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Jeffboat News

25 Sep 2023

Interview: Dave Lee, Maritime Partners

Dave Lee, vice president of technology and innovation, Maritime Partners (Photo: Maritime Partners)

Dave Lee recently joined Louisiana-based maritime leasing and financing company Maritime Partners as its new vice president of technology and innovation. A well-known figure in the U.S. maritime sector, Lee has previously held leadership positions at ABB, American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL) and Jeffboat. His next task: help guide one of the nation’s leading maritime companies through the next chapter of technological advancement.“Right now, every marine company around the globe…

08 Aug 2023

Dave Lee Joins Maritime Partners as VP of Tech and Innovation

Dave Lee (File photo: ABB)

Dave Lee has joined Louisiana-based maritime leasing and financing company Maritime Partners as its new vice president of technology and innovation.Lee joins Maritime Partners from ABB, where he was most recently vice president of sales for the workboat sector. A 20-year maritime industry veteran, Lee has previously held leadership positions at American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL) and Jeffboat.

21 Sep 2022

ACBL Planning to Repurpose Jeffboat Site

File photo: A newly constructed barge is launched at the Jeffboat yard in Jeffersonville, Ind. (Photo: Jeffboat)

The city of Jeffersonville, Ind. announced plans are underway to redevelop the shuttered site of one of the nation’s oldest, largest and best-known inland shipbuilders.The city said it is working with the property's owner American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL) to develop a master plan for the 80-acre site along the Ohio Riverfront that was once home to Jeffboat. The southern Indiana shipyard was founded in the 1800s and served as one of Jeffersonville's largest employers until it shut down in 2018 amid a national slowdown in barge construction.As part of an agreement with ACBL…

08 Sep 2021

Ingram Re-christens Four Towboats

Honorees James Hamilton, Adolpho Birch, III, Kent Freeman and YS Chi (Photo: Ingram Marine Group)

Ingram Marine Group held a re-christening ceremony on August 30 for four towboats that are part of its inland waterways fleet."At Ingram, we name our vessels after Ingram associates and affiliates who have made a huge difference to our business, which makes these events an incredibly special time for all of us," said Orrin Ingram, Chairman of Ingram Barge Company and CEO of Ingram Industries. "I thank the four men being honored for all that they’ve done for Ingram and the marine industry at large…

14 May 2019

Interview: Mark Knoy, President and CEO, ACBL

Mark K. Knoy, president and CEO of American Commercial Barge Line

American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL) named Mark K. Knoy as its president and chief executive officer in August 2011. Prior to joining ACBL, he was vice president of American Electric Power’s (AEP) Fuel, Emissions and Logistics Group and president of AEP River Operations, having joined AEP with its 2001 purchase of MEMCO Barge Line. From 1984 to 1994, he was owner/operator of The Mark Twain Towing Company and Delmar Marine, Inc., Pekin, Illinois. He began his career in 1973 working aboard towboats on the inland waterways as a deck hand and then as a captain.

26 Mar 2018

Jeffboat Announces Plant Closure

Jeffboat announced this morning the pending closure of its shipyard operations in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Following recent Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) notices of November 1, 2017 and February 1, 2018 announcing layoffs, Jeffboat president and CEO Mark Knoy said they will finish construction of barges around the first of May. Following the closure, Jeffboat will be reviewing the best alternative uses for the 65 acres of riverfront property currently occupied by the shipyard. Over an 80 year history here in Jeffersonville, Jeffboat’s skilled workers have built 12,900 vessels. The majority of these vessels were towboats and barges that deliver cargoes throughout the inland river system.

20 Feb 2018

Ports of Indiana: Building on Success

(Photo: Ports of Indiana)

The Ports of Indiana is a statewide port authority, established in 1963, which operates three ports: two on the Ohio River, one on Lake Michigan. Port officials refer to the three as “America’s Premier Inland Port System.” They cite location, location, location, providing access via two critical freight arteries – the Great Lakes and the Inland Waterway System and proximity to the world’s most productive industrial and agricultural regions. The Ports is the only statewide port authority in the Midwest.

06 Sep 2017

MARAD Awards $9.8 Mln to US Shipyards

© wi6995 / Adobe Stock

Aiming to support shipbuilding modernizations that will increase productivity and allow U.S. shipyards to compete more effectively in global markets, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) has awarded $9.8 million to 18 U.S. yards through its Small Shipyard Grant Program. “Small shipyards play a significant role in our country’s maritime sector, which contributes to our economy, security, and infrastructure,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.

