The Waterways Journal
14 May 2007
By Capt. David Smith and Nelson Spencer
As someone who leaves nary a stone unturned in his pursuit of a modernized waterway system, Barry Palmer was appropriately presented with a “box of rocks,” and, more importantly, his name on a towboat when the longtime waterways advocate was honored by Consol Energy April 13, at a renaming ceremony in Pittsburgh.
Palmer, president and chief executive officer of Waterways Council Inc. (WCI), is well-known throughout the inland waterways industry as a tenacious proponent of a modernized system of locks and dams. He was the director of the Association for the Development of Inland Navigation in America’s Ohio Valley (DINAMO) and, since 2003 when DINAMO and WaterwaysWorks! merged to form WCI, has headed that organization. During his 22 years with DINAMO, Palmer spearheaded efforts that resulted in the construction of a number of lock and dam projects on the Ohio River and navigable tributaries.
It was Consol’s president and chief executive officer, Brett Harvey, who was instrumental in bringing DINAMO and WaterwaysWorks! together. The public-spirited leader was chairman of DINAMO at the time, and is an ardent supporter of waterways development.
At the christening, James Grech, senior vice president of Consol, welcomed guests aboard the excursion boat Gateway Party Liner at the mouth of the Monongahela River.
Then in marched the “box of rocks.”
Presented to Palmer by Mark Knoy, president of AEP River Operations and current chairman of WCI, the small cigar box literally contained rocks he gathered from some of the key projects championed by Palmer over the years, such as the Robert C. Byrd, McAlpine and Olmsted locks on the Ohio River, the Winfield and Marmet lock replacements on the Kanawha River and the replacement locks on the lower Monongahela River.
Knoy noted a long list of congressmen and senators with whom Palmer had dealt over the years to see crucial projects recognized, saying, “With the possible exception of Senator Byrd of West Virginia, Barry has outlasted them all.”
He recounted Palmer’s honors, including the Corps of Engineers’ award for leadership and personal contributions, and the River Bell Award from the Seamen’s Church Institute.
Speaking for the Corps of Engineers, Mike White, chief of programs for the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division, said it was fitting that the vessel bearing Palmer’s name would be working in the Gray’s Landing Lock and Dam pool, since that is one of the many projects he saw through to fruition.
He mentioned what a pleasure it is to work with Palmer because of the great respect he shows and confidence he has in the Corps. Palmer should “enjoy this recognition. It is so richly deserved,” he said.
Before joining DINAMO in 1981, Palmer was manager of governmental services for the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, and previously was vice president, general services department, at the Harrisburg Area Chamber of Commerce. During his professional career his work has focused on transportation, energy and tax issues.
“Thanks to the many men and women at Consol Energy, whose devotion to lock and dam modernization on America’s inland navigation system has been so important to me,” Palmer said in response. “Thanks to the people of America’s rivers, who earn a living moving commerce along our navigable rivers, and thanks to the people of the Corps of Engineers, who plan for our capital improvements, maintain our waterways, construct our locks and dams and look out for the public interest of America’s waterways.”
He told the gathering that one of life’s lessons he has learned is to “set goals and objectives, remain focused on them, and work with all of the energy you can muster to accomplish them.
“The honor is not altogether about me,” he added. “It is about the blessings God has given me and about the many people who have supported me throughout my career.”
After Joe Cerenzia, an ordained minister who is director of Consol’s public relations department, officially blessed the vessel, he and Palmer presented Capt. Scott Householder, the vessel’s master, with a ship’s Bible and an American flag.
Palmer’s wife, Ruth, serving as the vessel’s sponsor, broke the bottle of champagne to properly christen the mv. R. Barry Palmer, to the delight of his numerous friends in the waterways industry and family members who were present.
The boat was originally built by Hillman Barge and Construction Company in 1965 as the Explorer for Mon River Towing. When Consol Energy acquired Mon River recently, it extensively refurbished the vessel.
The 65- by 21-foot towboat is powered by a pair of Caterpillar diesels developing 900 hp., turning 56- by 56-inch props through Twin Disc 5222, 6.01:1 gears. Electrical power is supplied by a John Deere 40 kw. unit, and a Cat D311 kw generator. Fuel capacity aboard the boat is 10,000 gallons, and fresh water capacity is 1,850 gallons.