W.R. Coles and Associates

Ron Coles, P.E. is Principal of W.R. Coles and Associates (WRCA). He founded the firm to focus on inland river port projects and has dedicated over 28 years of his 38-year career to this work. He has completed 191 port projects in 24 states. His services have included statewide port inventories and needs assessments; waterborne component for state freight plans; maritime freight trends; market trend analyses; strategic planning; port/industrial park master plans; planning and design of river ports and terminals; port operations; transportation logistics studies; economic feasibility studies; environmental assessments; and construction phase services. He recently worked on a project to provide policy advice to the Ohio Governor’s office regarding maritime issues, is on the team which has just been selected to assess the economic impact of Ohio River commerce on the State of Ohio, is currently providing advice to a local port authority on negotiating its port operating agreement and is working on a River Port Master Plan in Illinois.

In 2016, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works appointed Ron to be Commissioner, US Section, World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC). He is a contributing author to PIANC’s 2014 international publication Masterplans for the Development of Existing Ports, and PIANC’s 2019 publication Masterplans for the Development of Greenfield Ports. Ron is a Past President of IRPT and has served as President of several other national and related organizations. He is registered as a professional engineer in several states.  

Please learn more here or contact IRPT Member:

Ron Coles, P.E., Principal
P.O. Box 159266
Nashville, TN 37215
(615) 594-1576
ron@wrcoles.com