Pittsburgh's Rivers are Now Wireless
Pittsburgh Business Times
7 June 2013
Malia Spencer, Reporter
Consol Energy Inc. and the Port of Pittsburgh Commission unveiled
a new Wireless Waterways system on Pittsburgh’s three rivers that
is meant to help river commerce and is part of a project meant to
serve as a testbed for a wider national system.
The Wireless Waterways system is a neutral wireless broadband
network that will connect all the different wireless systems that
are found along the rivers. The system of connected devices and
applications will help with river commerce, security, navigation,
tracking and operation of waterway sensors, according to a
statement released by Consol (NYSE: CNX)
The first use of the new system will be onboard Consol’s M/V
Safety Pledge, a part of the company’s river fleet, as well as
vessels owned by Campbell Transportation and the Gateway Clipper.
“More than 200,000 direct, indirect, and induced jobs in the
Pittsburgh region depend upon a healthy and vibrant waterways
system,” said James McCarville, executive director, the Port of
Pittsburgh Commission, in a written statement. “We have a very
real economic and human interest in improving the safety, security
and efficiency of our inland communications system and Pittsburgh
serves as a unique laboratory for this technology. I am encouraged
that WW (Wireless Waterways) will enable us to lay a strong
foundation for the future.”
For Consol the company described the new technology as a model for
other inland waterways.
“It also reinforces Consol Energy’s commitment to improving
standards and safety, and is an important advancement in employee
retention as it improves quality of life by providing our rivers
crews the opportunity to stay in contact with family and friends
while working on board the boat,” said Al Aloia, director of
Consol’s river operations, in a written statement.
The Wireless Waterways project is part of the Interoperability
Test Bed, which was started in 2012 with grants from Allegheny
County, Department of Homeland Security, and the Port of
Pittsburgh Commission.
Consol’s river division has 23 boats, 600 barges and 230
employees. The Wireless Waterways network was built by Conxx
Pennsylvania Inc.
Malia Spencer covers energy and technology. Contact her at
mspencer@bizjournals.com or 412-208-3829.