American Commercial Lines Accelerates Organic
Growth Initiatives; Opens Houston, Texas
Headquarters for its Liquids Transportation Division

        JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind., April 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- American Commercial Lines Inc. ("ACL" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: ACLI) announced today it is accelerating several organic growth initiatives designed to pull more freight onto the inland waterways system for barge transportation. Barge transportation is the lowest cost, cleanest, safest and most fuel efficient mode of transportation in the U.S. and is currently estimated to be operating at 50% of capacity.  Commenting on these initiatives, Mark R. Holden, President and CEO, stated, "We are seeing progress on the demand side of our business in winning more freight for our transportation division and in improving our asset utilization. As a result, we are accelerating certain aspects of our strategy to foster organic growth, including:

    -- Establishing the Headquarters of our liquids transportation division in
       Houston, Texas.

    -- Increasing our liquid tank barge capacity by over 15% during 2008 with
       the addition of 30 new 30,000 barrel capacity tank barges, totaling
       approximately $75 million in capital expenditures.

    -- Accelerating our dry cargo barge retirements as a result of improved
       asset utilization by retiring an additional 200 units, bringing the
       total number of retirements during the 15 month period to over 500
       units, or 20% of our dry cargo fleet and canceling over 100 dry cargo
       barges that were to be built during 2008 for our transportation
       division.


    Given the success to date on both the demand side and the supply side of our business, we are very encouraged with our strategic direction. Over the course of the next few years, we would expect to significantly change our portfolio mix of commodities. During 2006, our transportation revenues
were comprised of 32% grain, 28% bulk, 24% liquids, 8% coal and 8% steel. We would like to see our mix of business as 40% liquids, 20% coal, 20% bulk, 10% grain, 5% steel and reserve 5% of our capacity for emerging markets. We have worked very hard over the past few years to position the
Company for growth. We have the best safety record in the industry and a new and reconditioned liquid tank barge fleet which compares very nicely to the industry in both condition and age. In addition, we are operating in the market with scheduled barge service which provides shippers with
'on-time' service. Our strategy's success to date will ultimately allow us to haul more freight with fewer barges."

    American Commercial Lines Inc., headquartered in Jeffersonville, Indiana, is an integrated marine transportation and service company operating in the United States Jones Act trades, with annual revenues of more than $940 million as of December 31, 2006. For more information about ACL generally, visit http://www.aclines.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements     This release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on management's present expectations and beliefs about future events. As with any projection or forecast, these statements are inherently susceptible to risks, uncertainty and changes in
circumstance. Important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and should be considered in evaluating the outlook of American Commercial Lines Inc. Risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in American Commercial Lines Inc.'s and its subsidiaries' filings with the SEC, including the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 filed by American Commercial Lines Inc. American Commercial Lines Inc. is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward- looking statements, whether as a result of changes, new information, subsequent events or otherwise.