The U.S. inland waterway system is comprised mainly of the Mississippi River and its tributaries and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (see map below) and is one of the busiest, cost-efficient, productive and safest transportation systems in the world. The inland waterway system comprises 12,000 miles of navigable interconnected rivers, canals and intracoastal waterways serving the U.S. as water highways.

The U.S. also benefits from the coastwise trade of bulk liquid and dry products to ports along the East Coast, Gulf Coast and West Coast, as well as in Alaska and Hawaii.

Data as of March 31, 2026

Inland Tank Barge Fleet

• Petrochemicals and refined products 868
• Black oil 156
• Pressure 90
• Anhydrous ammonia 10
• Total 1,124
• Total Barrel Capacity 25.1MM

Inland Towboat Fleet

• Total 284

Coastal Tank Barge Fleet

• Refined products/petrochemicals 19
• Black oil 8
• Total 27
• Total Barrel Capacity 2.9MM

Coastal Tugboat Fleet

• Total 24

Offshore Dry-Bulk Cargo Fleet

• Dry-bulk barge and tugboat units 2
• Deadweight tonnage 79,000