13 May 2016

Vane Bros. Continues Fleet Expansion

Hudson (Photo: Vane Brothers)

Vane Brothers, a marine transportation provider headquartered in Baltimore, has added two vessels to its fleet: the 4,200-horsepower tugboat Hudson and 55,000‐barrel barge Double Skin 601. The Hudson is the second of eight vessels in Vane’s Elizabeth Anne Class of 4,200‐horsepower tugboats contracted through St. Johns Ship Building in Palatka, Fla. The Elizabeth Anne was delivered in January, while the third in the series, the Baltimore, is scheduled for completion this summer.

01 Feb 2016

Driving the Inland Waterways

Propulsion evolves, improves and powers forward in the inland markets. And, Z-Drive propulsion is the future. In a white paper released late in 2014 by The Shearer Group, Ed Shearer and Greg Beers outlined The Next Generation of inland vessels, what will drive design changes and the advantages of azimuthing stern drives – or ‘Z-Drives,’ for short. The authors point out that, until recently, towboats on all the inland waterways and Gulf Coast have traditionally been built using main engines connected to reduction gearboxes connected to long drive shafts passing through the towboat hull. In a nutshell, according The Shearer Group, the advantages of using z-Drives on inland towboats include decreased installation time…

25 Jun 2014

INTERVIEW: U.S. Maritime Administration - Paul N. Jaenichen, Sr.

On June 4 2012, Deputy Maritime Administrator Paul “Chip” Jaenichen was named Acting Maritime Administrator. With the U.S. Maritime Administration since July 2012 when he was appointed Deputy Maritime Administrator by President Obama, Jaenichen would no doubt like to be confirmed as the Administrator; sooner, rather than later. Nevertheless, he’s not letting any grass grow under his feet in the meantime. Beyond this, the affable Jaenichen has rejuvenated an arguably ineffective Marad organization that had in recent years drifted aimlessly without strong leadership. With enthusiasm and a genuine passion for the domestic maritime industry, he has once again put Marad squarely in the conversation even as the collective U.S.

08 Apr 2014

AEP Barges into the Liquid Transport Markets

Answering the needs of longstanding clients, bulk transport giant AEP dips its toes into the liquid transport arena. AEP River Operations needs no introduction for most MarineNews readers. One of the true river giants operating on America’s domestic inland waters today, AEP is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, and is primarily known as a barge company that provides transportation of dry bulk commodities throughout the inland river system. AEP River Operations is owned by American Electric Power, one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity to more than 5.3 million customers in 11 states. The current AEP fleet includes more than 79 towboats ranging up to 11,000 horsepower and more than 2,900 hopper barges, moving more than 65 million tons annually.

08 Apr 2014

Editor's Note

Even if, as Marcon International’s Bob Beagle says, barges are the workhorses of the towing industry, then the pushboats that propel the 38,000 (documented and undocumented) deck, hopper, tank, crane and miscellaneous purpose barges to their destinations are the heart and soul of the most efficient – and greenest – means to move cargo known to man. This month, we take a close look at what’s developing for both types of hulls; in terms of design, markets, boatbuilding and everything else in between. There’s something happening on all fronts. The second quarter of 2014 finds North American shipyards and the service and manufacturing sectors that support them still roaring along. But, it’s not just production – it’s also about innovation.

31 Jan 2014

New Tank Barge Arrives & AEP Begins River Transport

Barges in the Gulf: Photo courtesy of AEP River Operations

AEP River Operations say they have began operations of its new Liquids Division today with receipt of the first of 20 tank barges. The addition of tank barges to the company's fleet will allow them to transport liquid commodities, including petrochemicals and agricultural chemicals. The company informs that its liquid barge fleet is being constructed by Jeffboat, based in Jeffersonville, Ind. Each barge will have a capacity of 11,000 barrels and measure 200 feet long and 35 feet wide, with external frames, 6-pound press tank tops, vapor recovery and Tier III John Deere engines.

26 Jul 2013

MARAD Grant Small Shipbuilders Funding Support

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announce US$9.46-million to help improve 12 shipyards in 10 states. The grants, provided through the Small Shipyard Grant Program, foster efficiency and modernizations that allow shipyards to compete more effectively in the global marketplace. Acting Maritime Administrator Paul ‘Chip’ Jaenichen made the announcement at Jeffboat, LLC, one of the grant recipients, located in Jeffersonville, Indiana. “Improvements at our shipyards mean more ships can be built right here in the United States, which means more jobs for hard-working Americans,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.

