Abstract
The inland waterway system is made up of a set of rivers and associated locks and dams. Dams establish “pools” of water that allow rivers to be navigated, and locks allow barges to pass from pools of different elevations. Lock performance (i.e., the timely passage of barges through the waterway) depends on many factors. This study examines lock performance in terms of the structural design of locks; the characteristics of the flotilla (vessels and barges); a set of state conditions (weather, river levels, etc.); and characteristics of vessels, locks, and firms. Vessel, firm, and lock efficiency measures are developed by using panel data techniques, and observed factors that influence efficiency are evaluated. The results indicate considerable heterogeneity across vessels, firms, and locks, which results in significant differences in timely passage through the locks.
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