Barge Co News

The world has radically changed since towboat captain Terry Hall boarded his vessel late last month in Wood River, Illinois, for his four-week shift hauling bargeloads of crude oil, chemicals, scrap metal and other goods up and down the Mississippi River.His employer, Canal Barge Co, has beefed up pre-board health screenings for all crew to include a temperature check and disclosures about recent travel and personal interactions in response to the coronavirus pandemic.Any disruption…

The U.S. Coast Guard said it has green lighted a transit plan for the damaged tug Samson Mariner to head south from Ketchikan, Alaska for repairs in Seattle. The vessel departed on Tuesday accompanied by an escort tug.   Samson Mariner was damaged and spilled approximately 1,100 gallons of fuel when it ran aground on February 15 while towing a barge near Rosa Reef in north Tongass Narrows, Alaska.   No sheen or further pollution has been reported.   The barge, St Elias, received temporary repairs in Ketchikan. The Coast Guard approved a plan for a tug owned by Brusco Tug & Barge Co to tow St Elias and continue to Dutch Harbor. Permanent repairs will be made when St Elias returns to Seattle.

The Ports of Indiana handled nearly 3.9 million tons of cargo during the fourth quarter of 2016, the highest quarterly shipment total in the organization's 55-year history. The total surpassed the ports' previous quarterly record set in the second quarter of 2015 by 300,000 tons. The state's three ports' shipped nearly 11.3 million tons in 2016, the second highest volume in history and the third consecutive year the ports exceeded 10 million tons annually. Since 2014, the Ports of Indiana has handled 34 million tons of cargo, the highest three-year total since Indiana's ports opened. Major cargoes included coal, steel, grain, fertilizer and limestone.

Consolidated Grain and Barge Co. (CGB) announced plans today to expand its operations at the Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon, investing more than $31 million to increase its soybean processing capabilities in southwest Indiana. “Indiana is a state known around the world for building things and growing things, and because CGB plays a key role in both, this soybean processor is helping advance our economy,” said Governor Mike Pence. “After processing soybeans in southwest Indiana for nearly twenty years, CGB knows firsthand the benefits of operating in a state that works for business. CGB’s processing plant was constructed in 1997, at that time processing 65,000 bushels of soybeans each day into soybean meal, soybean oil and soy hull pellets for both food and industrial uses.

A Real-Life Study in Creative Vessel Financing, or What Happens When Plan ‘A’ Is Not Working. Much has been written on the various structures and approaches that can be used to finance the construction and purchase of vessels. Such articles typically speak in general terms, presenting what might be called the textbook version of the approach under consideration. But what happens when reality rears its ugly head, and forces the deal to leave the well-marked channel and to venture into uncharted waters?

Crowley Marine Services, Inc. has sold a second sister-tug of the Point Class to Island Tug & Barge Co., Marcon International, Inc. reported. The sale of the ABS +A1, Towing, +AMS classed, 2,100BHP shallow draft ocean towing / push tug Pt. Oliktok mirrors the transaction which Marcon brokered in 2013 between the two parties on the sister vessel ex-Pt. Barrow. The three Point Class sister-tugs were specifically designed and built to work in the Arctic, where Crowley needed vessels…

Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc., Bayou La Batre, AL, has delivered the fourth in a series of 74’ towboats to Canal Barge Company, Inc. of New Orleans, LA. The Jane Merrick is 74’ long with a 32’6” beam and an 8’6” draft. Designed by Marine Design, Inc. of Gulf Breeze, Florida, the vessel is capable of pushing fully loaded fuel barges at 10 knots. Its 2000 horsepower is provided by Cummins K38M, tier II 12 cylinder marine propulsion engines, and drives 74” Kahlenberg propellers through Reintjes WAF 562 reduction gears. There are comfortable accommodations for six personnel plus the Captain.

American Commercial Lines presented Marine Environmental Stewardship Awards on Wednesday, July 16 in Houston, Texas, recognizing 35 customers for safe handling of chemicals, petroleum products and other liquid cargos. The customers recognized by ACL safely handled over two billion gallons of chemicals, petroleum products and other liquid cargoes with the barge transportation company in 2013. Recipients of the award are: Axiall Corporation; BASF Corporation; Bayer Corporation; Bunge North America…

Ingram Barge Company announced today that Orrin H. Ingram is the new Chief Executive Officer of the company, succeeding Craig Philip who is retiring effective June 30, 2014. Ingram has been the Chairman of Ingram Barge Co. since 1998. He also is the President and CEO of the barge company’s parent company, Ingram Industries Inc. “Craig’s valuable guidance has played an integral part in the success of the barge company during his 28 years with Ingram,” Orrin Ingram said. “Craig led the transformation of our marine group…

Marcon International, Inc. of Coupeville, Washington says that Pacific Coast Maritime, Inc., Seattle, Washington, a subsidiary of Harley Marine Services, Seattle, has concluded the sale of its 240’ ABS ocean deck barge “HML 240-2” (ex-Aqua 242, MK-242, Foss 242) to Island Tug & Barge Co. also of Seattle. Marcon International explain that the 240’ x 60’x 16’ flat deck barge was originally built by Todd Shipyards Corp. of Houston, Texas for Foss Maritime in 1967, and acquired by Pacific Coast Maritime, Inc. in 2000 as the “Aqua 242”.

Designed by Jensen Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, and built by the Great Lakes Shipyard of Cleveland, Ohio a 74-foot workboat is quickly making a name for itself; in and out of the water. The “HandySize” Class Tug was designed to fill the niche between the 2,400 to 3,200 HP market for harbor workboats, fireboats, and construction operations and coastal towing, too. The Tug model 2800 is powered by two Cummins QSK38,1400HP diesel engines rated at 1800 rpm, providing a total of 2,800 HP – or in order words, just right for those niche tasks assigned to a Great Lakes workboat.

