Transportation Customers News

FortisBC – a subsidiary of Fortis Inc. has officially started construction of its $400 million Tilbury LNG Facility expansion project today. The company is adding 1.1 million gigajoules of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to storage and 34,000 gigajoules per day of liquefaction capacity. FortisBC marked the occasion with a ground-breaking ceremony attended by The Honourable Christy Clark, Premier of British Columbia; Delta Mayor Lois Jackson; as well as Scott Hamilton, MLA North Delta; and Vicki Huntington, MLA South Delta. FortisBC Energy Inc. operates the only two LNG facilities in Western Canada. The existing Tilbury LNG Facility opened in 1971 and has safely operated in Delta, B.C. for the last 43 years.

Industrial Emergency Services LLC (IES) says that as part of its ongoing nationwide expansion of land-based and maritime emergency response and related safety services, it has added capabilities on the East Coast to supplement its existing Gulf Coast and West Coast infrastructure. Headquartered in Baton Rouge, LA, IES informs that the East Coast locations include Linwood, PA and Fort Lauderdale, FL. The bases add to IES’s capability to respond not only for marine firefighting incidents as part of the alliance with SVITZER Salvage…

Yesterday, the Seamen’s Church Institute of New York & New Jersey (SCI) sold its 241 Water Street facility to the Blue Man Creativity Center School. At the same time, SCI commits itself to remain a New York-based institution, as it has been since its founding in 1834. Amid terms of sale, SCI retains its corporate offices at 241 Water Street. In addition to Water Street and Port Newark, SCI administers seafarer hospitality and education sites in Paducah, Ky., Houston, Texas, and Oakland, Calif. “This transaction provides SCI with the best of both worlds,” stated SCI President and Executive Director David Rider. “SCI remains in the heart of lower Manhattan, where we have been since 1834 and which remains an indelible part of our mission and identity.

American Commercial Lines Inc. (NASDAQ: ACLI) announced results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009. Revenues for the quarter were $226.9 million, a 16.4% decrease compared with $271.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2008. The decrease in revenue in 2009 was primarily due to changes in the mix of commodities shipped by our transportation customers, decreased towing revenue, lower grain freight rates and lower fuel prices (which are generally passed through to our customers). Total ton-mile volume declined by 1.4% compared to the fourth quarter 2008. Income from continuing operations for the quarter was $14.2 million or $1.09 per diluted share, compared to $22.9 million or $1.81 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2008.

Cindy and Jon Smith of Southport both have their tug licenses but these days they are mostly shore-based running Interport Towing & Transportation. The jointly owned company has three tugs that do coastal towing as well as providing support for marine construction. They also have a Tier 2-compliant Cummins-powered crew boat that does standby and transport work for dredging and construction work. With this diversity there is always a project underway. Most recently this has been the repower of their tug Lucinda Smith.

Kirby Corporation reported that for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2000, net earnings were a record $9,088,000, compared with $3,974,000 for the 1999 fourth quarter. For the 2000 year, net earnings were $34,113,000, up from $21,441,000 in 1999. Joe Pyne, Kirby's President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "The 2000 fourth quarter net earnings of $.38 per share and 2000 year net earnings of $1.39 per share are record results for Kirby. Our EBITDA results of $33,615,000, or $1.39 per share, for the 2000 fourth quarter and $130,132,000, or $5.30 per share, for the 2000 year are also a record. Revenues for the 2000 fourth quarter and year were at record levels as well. This performance reflects the continuing benefits of the successful integration of Kirby and Hollywood Marine.

SIMRAD has expanded its sales team with the addition of Michael Lynn as its Commercial Sales Manager USA West Coast. Lynn will concentrate on working with SIMRAD dealers to facilitate sales to commercial fishing, tug boat, workboat, and coastal transportation customers. “Michael’s considerable experience in marine electronics as well as his superlative communications skills made him the obvious choice for this position,” said Brian Staton, president of SIMRAD Inc. Lynn, 53, brings more than 20 years of experience in the marine electronics industry including positions at Radio Holland, USA (Houston, TX), Raytheon Marine Co. (Nashua, NH) and Sea Mar Electronics Inc. (Seattle, WA). In addition, Lynn has five years of retail store management experience.