River

The Southern border of Washington County follows the Ohio River. The “Ohio River Navigation System moves a quarter billion tons of cargo to, from, and throughout the region,” according to the Ohio River Basin International Trade/Tourism and Transportation Systems (ORBITS). “Carrying more commercial cargo than the Panama Canal, the Ohio River System accounts for nearly one quarter of the domestic waterborne commercial trade in the U.S.”

To see Cargo Comparison Chart click here Cargo. To enlarge Cargo Comparison Chart, click on Chart.

Washington County has over 23 barge ports and two public barge dock facilities:

• Marietta Industrial Enterprises’ Dockside facility near Constitution
• Price Inland Terminal near Belpre

The Port Authority is working with ODOT on a feasibility study exploring Container-on-Barge service in the Mid Ohio River Valley. For more information on the concept, click here Container On Barge Concept Paper.