AWO is the national association representing the inland and coastal tugboat, towboat and barge industry. Comprised of nearly 4,000 tugboats and towboats and over 27,000 barges, the industry safely and efficiently moves over 800 million tons of cargo each year, including over half of America's export grain, energy sources such as coal and petroleum, including most of New England's home heating oil and gasoline, and other bulk commodities that are the building blocks of the U.S. economy. Recognized leaders in marine safety, all AWO members must participate, as a condition of membership, in The Responsible Carrier Program, an award-winning, third-party audited safety and environmental protection regime. AWO provides expert information on issues affecting this vital economical and environmentally-friendly segment of America's commercial transportation system.