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Penn Maritime News

28 May 2019

Kirby’s Secret Sauce

Image Credit: Kirby Corporation

Another year; another major fleet takeover by Kirby Corporation. But the leader of the inland tank-barge sector is not growing for growth’s sake: a deeper look at the numbers shows a disciplined strategy at work.“Kirby is definitely the big gorilla in the inland barge market,” affirmed Jefferies analyst Randy Giveans. Indeed, Houston-headquartered Kirby Corp has been extremely active buying fleets over the past few years, most recently acquiring the 63 tank barges of Cenac Marine in March for $244 million.

07 Jul 2014

Demand for Coastal and Transoceanic ATBs Grows

Along the way, ATBs gain speed, efficiency, safety – and popularity. Operators of articulated tugs and barges, or ATBs, say they like the maneuverability, weather reliability, stability, speed of these units, and the manner in which the tug pushes the barge. As a marine transportation concept, they can also simply be described as versatile. ATBs move petroleum, chemicals, coal, grain, containerized cargo and rail cars for customers on the U.S. coasts, rivers, the Great Lakes and overseas. As a result, demand for articulated units expanded in the last two decades with new technology.

27 Sep 2013

Kirby Corp. CEO Joe Pyne is "No Ordinary Joe"

“Companies are successful because you have a bunch of people pulling their oars at the same time. They do the little things more right.  That requires everybody working to make it successful.”

When Joseph H. Pyne joined Dixie Carriers in 1978, little did he know the maritime juggernaut he would help to create. When he took over as president in 1984, the company owned about 20 boats and 50 barges, with a value of about $35m. Today, after nearly 30 years, 50 acquisitions, it has a market cap well in excess of $4B, and its fleet hovers around 350 boats and 950 barges, commanding approximately 35% of the U.S. market. Joseph H. Pyne, 65, recently spent some time with Maritime…

06 May 2013

Cape Fear Federal Pilots Launch New Boat

New Cape Fear Pilot Boat: Image courtesy of Pilot Service

Cape Fear federal pilot launches its first pilot boat and welcomes its latest customer, US Shipping Corp. After years of using a hired launch vessel for boarding ATB's, tugs and ships at the entrance to the Cape Fear River, the Cape Fear Federal Pilots recently launched its first pilot vessel. River pilot Tony McNeill, who operates the pilotage service for the Port of Wilmington NC for U.S. The boat is Boston Whaler Challenger that Tony has had for a couple of years but has waited for the appropriate time to put it to work. Pilot McNeill informs that In addition to the new boat, U.S.

31 Jan 2013

Kirby Announces 4Q & 2012 Year Financials

Kirby Corporation today announced net earnings attributable to Kirby for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2012 of $57.9 million, or $1.03 per share, compared with $56.2 million, or $1.00 per share, for the 2011 fourth quarter. Revenues for the 2012 fourth quarter were $512.6 million compared with $550.1 million for the 2011 fourth quarter. Joe Pyne, Kirby's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Our fourth quarter results benefited from higher demand and favorable pricing in our coastal marine transportation markets, as well as a contribution from our two fourth quarter coastal acquisitions. We were also able to manage through the Mississippi River System's low water issues and Hurricane Sandy with only an estimated $.02 to $.03 per share negative impact.

21 Dec 2012

Changes to Kirby Corp. Board

C. Berdon Lawrence retires from Board after 13 years of service, William M. Waterman, former President of Penn Maritime, elected to Board. Kirby Corporation, based in Houston, Texas, is the nation's largest domestic tank barge operator, transporting bulk liquid products throughout the Mississippi River System, the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, coastwise along all three United States coasts and in Alaska and Hawaii. Mr. Lawrence is retiring to devote more time to family and other business interests, having served as Chairman of the Board of Kirby from October 1999 to April 2010 and has served as Chairman Emeritus of the Kirby Board since April 2010. Mr. Lawrence was the founder and former President of Hollywood Marine, Inc. an inland tank barge company acquired by Kirby in October 1999.

