The United States inland waterway navigation system provides a cost-effective means for moving major bulk commodities. Inland navigation transportation contributes to local, regional and national economic development allowing the United States to compete in global trade markets.

The responsibility of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is to facilitate the safe, reliable, economically efficient and environmentally sound movement of vessels and it does this by constructing and maintaining navigation channels and harbors and regulating water levels on inland waterways.

The Great Lakes and Ohio River Division is responsible for navigation on two different navigation systems, the Ohio River and the Great Lakes. This amounts to 35% of the U.S. inland waterborne commerce on 3,400 miles of commercial waterways