Transportation Subsidiary News

Russia's gas production and sales company PAO Novatek has created a transportation unit called Maritime Arctic Transport. "The Board of Directors of PAO Novatek  resolved on creating a transportation subsidiary called Maritime Arctic Transport LLC to manage and optimize transportation costs, build up the unique competencies of Arctic navigation and ensure centralized management of the Arctic fleet," said a press release from company. Novatek’s Chairman of the Management Board Leonid Mikhelson noted: “Novatek’s long-term development strategy envisages a significant growth in LNG production from the Company’s vast hydrocarbon resource base located on the Yamal and Gydan peninsulas in the Arctic zone of more than 55 million tons per annum by 2030.

NGOs and trade unions in Brazil have criticized the state-run Petrobras’ end-of-life fleet management by dumping toxic ships on South Asian beaches. The Brazilian Confederação Nacional dos Trabalhadores em Transportes Aquaviários e Aéreos, na Pesca e nos Portos (CONTTMAF) trade union federation and its member SINDMAR (Sindicato Nacional dos Oficiais da Marinha Mercante) have recently criticized the shipbreaking practices of Transpetro, the oil and gas transportation subsidiary of the Brazilian petroleum corporation Petrobras, majority-owned by the State. In the last five years, more than twenty vessels owned by the oil and gas giant have been dismantled on the beaches of India and Pakistan, where shipbreaking activities endanger both workers and the environment.

American Electric Power (AEP) has signed an agreement to sell its commercial barge transportation subsidiary, AEP River Operations LLC, to American Commercial Lines (ACL), owned by Platinum Equity, for approximately $550 million. AEP River Operations is a commercial inland barge company delivering about 45 million tons of products annually, including 10 million tons of coal. AEP River Operations has 56 towboats, 2,301 barges and 1,090 employees. The company is headquartered in Chesterfield, Missouri, with operations in Paducah, Kentucky, and Convent, Algiers and Belle Chasse, Louisiana. AEP announced in March that the company was exploring strategic alternatives for AEP River Operations, including a potential sale.

Crude oil shipper DHT Holdings, Inc. announced today that it has appointed Joseph H. Pyne to its board of directors, expanding the board from three to four independent directors. Erik Lind, Chairman of DHT said, “We are very pleased to have Joe join the DHT board of directors. His commercial and operational experience and longstanding insight into the U.S. Pyne is the Executive Chairman of Kirby Corporation, a U.S. tank barge operator, and served as the Chief Executive Officer of the company from 1995 to April 29, 2014.

Ingram Barge Company sees two kinds of green in their newest venture on the inland rivers. In late March, the Paducah-McCracken County Riverport Authority and Ingram Barge Company announced plans to assess the viability of Intermodal River Transportation, utilizing the largest flat-top crane in North America and Ingram’s towboats and barges. On March 27th, that plan came to life as the Paducah Riverport Authority’s 200-ton crane lifted 54 empty containers and stacked them neatly on an Ingram-owned barge. An Ingram towboat then transported the container laden barge to the port of St. Louis and then back to Paducah for unloading. The highly successful trial run tested the logistics of moving the intermodal containers via barge in the nation’s heartland.

The Coast Guard Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to the education and welfare of all Coast Guard members and their families, announced its 2014 board of trustees. Consisting of 117members, the Coast Guard Foundation Board of Trustees and Directors oversees management of the organization and helps to provide resources to advance the Foundation’s mission to support the service of men and women in the United States Coast Guard. This year, the board welcomes three newly elected officers and four new members to its executive committee, as well as three new board members. Robert J.

United Maritime Group, LLC Announces Agreement to Sell U.S. United Barge Line, LLC to Ingram Barge Company. United Maritime Group, LLC ("UMG") today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell U.S. United Barge Line, LLC ("UBL"), a wholly owned barge transportation subsidiary of UMG, to Ingram Barge Company. Based in Tampa, the subsidiaries of UMG operate businesses in the dry bulk transportation and logistics industry, including U.S. United Bulk Terminal, LLC, the largest coal and petroleum coke handling facility in the Gulf of Mexico, and U.S. United Ocean Services, LLC, which operates the largest Jones Act dry bulk ocean fleet by capacity.

United Maritime Group agrees to sell its U.S. United Maritime Group, LLC ("UMG") announces that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell U.S. United Barge Line, LLC ("UBL"), a wholly owned barge transportation subsidiary of UMG, to Ingram Barge Company. Based in Tampa, the subsidiaries of UMG operate businesses in the dry bulk transportation and logistics industry, including U.S. United Bulk Terminal, LLC, the largest coal and petroleum coke handling facility in the Gulf of Mexico, and U.S. United Ocean Services, LLC, which operates the largest Jones Act dry bulk ocean fleet by capacity. "Since acquiring UBL in 2007…

Houston, Texas (April 27, 2011) – Kirby Corporation (“Kirby”) (NYSE:KEX) today announced net earnings attributable to Kirby for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011 of $32.4 million, or $.60 per share, compared with $24.7 million, or $.46 per share, for the 2010 first quarter. The 2010 first quarter net earnings included a charge for retirements and shore staff reductions of $4.1 million before taxes, or $.05 per share. Kirby’s published 2011 first quarter earnings guidance range was $.56 to $.61 per share.

“Old sailors never die, they just drop the anchor,” Robert J. “Bobby” Pfeiffer said over a decade ago as he was contemplating retirement. Pfeiffer, one of Hawaii’s most renowned sailors and captains of industry, dropped the anchor on Friday, September 26, 2003, at age 83, at his home in Orinda, Calif., after a lengthy illness. During his 12 1/2 years at the helm of Alexander & Baldwin, Inc., Pfeiffer became practically synonymous with business leadership in Hawaii. He charted a course of modernization and diversification, and led A&B through one of its strongest periods of growth and prosperity. At the same time he earned a reputation for leadership –– personal as well as corporate –– in support of charitable and other community causes.

PDV Marina, S.A. (PDVM), the marine transportation subsidiary of Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA), the Venezuelan state oil company, and Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. announced that Phoenix Energy Navigation SA (Phoenix) has joined the Aframax International Pool. Phoenix has contributed two double-hulled Aframax tankers to the pool (the Phoenix Alpha and the Phoenix Beta both built in 2003), expanding the number of vessels in the Pool to 34, including committed newbuildings.

Seabulk International, Inc. announced the extension of time charters with Tesoro Maritime Company on two of its U.S.- flag double-hull tankers through July 2010. began her original Tesoro charter in the summer of 2000, followed by her sister ship, the Seabulk Pride, in the summer of 2001. operated by Tesoro in Nikiski, Alaska on Cook Inlet; Anacortes, Washington on the Puget Sound, and at Kapolei, Hawaii. safety and environmental protection in sensitive Pacific coastal waters. Gerhard E. Kurz, chairman, president and chief executive officer of parent company Seabulk International, added, "These contract extensions are part of strategy of ensuring a reliable long-term source of future earnings.