17 Dec 2012

Kirby Complete Penn Maritime Takeover

Kirby Corporation completes the acquisition of Penn Maritime Inc. & Maritime Investments LLC, US operators of tank barges and tugboats. Penn's fleet, comprised of 18 double-hulled tank barges with a capacity of 1.9 million barrels and 16 tugboats, operates along the East Coast and Gulf Coast of the United States. Penn's tank barge fleet has an average age of approximately 13 years with a product mix that consists primarily of refinery feedstocks, asphalt and crude oil. Penn's customers include major oil companies and refiners, nearly all of whom are current Kirby customers for inland tank barge services. Kirby Corporation, based in Houston…

28 Nov 2012

Kirby to Acquire Barge & Tankship Operator Penn Maritime

Kirby Corporation (Kirby) has signed an agreement to acquire Penn Maritime Inc. (Penn) and Maritime Investments LLC. Penn Maritime is an operator of tank barges and tugboats participating in the coastal transportation of primarily black oil products in the United States. The total value of the transaction is approximately $295 million (before post-closing adjustments and transaction fees) and will consist of cash, Kirby common stock and the retirement of Penn's debt. Penn operates a fleet of 18 heated, double-hulled tank barges, with a capacity of 1.9 million barrels, and 16 tugboats along the East Coast and Gulf Coast of the United States.

19 Nov 2009

Edoc Systems Remains Healthy in Sour Economy

For Victoria marine enterprise software developers Edoc Systems Group, the past years economic storm has been more about riding calm winds and following seas. They are expanding and hiring while others in the software industry have been retrenching and shedding staff. Edoc moved into their current location in the heritage Hartwig Court two years ago and have already outgrown the current space. On the strength of new business, they are in the last stages of hiring additional software developers to join the team of 18 Victoria and Vancouver based existing staff. In the past month, they have hired a new marketing and communications coordinator, and are in the process of renovating additional space, taking over an adjacent 600 sq ft store-front.

16 Jul 2008

Skipjack En Route to West Coast

(Photo Credit:  Lawson Hitt/Thoma-Sea)

Penn Maritime's newest vessel, Skipjack, is currently en-route from the builder, Thoma-Sea Boatbuilder, on the Gulf coast to the west coast. It is pushing a new 90,000 barrel tank-barge. A sister ship is expected to deliver from the same yard in October this year. These are a part of Penn's five boat order from the yard.

09 May 2008

First of Five ATBs Nearing Completion at Penn Maritime

With delays in getting parts for the assembly there was a hold up in the delivery of the first of Penn Maritime’s new tugs from Thoma-Sea Boatbuilders. Now the first of five, M/V Skipjack, is nearing completion and will deliver in May. In a near assembly-line production process the second vessel, M/V Coho, will launch sometime in May and deliver in August. The other tugs are already taking shape and will follow on a regular schedule. Following its delivery the Skipjack will travel to New Orleans to meet up with a 90,000-barrel barge that will come down from its builders at Corn Island Shipyard on the Ohio River in Indiana. Cummins QSK60 engines turning 104 by 112-inch skewed props in Nautican Nozzles with shutter rudders power the 4000 hp Penn tugs. The coupling system is a JAK-400.

12 Oct 2001

ATB Designer Preps For New Release

Ocean Tug & Barge Engineering Corp., is one of the most experienced designers of Articulated Tug/Barge (ATB) units in the marine industry, boasting more than 20 years of experience in the design and engineering of ATBs for ocean and coastwise service. As one of the original co-inventors of the INTERCON tug/barge connection system, as well as having engineered the application of other connection systems to many tugs and barges, such as Bludworth, Bark River, and Articouple, the firm has unmatched real-world experience in ATB design. Because ATBs are the firm's focus, it's vast experience in model testing, FEA, transport studies, and contract design enables OT&BE Corp. to apply real-world knowledge gained aboard actual, operating vessels of its' design.