Following execution of a Letter of Intent (LOI) by EXMAR with LNG Partners, LLC and LNG BargeCo BVBA for the long-term charter of a floating liquefaction and storage unit (FLSU) to serve the BC LNG Project near Kitimat, British Columbia, Canada, EXMAR and LNG Partners announced today that they have taken a number of additional steps to solidify their alliance. As a focal point for the alliance, the two companies have invested in a joint venture company appropriately named Marching Prospect Limited. The new company will acquire interests in the BC LNG Project upstream of the FSLU. In addition, EXMAR has made a loan of $50,000,000 (CAD) to finance a nonrefundable deposit for construction of the FSLU.

Marcon International, Inc. has brokered the sale of another tug from Crowley Marine Services, Inc. to Island Tug & Barge Co., of Seattle, Washington. Marcon inform thatt the sale of the ABS +A1, Towing, +AMS classed, 2,100BHP shallow draft ocean towing / push tug "Pt. Barrow" closed during the 3rd week of July, 2013, adding that the tug is already getting a fresh paint job with ITB's colors with her new name "Island Wind", and she will promptly be again underway, this time working for her new owner. "Pt.

Tugs 'Triton' and 'Honcho' of the Puerto Rico Towing & Barge Co. recently assisted a drifting vessel off the coast of Puerto Rico. The cargo ship Global Destiny, owned and operated by Diavlos Maritime based in Athen, Greece, called for assistance the morning of Saturday, March 16. The vessel reported that it had run out of fuel and was drifting approximately five miles off the coast of Dorado, approximately nine miles north west of San Juan. Puerto Rico. Towing’s tug Triton came…

Drought and ensuing low river levels continue to affect the inland industry. Low water between St. Louis and Cairo, Illinois has threatened traffic on the Mississippi River since December. For months, dredging operations have slowed vessels at points along the river's course. Since December, a stretch at Thebes, Illinois, has been shut for much of each day as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers removes rock pinnacles. A panel of five executives weighed in on a host of topics regarding inland transportation as part of a round table discussion published in the February print edition of Marine News.

Cleveland’s Goodtime III arrived at Great Lakes Shipyard earlier this month to undergo drydocking and repair work. The vessel received its five-year year US Coast Guard hull and machinery inspection and had its hull repainted. Great Lakes Shipyard has performed work on the previous Cleveland-based excursion boats, Goodtime and Goodtime II. This is the first repair contract that Great Lakes Shipyard has had for Goodtime III. Goodtime III, a family owned and operated business since 1958…

Great Lakes Shipyard Performs Emergency Repairs on USCG Aids to Navigation Barge. United States Coast Guard Cutter MOBILE BAY of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin departed Great Lakes Shipyard, Cleveland, Ohio after completion of drydocking and repairs to the bow thruster on it 120-foot Aids to Navigation Barge. The barge was hauled out on Monday, September 17th using the Shipyard’s 770-ton Marine Travelift. The shipyard immediately removed the bow thruster and disassembled it in the shop for repairs.

Great Lakes Shipyard completed repairs on the Ohio Department of Natural Resources research vessel GRANDON. In late June, ODNR awarded Great Lakes Shipyard with the contract to provide repairs to the vessel, including drydocking, blasting, painting, and electrical and lighting replacements. The R/V GRANDON is part of the Fairport Harbor Fisheries Research Station for the ODNR’s Division of Wildlife. Their primary focus is assessing and managing fish populations and fisheries by taking samples, monitoring population demographics, and insuring the protection of habitats and resource integrity.

Puerto Rico Towing & Barge Co. is expanding the size of its tugboat fleet with the addition of the newly constructed Handy-Three which arrived in San Juan Thursday morning. Puerto Rico Towing & Barge Co., a subsidiary of The Great Lakes Group, is located in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and has been providing vessel assistance and towing services to commercial vessels and barges in San Juan Harbor, other Inland Ports, and ports throughout the Caribbean for over 15 years. Recently constructed at Great Lakes Shipyard, Cleveland, Ohio, the Handy-Three is now the fifth tug in the Company’s fleet.

A newly constructed tugboat, HANDY-THREE, is to be ceremoniously named at Great Lakes Shipyard, Cleveland, Ohio, on Wednesday, May 2, 2012. The tugboat has been sold to Puerto Rico Towing & Barge Co. of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, Representative of Northern Ohio’s Ninth Congressional District, will be the Sponsor and Principal Speaker for the tugboat HANDY-THREE. The vessel is the third of a class of Handy Size tugboats designed by Jensen Maritime Consultants, Seattle, Washington.

Ingram Barge Company received the Southeast Diesel Collaborative “Leadership Award” for its environmental sustainability efforts utilizing advanced clean diesel technology on towboats operating on the inland river system. Ingram was recognized as a private industry leader in the national effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. An award also went to Miami-Dade County, Florida, government in the “community leader” category. The awards were announced at the Collaborative’s sixth annual Partners Meeting involving the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other federal, state and local government agencies, non-profits, and industry organizations. Ingram is the largest inland marine transportation company in the U.S. moving nearly 100 million tons of cargo annually on our nation’s rivers.

P.B. (Kaj) Shah, Senior Vice President of Customer Service, was named President of Ingram Barge company. The appointment was announced by Craig E. Philip, CEO of Ingram Barge Company. Shah has been an Ingram executive since 1989. Most recently, he has been responsible for managing the logistics and transportation needs of Ingram’s dry cargo customers. During his more than 20 years at Ingram, Shah has held various positions in Logistics, Corporate Development, Planning and Strategy, and Information Technology with several Ingram companies.

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.