Parker Towing News

At its meeting held November 6 in Paducah, Ky., the National Waterways Foundation (NWF) has re-elected the following Trustees:Cherrie Felder, Channel Shipyard CompaniesPeter H. Stephaich, Campbell Transportation CompanyH. Merritt Lane, Canal Barge CompanyClark Todd, Blessey MarineKristin Beck, LaFargeHolcimStephen SheridanThe NWF also elected the following new Trustees:Jennifer Carpenter, CEO, American Waterways OperatorsAndrew Brown, Vice President - Legal & Claims, Ingram Barge CompanyJason Nyberg…

Tuscaloosa, Ala.-based barging company Parker Towing Company on Tuesday announced it has acquired Baton Rouge, La.-based tank barge operator General Marine Services (GMS).GMS operates a fleet of liquid tank barges and towboats and provides services to customers in the refining industry. For Parker Towing the acquisition expands its tank barge division and fits into its strategy to continue to diversify and grow from a traditionally dry cargo carrier, the company said. “Gene Moore and GMS have a long-standing reputation of providing high-quality service to its customers.

Parker Towing, a barging company in the southeastern U.S., announced it has promoted three employees.Jeremy Headley has been promoted to Director of Sales. Prior to Parker Towing, he worked in barge sales and logistics in the marine industry and as Operations Manager and then General Manager for an environmental services company in Birmingham, Ala. He joined the Parker Towing Company sales team in 2016. As Director of Sales, Headley will continue to work closely with our sales…

At its Board of Trustees meeting held November 2 in St. Louis, the National Waterways Foundation (NWF) elected Matt Woodruff, Vice President of Public & Government Affairs, Kirby Corporation, as Chairman for a term expiring in 2023. He succeeds consultant Rick Calhoun as Chairman (2020-2021).The NWF, which develops the intellectual and factual arguments for an efficient, well-funded and secure inland waterways system, also elected the following Officers to serve one-year terms expiring in 2022President: *Tracy Zea…

C&C Marine and Repair has delivered the new towboat Olive Parker to Parker Towing Company. The vessel is the first the Belle Chasse, La. shipbuilder has built for the Tuscaloosa, Ala. based company.The 4,400-horsepower towboat measures 147.5’ x 34’ x 10’-9” with the pilot house eyeline measuring at 33’. The Olive Parker was constructed based on a collaborative design by Parker Towing Company and CT Marine, LLC, based in Portland, Maine. The vessel’s design includes two owner furnished CAT 3516B main engines…

Conrad Shipyard announced Thursday that it has delivered two 30,000 BBL asphalt barges to Parker Towing of Tuscaloosa, Ala.The PTC 2001 and PTC 2002 are each double skin 30,000 BBL capacity asphalt barges, measuring 297’-6” x 54’ x 12’. Each is outfitted with one (1) Volcanic thermal fluid heater unit rated for 8 million BTU; one 99kw John Deere generator; three Nabrico deck cranes; four Patterson 40-ton winches and a Bergan alarm system.The barges are designed to meet the requirements of a Type ll and lll hull design…

The Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) named Peter H. Stephaich, Chairman and CEO of Campbell Transportation Company, Inc. (Pittsburgh, PA), as its Chairman of the Board. Stephaich succeeds Tim Parker, President, Parker Towing Company (Tuscaloosa, AL), who served as WCI Chairman from 2016-2018.Stephaich has served the barge industry for more than 30 years in a number of key roles, as Past Chairman and Past Treasurer of the American Waterways Operators; Past Chairman and Trustee of the National Waterways Foundation…

2018 has been a busy year thus far, says Gulf of Mexico shipyard Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc. The Alabama shipbuilder, which announced reorganization plans in September 2017 amid insufficient revenues, says it is presently working on a steady stream of both new construction and repair projects. “Our continued production testifies to Horizon’s unwavering commitment to our customers, vendors and friends,” said Lance C. Lemcool, Horizon’s vice president. The yard’s 2018 new construction projects have included delivery of an 88’ bunker boat and a 25’ truckable towboat.

As its Annual Meeting and Board of Directors Meeting in Cincinnati on November 15, 2016, Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) named Tim Parker, President of Parker Towing, as its Chairman of the Board. Parker succeeds Merritt Lane, President and Chief Executive Officer, Canal Barge Company. Parker serves on the Board of Directors of Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc.; as Past Chairman of the Board of the Alabama State Port Authority; Past Member of the Inland Waterways Users Board…

American Commercial Lines (ACL) has been selected to serve as a representative on the Inland Waterways Users Board (IWUB), an advisory board established to monitor the Inland Waterways Trust Fund (Fund) and make recommendations to the Army Corps of Engineers and to Congress on investment priorities using resources from the Fund. Comprised of representatives of the barge transportation industry and the customers it serves, the IWUB provides input to help identify and prioritize investment in inland navigation infrastructure.

Richard R. (Rick) Calhoun, Cargo Carriers, Chairman; Cornel Martin, President & CEO; Merritt Lane, Canal Barge Line, Vice Chairman; Rodney Weinzierl, Illinois Corn Growers Association, Vice Chairman;  Matt Woodruff, Kirby Corporation, Counsel; Peter Stephaich, Campbell Transportation Company, Secretary; Cherrie Felder, Channel Shipyard Company, Treasurer. Dan Mecklenborg, Ingram Barge Line Co., was named Immediate Past Chairman, and Berdon Lawrence, Kirby Corporation and Mark Knoy, AEP River Operations, were named Honorary Past Chairmen. Named to At Large positions were Michael Hennessey, CONSOL Energy Co.; Tim Parker, Jr., Parker Towing Company; Stephen Little, Crounse Corporation; and Dale Roth, Carpenter’s District Council of Greater St. Louis and Vicinity.

At the Annual Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) Membership Meeting and Board of Directors Meeting held October 29 in St. Louis, the following officers and Executive Committee members were elected to serve or continue service for 2008-2009:  Dan Mecklenborg, Senior Vice President, HR & Chief Legal Officer, Ingram Barge Company, remains as Chairman of the Board; Cornel Martin, was elected President and CEO; Steve Little, President and CEO, Crounse Corporation, remains as General Counsel; Peter Stephaich, Chairman, Campbell Transportation Co., was re-elected Secretary; Cherrie Felder, Vice President, Channel Shipyard, remains as Treasurer. Former WCI President and CEO R. Barry Palmer was named President Emeritus. Also named to new terms as officers were Richard R.