Despite the critical role that Waterborne freight transportation has played in the U.S. economy for more than 200 years, the inland and coastal maritime industry is little known outside of the transportation sector.

This report is meant to address that situation by providing a detailed look at the U.S. Waterborne freight transportation industry in terms of its fleet, products moved, new market opportunities and the competitive environment. Although very mature, and highly fragmented with hundreds of players, the industry still generates significant profits for good operators. It also is of great strategic importance and protected from foreign competition by the Jones Act. The industry also stands to benefit significantly as the U.S. becomes the world's largest oil producer and hundreds of billions of new dollars are invested in the U.S. Petrochemicals industry