Maritime

National Maritime Enhancement Institute

The National Maritime Enhancement Institute, based at RTI, is one of only nine in the country. The Institute conducts research to improve the performance, efficiency, security, and financial stability of waterborne industries and transportation. This helps the industry compete nationally and internationally, predict trends, evaluate technological advances, assess the impact of regulations, and increase compatibility with other forms of transportation (rail, highway and air) as well as those overseas.

RTI’s Maritime Transportation Institute is located at the Port of Huntington, the largest inland port in the nation. The inland waterways system carries 15% of the nation’s freight and 20% of the nation’s coal, oil and petrochemicals. In addition, it carries half of all exported grain, raw materials for paper, manufactured products, cement and asphalt for constructing bridges and highways, and iron ore for steel.  The barges used on inland waterways carry more than other forms of transportation, use fuel more efficiently, and reduce highway and rail congestion.  The Institute works closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Marshall University, Mountwest Community and Technical College  (MCTC – formerly Marshall University Community College) and the inland waterways industry.