮驳船、海洋船舶、谷物转运站和装运设施的工作人员，以及帮助该地区恢复或即将恢复电力供应服务的电力工程人员，”梅兹说。“我们知道你们中有许多人正应对着人员不足的极度挑战，正为履行职责作出巨大牺牲。我们对你们在这样的艰难时刻所表现出来的爱国热情和坚忍不拔的精神表示敬意。”
南路易斯安娜以及全国成千上万个就业机会都依赖于大宗农产品的生产和运输所带来的经济活动。大豆是出口价值最高的美国农产品。最大的买家包括中国、日本、欧盟、墨西哥、中国台湾、韩国和印尼。
在新奥尔良周边地区有１０个出口仓储转运码头和3个“浮动趸船” ，这些浮动趸船没有仓储能力，但每小时可以将３－６万蒲式耳的谷物直接从驳船转装至远洋货轮或远洋驳船上。这些码头的谷物总仓储能力接近５.２６亿蒲式耳，满负荷装船能力为每小时９７万蒲式耳。所有设施均位于路易斯安娜州。
上周，美国大豆协会得知１０个出口仓储转运码头中有３个已经开始作业并能给远洋货船装货，据报告至少有一家河上浮动转运设施也开始装货。
美国农业部９月７日星期三估计，由于对远洋船舶的限制（进出港口）、驳船航行缓慢和人手的限制，降低了装运能力的使用率，从而，谷物码头和浮动趸船的作业能力为６３％。在因飓风关闭港口之后，已经有７０多艘海洋船舶进出密西西比河。巴拿马型及更大型远洋船舶的装运将促进效率的提高。
出运体系的满负荷作业能力依不同因素综合而定。其中最重要的也许是给职员提供上班的途径和住房、食品和饮用水等基本的生活必需品。有些地方仍担心电力服务。驳船卸货和返回密西西比河上游，以及补救受损的河运驳船，也是该重要系统完全恢复的重要步骤。河流全天通航是重获全部作业能力所必需的。目前只限于白天航行。
“现在的焦点是重新设置航行辅助设施，原先的设施被飓风毁坏或刮走了，”梅兹说。“海岸警卫队优先考虑的工作是在修理航行辅助设施方面。不久，里程标记、浮标和航标灯就会恢复，这样才可以允许不受限制的河流交通。”
美国大豆协会是全国性的、非盈利的、基层会员组成的机构，通过制定和实施一些政策来提高其会员以及整个大豆产业的经济效益。美国大豆协会成立于１９２０年。
ASA Salutes Reopening of South Louisiana Port to Maximum Draft Vessels
September 12, 2005... Saint Louis, Missouri... The 25,000 grower-members of the American Soybean Association (ASA) today breathed a collective sigh of relief upon learning that vessels up to 47 feet draft are again being permitted to navigate the Mississippi River at the port in south Louisiana. This will allow Panamax and larger sized ships, those capable of holding 55,000 tons or more of soybeans, to safely resume export activities.
"The competitiveness of U.S. soybean exports depends heavily on the economic efficiency of the Mississippi River and Panamax ships," said ASA President Bob Metz, a soybean producer from West Browns Valley, S.D. "Reopening the port to deep draft vessels is a significant development in the effort to put the Center Gulf back in business."
Half the value of the $18 billion U.S. soybean crop is exported each year as whole soybeans, soymeal, soyoil and other value-added soy products. In 2004, the Port District of New Orleans was responsible for 15.7 million metric tons of whole soybean exports, which represented more than 62 percent of all U.S. whole soybeans exported. The Port also shipped more than 1.8 million metric tons of soybean meal, which represented nearly 45 percent of all U.S. soymeal exported.
"Soybean producers extend a special thanks to the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, Coast Guard, Department of Transportation, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Agriculture and all of the local officials involved in the incident command structure who are working so closely with our industry to re-establish marine transportation in the region," Metz said.
During the past week, river traffic gradually increased as it was determined vessels could safely navigate the channel. Shallow draft traffic, like barges and tow boats, and ship traffic with up to a draft depth of 39 feet, had already been cleared for navigation earlier last week, allowing some grain elevators to resume off-loading of barges and loading of ships. But two unidentified underwater obstructions in the bar channel at the mouth of Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River had to be cleared before the Army Corps of Engineers and the Coast Guard could authorize access to vessels requiring more than 39 feet of depth.
"ASA also extend thanks to all the men and women working in the port operating the tugboats, tow boats and barges, the ships, the grain elevators and terminal loading facilities, and the utility crews that either have or will soon restore electrical service in the area," Metz said. "We know many of you are dealing with overwhelming personal challenges and making great sacrifices to do your jobs. We salute your patriotism and your fortitude during these trying times."
Thousands of jobs in south Louisiana and throughout the country depend on the economic activity created by the production and transportation of bulk agricultural commodities. Soybeans are the highest value U.S. agricultural export. Top soybean customers include China, Japan, the European Union, Mexico, Taiwan, Korea and Indonesia.
There are 10 export elevators in the surrounding New Orleans area and 3 "floating rigs" that do not have storage capacity, but can load 30,000 to 60,000 bushels of grain per hour from river barges directly on to ocean-going vessels or ocean-going barges. In total, these elevators have a storage capacity of approximately 526 million bushels of grain with a capability of loading 970,000 bushels per hour when fully operational. All of the facilities are located in Louisiana.
Last week, ASA learned that seven of the 10 elevators were operating and can load vessels, and at least one of the midstream floating elevators was also reported to be loading.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated on Wednesday, September 7, the operational capacity of the elevators and floating rigs was at 63 percent, with vessel restrictions (arrivals and departures), slower barge movements and limited staffing minimizing full utilization of loading capacity. More than 70 ships have already moved into or out of the river since the hurricane closure. Loading of the Panamax and larger sized ships will contribute to increased efficiency.
Full operational capacity for the system is contingent upon a combination of factors. Perhaps most important to all is providing for employees access to facilities and the basic necessities of housing, food and water. Some are still concerned with electrical service. Discharge and return upstream, as well as salvage of damaged river barges, is also an important step to full recovery of this critical system. Navigation of the river around the clock is necessary to regain full capacity. It is currently restricted to daylight hours only.
"The focus now is on reinstalling navigational aids that were destroyed or carried away during the hurricane," Metz said. "The Coast Guard has prioritized their work with regard to repairing aids to navigation. Soon the system of markers, buoys and lights will be restored so that unrestricted river traffic will be allowed."
The American Soybean Association is a national, not-for-profit, grassroots membership organization that develops and implements policies to increase the profitability of its members and the entire soybean industry. ASA was founded in 1920.
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