Cenac Towing News

Cenac Marine Services and its dynamic, third generation leader, Arlen “Benny” Cenac Jr., continue to flourish, in good times and bad. Through it all, leadership, philanthropy and investments that extend far beyond the company’s gates have made all the difference.As this year quickly churns to its inevitable close, Cenac Marine Services isn’t the nation’s biggest towboat operation, but its profound impact on the people and environment of the U.S. Gulf Coast and beyond is unquestionable. At a time when most operators are happy to simply strive for an environmentally correct and regulatory compliant business signature, Arlen “Benny” Cenac Jr.

A ceremony will be held July 29 at Cenac Marine Services headquarters in, Houma, La. To commemorate the christening of its newest vessel, M/V Quincey Cenac, as well as the company’s donation of a spud barge to Terrebonne Parish. The newest addition to Cenac’s growing fleet, M/V Quincey Cenac is the 24th and final vessel in its most recent series. Cenac Marine Services said a new series of vessels is in development for the near future. The donated spud barge will be utilized by the parish to transport equipment for levee conservation and upkeep.

Arlen “Benny” Cenac Jr. is a third-generation owner of Cenac Towing Company. The firm, originally founded in 1927 by his grandfather, now does business as Cenac Marine Services. Benny has led the company since 1981 through several industry downturns by focusing on customer service, efficiency, quality and safety in its marine transportation services. Cenac Towing has clients across the country and maintains a focus on transporting liquid petroleum barges. Cenac is guided by the values and principles established by Benny’s grandfather over 85 years ago: a commitment to employee satisfaction and great company morale. As a leader in the community…

Cenac Towing Company (Cenac Towing), a third-generation owned global marine transportation company, announced continued growth despite the oil and gas industry’s downturn. Recently, Cenac Towing acquired Main Iron Works, a tug construction company, and this week, Cenac Towing will christen its brand new 2000 Hp Twin Screw Conventional Tug, The Jean Pierre Cenac. The innovative marine transportation company, run by industry veteran Arlen “Benny” Cenac, attributes the growth to continued innovation, quality service and the unique familial culture that is experienced not only by employees but also by customers and partners. “The importance of hospitality in everyday life is too often overlooked.

Techcrane Global Corporation is a Covington, La.-based marine crane manufacturer/distributor who recently installed Techcrane Model F250-100 onboard Torch Offshore L.L.C.'s Midnight Wrangler. This was a crane custom-designed for Torch with a maximum capacity of 125 tons at 30-ft. reach. Time lapse between design conceptions to fabrication in Covington, La., was less than six months. The bid was awarded to Techcrane in December of 2002 for delivery in mid 2003 and is a part of the project to convert the Midnight Wrangler into a deepwater pipelaying vessel. In order to accommodate these deepwater arenas, a winch was specially designed by Lantec on behalf of Techcrane for the F250 to handle 8,000 ft. of two-in. wire rope.

With several shipyards and marine operators in the area, Morgan City, La. is a center for crewing and supply of the Gulf oil industry. Since last January, a partnership between the Louisiana Technical College (LTC) and Cummins Mid-South has trained more than 120 diesel mechanics and engineers on aspects of high horsepower Cummins engines. As a distributor, Cummins Mid-South supports both their own and independent dealers in a network covering the states of Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana. The training is available to Cummins dealers, customers and selected LTC diesel tech students. Training is also available to the Diesel Technology instructors of the LTC system throughout the state.

ConAgra Inc., the second largest U.S. food manufacturer, has agreed to sell American Commercial Lines LLC (ACL) its large U.S. inland barge fleet and operations. Financial terms of the deal, which ConAgra said was part of ongoing series of strategic divestments, were not announced. ACL will acquire 930 owned and chartered barges, nine chartered towboats and one dry dock, the companies said in a joint statement. The deal includes Peavey Barge Lines, Brown Water Towing Inc. and Superior Barge Lines, Inc. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval but is expected to be completed in the next 30 days, the companies said. Greg Heckman, president and CEO, ConAgra Trade Group, said, "Our decision to sell the barge company is a strategic one.

Cenac Towing has become the launch customer for Jeppesen Workboat Navigator – A Professional Information Service. Jeppesen Marine recently announced this new offering which is aimed at commercial vessel operators in coastal and inland waterways. Cenac is a family owned tow operator with 41 inland and offshore tow boats, plus over 100 inland and offshore tank barges. Cenac also operates a shipyard in Houma, La. where it constructs and repairs liquid tank barges. Jeppesen Workboat Navigator is an information service that provides mariners with a combination of detailed vector-based digital marine charts, location-based data, such as Notices to Mariners, and input from onboard sensors, such as GPS, radar, AIS, heading sensors, and onboard cameras.

Marcon International, Inc. has announced that Ketchikan Pulp Company has sold its double skin OPA’90 ocean tank/railcar barge Harry A. Merlo to Cenac Towing Co. of Houma, La. The 9,000 dwt, ABS-classed barge was built in 1994 by Gulf Coast Fabricators at a cost of about $8.4 million to supply fuel oil, chemicals and other materials for pulp processing and lumber mill operations in southeastern Alaska. The 402-ft. barge was designed by Elliot Bay Design Group of Seattle, Wash. Black oil, diesel and caustic soda were carried north in the integral cargo tanks, and smaller parcels of chemicals and stocks were hauled in tank and hopper cars loaded on deck. On the southbound run, box cars were loaded with pulp.

Dock, at mile 53 on the Houma Navigation Canal. communities along the Mississippi River. August 11 in St. Paul, Minn. directly address their views to members of the Commission. through Old River Lock to reach the Atchafalaya River. Waterway.

Cenac Towing of Houma, La., has long had a reputation for quality boats. Both their inland waterway push boats and their off-shore tugs are meticulous in their design, construction and maintenance. In the spring of 2000, the company commissioned a Cummins-powered 2,550 hp, 100 x 34-ft. triple screw off-shore tug, the Andrea Cenac. This May, Cenac is putting their newest and largest tug into service. As with their other new boats, the O.J. Cenac will be Cummins powered. At 130 x 38 ft. with a 15-ft. molded depth, this is a big boat. The new boat marks a milestone for both Cenac and Cummins as it is the first tug into service with Cummins' recently introduced QSK60 engines. With three of these new engines, each turning its own propeller, the O.J.