24 Jul 2013

MARAD Announces $9.46 Million Shipyard Grant

Paul Jaenichen (Photo: MARAD)

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced $9.46 million to help improve 12 shipyards in 10 states. The grants, provided through the Small Shipyard Grant Program, foster efficiency and modernizations that allow shipyards to compete more effectively in the global marketplace. Acting Maritime Administrator Paul ‘Chip’ Jaenichen made the announcement at Jeffboat, LLC, one of the grant recipients, located in Jeffersonville, Indiana. “Improvements at our shipyards mean more ships can be built right here in the United States…

25 Feb 2013

Commercial Barge Line Company Announces Results

Company announces offering of $650 million senior secured term loan. Commercial Barge Line Company  announced results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2012. For the year, the Company reported total revenues of $811.6 million and Adjusted EBITDAR of $232.1 million. Compared to 2011 results, revenues declined $41.4 million, or 4.9%, while Adjusted EBITDAR improved by $57.8 million, or 33.2%. For the quarter, total revenues were $207.9 million compared to $244.5 million in 2011 and Adjusted EBITDAR was $62.8 million compared to $60.3 million in 2011. Commenting on the results, Mark Knoy, President and Chief Executive Officer…

31 Jan 2013

ACL to Haul for SeaRiver Maritime

American Commercial Lines Will Transport Petroleum Products by Inland Barge for SeaRiver Maritime Inc. American Commercial Lines (ACL) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with SeaRiver Maritime Inc., a marine affiliate of Exxon Mobil Corporation, to provide petroleum barge transportation services on the U.S. inland waterways. As of January 1, 2013, ACL has entered into a multi-year agreement with SeaRiver to transport liquid cargoes via its mainline service and in unit tows. "We look forward to partnering with SeaRiver to transport ExxonMobil cargoes on the inland waterways," Mark Knoy, President and Chief Executive Officer of ACL, stated.

19 Dec 2012

ACL to Begin Transporting Canadian Crude Oil

American Commercial Lines (ACL) is pleased to announce that it will begin transporting crude oil by barge on the U.S. inland waterways for MEG Energy (U.S.) Inc. (MEG Energy), a subsidiary of the Canadian oil company MEG Energy Corp. Crude oil will arrive primarily via pipeline and will be transferred to barges at storage terminals located on the inland waterways for transport by ACL to the Gulf Coast. ACL is dedicating new tank barges built by its manufacturing division Jeffboat into service for MEG Energy, as well as towboats newly repowered and refurbished for maximum efficiency and reliability. "We are committed to providing MEG Energy with the highest quality equipment and the highest level of service by our team of experienced and dedicated maritime professionals…

16 Apr 2012

ACL Adds Eight Tank Barges

American Commercial Lines Expands Liquid Cargo Fleet With Purchase of Eight 20,000 Barrel Capacity Tank Barges. American Commercial Lines (ACL) today announced the purchase of eight 20,000 barrel capacity tank barges from SeaRiver Maritime Inc., a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation. The purchase will expand ACL's fleet of 325 tank barges, which transport liquid cargoes, including chemicals, petroleum and renewable fuels throughout the U.S. inland waterway system. The company operates the nation's second largest tank barge fleet and the third largest dry cargo fleet. "This expansion of our fleet enables us to meet shippers' needs for mid-range capacity tank barges and underscores ACL's long-term commitment to our liquids business…

13 Jun 2011

ACL Launches First in Tanker Barge Series

American Commercial Lines Inc. announced that it launched the first in a series of tanker barges to be constructed at its Jeffboat manufacturing facility through 2012 to replace retiring fleet capacity. The new barges will improve the age profile and quality of ACL's fleet. The first of these barges, launched on Tuesday, May 10 by ACL's President and CEO Mike Ryan, was a clean service tanker with a capacity of 30,000 barrels. It includes a redesigned stainless steel piping system and a new radial rake design that will also be found on the tankers the Company plans to build over the next 20 months. "We are excited to have launched the first of the new replacement tankers that we will be building this year and next to significantly improve the quality of our liquids fleet for our customers…

17 May 2010

ACL Statement Re Fatality

"This has been a very difficult week for all of us at Jeffboat. Thursday afternoon an industrial accident occurred at Jeffboat resulting in the fatality of one of our employees, David Martin. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and co-workers during this difficult time," Ken Martin, VP & GM of Jeffboat, said. Martin added, "We have a talented and experienced work force. Together, labor and management work to reduce and eliminate risk in the yard. These tragic events are a sobering reminder that, even with the best safety plan and the best employees, it is extremely difficult to totally eliminate risk.

22 Dec 2009

Jeffboat Safety Milestone

American Commercial Lines Inc. (NASDAQ: ACLI) (ACL) announced that on December 15, its Manufacturing Division, Jeffboat, accomplished the safety milestone of working two million hours without a lost time injury (an injury requiring time off from work) for the first time in its more than 70 years of operation. The shipyard has reached one million hours worked without a lost time injury twice in its history, most recently in June 2009. While Jeffboat has continually decreased injuries since 2004, it continues to implement new safety programs, including providing additional training to employees and conducting detailed investigations to identify root causes of injuries and implement corrective actions. Jeffboat and Teamsters Local Union No.

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