Black Oil Tank Barges News

Kirby Corporation announced the purchase of the stock of Coastal Towing, Inc., the owner of 37 inland black oil tank barges, for approximately $19.3m. Kirby has been operating the Coastal tank barges since October 2002 under a barge management agreement. Leasing, LLC for $15m in cash. Kirby has been leasing the barges since 1994 when the leases were assigned to Kirby as part of Kirby's purchase of the tank barge fleet of The Dow Chemical Company. Both the Coastal and the Cypress purchases were financed through Kirby's $250 million revolving credit facility. Kirby also confirmed its 2006 fourth quarter earnings per share guidance of $.40 to $.45 and 2006 year guidance of $1.74 to $1.79.

Kirby Corporation has signed a contract with Trinity Industries, Inc. for the construction of 16 double-hull, 30,000 barrel capacity, inland black oil tank barges. Kirby plans to take delivery of seven of the tank barges in 2003 and nine in the first half of 2004. The total purchase price of the 16 barges is approximately $29 million, with an estimated $12.6 million to be expended in 2003 and $16.4 million in 2004. Under the terms of the contract, Kirby has an option for the construction of 16 additional 30,000 barrel capacity black oil tank barges. In October 2002, Kirby entered into a barge management agreement with Coastal Towing, Inc. ("Coastal") to manage 54 black oil tank barges owned by Coastal, along with the 66 barges Kirby operates in its black oil fleet.

Kirby Corp. signed an asset purchase agreement with Coastal Towing, Inc. to purchase from Coastal seven black oil tank barges and 13 inland towboats. The transaction, estimated at $17.1 million in cash, is being financed through Kirby's operating cash flow and available credit under Kirby's bank revolving credit agreement. Kirby and Coastal have also entered into a Barge Management Agreement whereby Kirby will serve as manager of the combined black oil tank barge fleet, which will include Coastal's 51 remaining barges and Kirby's 65 barges, for a period of seven years. In a related transaction, on September 25, 2002, Kirby purchased from Coastal three black oil tank barges for $1.8 million in cash.

Kirby Corporation announced the signing of an asset purchase agreement with Coastal Towing, Inc. ("Coastal") to purchase from Coastal seven black oil tank barges and 13 inland towboats. The transaction, estimated at $17.1 million in cash, is being financed through Kirby's operating cash flow and available credit under Kirby's bank revolving credit agreement. Kirby and Coastal have also entered into a Barge Management Agreement whereby Kirby will serve as manager of the combined black oil tank barge fleet, which will include Coastal's 51 remaining barges and Kirby's 65 barges, for a period of seven years. In a related transaction, on September 25, Kirby purchased from Coastal three black oil tank barges for $1.8 million in cash.