04 Sep 2003

Manitowoc Gets Hot Oil Tug Barge Contract

The Manitwoc Company, Inc. and its subsidiary, Bay Shipbuilding Co., part of Manitowoc’s Marine Group, has been granted a contract from Penn Maritime, Inc. to build an ocean-class tug and a 140,000-barrel, double-hull hot oil barge. The contract also permits Penn to purchase a second tug/barge combination within 120 days. With the barge to measure 480 x 78 x 36.5 ft. (146.3 x 23.7 x 11.1 m) and equipped with a system of heating coils to maintain cargo temperatures at or above 135 degrees F, the 6,000-hp tug will boast measurements of 123 x 38 ft. An Intercon coupler will link both vessels into a 564-ft. overall length unit that will be ABS, U.S. Coast Guard and OPA-90 compliant. The unit is scheduled for delivery by December 2004.

30 Sep 2003

Manitowoc to Build Oil Barges for Moran

The Manitowoc Company, Inc. through its subsidiary, Bay Shipbuilding Co., part of Manitowoc's Marine Group, has been awarded a contract from Moran Towing Corporation to build two ocean-class, double-hull, hot oil tank barges. The first barge is scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2004, and the second in the second quarter of 2005. Other contract terms were not disclosed. Each of the 110,000-barrel capacity barges will measure 425 feet in length by 78 feet in width and will be configured with 10 cargo compartments serviced by three diesel-driven, deep-well cargo pumps. The barges will also feature a stern notch and an Intercon coupling system, which will link the units to customer-supplied tugs.

01 Oct 2003

Bay Shipbuilding Picks ATB Design

Stamford, CT. Tug/Barge design. 12-710G main engines, for a total of 6,000 BHP. barges. Robert P. any connection system, yet was simple to build and outfit. smaller, and able to be built in fewer man-hours. issues. about to be contracted. Two others are to be built overseas. Transportation of Norfolk, VA, and Exxon-Mobil Corp. through monitoring the operation of the parent design. systems. Hill. Lakes AT/B tug "DOROTHY ANN" with Bay. Exxon-Mobil unit, designed by CT Marine, was also built there. customers and vendors. have one of our new designs in their fleet.", said Hill. back in 1994.

12 Nov 2003

News: Bay Shipbuilding Picks ATB Design

Ocean Tug & Barge Engineering Corp.'s new Atlantic III ATB ocean tugboat design was selected by Bay Shipbuilding Corp., a unit of Manitowoc Corp., for construction as the powered portion of a new articulated tug barge (ATB) the yard will build for Penn Maritime, of Stamford, Conn. The 140,000 bbl capacity heated ocean tank barge, will be handled by the latest tug design from Ocean Tug & Barge Engineering Corp., a long established firm whose focus is ATB design. The new tug, equipped with the Intercon connection system, measures 123 x 38-ft., and is powered by twin EMD 12-710G main engines, for a total of 6,000 bhp. The tug will also be built to fit the notches of Penn's other Intercon ATB barges. Robert P.

10 Feb 2004

Profile: Company Focus: Staying Connected with INTERCON

The Intercon Coupler System is designed to provide a safe and efficient solution to the problems of connecting tugs and barges in ocean and coastwise pushing operations. Principal benefits include the ability to push in the widest range of sea states; the complete elimination of hull contact; fail-safe mechanical connection with redundant controls, and elimination of the expense and hazards of towing lines and related equipment. In simplest form, the patented Intercon System provides a single degree of freedom allowing the tug to pitch about a transverse connection between the tug and barge. All other motions are restrained so that tug motions match barge motions in roll and heave.

13 Apr 2004

Coastal Marine Awarded Contract

Coastal Marine Equipment Inc. has been awarded a contract to provide the deck machinery for the Penn Maritime ATB (tug & barge) being constructed at Bay Shipbuilding (Manitowoc Marine Group) in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. Equipment for the 140,000 barrel barge includes the 2-3/16 in. stud link anchor windlass with soft rope mooring drum; three double drum wire rope mooring winches; and three 24 in. mooring capstans. All equipment is electrically driven and provided with variable frequency drives for multiple speed operation. The tug will be fitted with a 36" hydraulic capstan and 60 HP electro-hydraulic power unit.

12 May 2004

Deck Machinery

Research Winches for R/V Maria S. Seven special winches were supplied by Hatlapa in December 2003 after being tested and demonstrated in the factory. These winches are intended for the new research vessel Maria S. Merian, which will support the vessel Polarstern during operations in the Arctic. Hatlapa has escorted this project for five years, during which time the design of the winches was formed in close cooperation with the order principal BAW (Bundesanstalt für Wasserbau) and the shipyard Krögerwerft in Rendsburg. One specialty is the combination of friction and storage winch for handling the very long and relatively thin measuring cables. The advantage is that the sensitive and expensive research ropes can be spooled on the storage winch free from load.

05 Apr 2002

Double Skin is In

The movement of petroleum products on the nation's rivers, lakes, bays and oceans is soon to be regulated of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. Called OPA 90, this regulation requires many bulk carriers of petroleum products to use double-hulled barges to haul their cargo by 2005 and all to be doubled hulled by 2015. Looking first at the large product tankers and crude oil carriers, 23 product carriers and 17 crude oil carriers must be double hulled by 2005, another 20 product carriers and 17 crude oil tankers need to be double hulled by 2010 and another 13 product and 9 crude oil ships need to meet OPA 90 by 2015. These conversions (or ship retirements) are a major issue impacting the ability of the U.S. to transport crude oil and its refined products.

08 May 2002

The GMD Group - A Young, Ambitious Team

Priding itself on its drydock capabilities in both New York and New Jersey, the GMD Group is comprised of a young, ambitious team of individuals, who work together to provide ship owners with the quickest turnaround possible on each job that comes into its yards. Comprised of GMD Shipyard in Brooklyn, N.Y., Bayonne Drydock & Repair Corp. in Bayonne, N.J. and JenMar Electric in Staten Island, N.Y., the parent company has all its bases covered in terms of full ship repair service for its clients, which range from cruise ship owners to local tug boat companies. Situated on a piece of New York history is GMD Shipyard, which is housed in Building #595 of the historical Brooklyn Navy Yard.

07 Dec 2004

Conrad Adds to Backlog

Conrad Industries, Inc. won contracts totaling $13.5 million to build two 300 x 60 x 24-ft. 35,000 Barrel Double Hulled Oil Tank Barges for Penn Maritime, Inc., and to repair, renovate and perform hull modifications to a riverboat casino to be operated in Mississippi. excess capacity at our Deepwater facility which helps us capitalize on our investment there. currently owns and operates 20 barges and 14 tugboats making Penn one of the largest U.S. transporters of residual oil and heated asphalt products. Subchapter D cargoes. Hancock County, Mississippi.

20 Jul 2005

MarAd Approves Four Applications

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) has approved four applications under Section 9 of the Shipping Act, 1916, as amended. Ø U.S. Bank National Association, Owner Trustee, Hartford, CT, has received approval to transfer the 57,075-gross-ton container vessel SEA-LAND INTEGRITY to Marshall Islands registry and flag without change in the ownership of said Vessel. The vessel was built in 1984 in Koje, Korea. Ø Penn Maritime, Inc., Stamford, CT, has received approval to sell the 1,542-gross-ton tank barge CHESAPEAKE to Maingral Investment, S.A., a British Virgin Island corporation, and transfer said Vessel to St. Kitts and Nevis registry and flag. The vessel was built in 1964 in Baltimore, MD.

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