MN 100: Kirby Inland Marine

55 Waugh Dr, #1000
Houston, TX 77007
Tel: (713) 435-1000  
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.kirbycorp.com
President: William G. Ivey

The Company:
Kirby Corporation is a premier tank barge operator in the United States, transporting bulk liquid products throughout the Mississippi River System, on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, along all three U.S. Coasts, and in Alaska and Hawaii. Kirby’s service includes the transporting of petrochemicals, black oil products, refined petroleum products and agricultural chemical products by tank barge. Kirby also owns and operates seven ocean-going barge and tug units transporting dry-bulk commodities in United States coastwise trade. Kirby’s diesel engine services segment is a leading after-market service provider for medium-speed and high-speed diesel engines, reduction gears and ancillary products for marine and power generation applications. Kirby also serves as a distributor and service provider for high-speed diesel engines, transmissions, pumps and compression products, and manufactures and remanufactures oilfield service equipment. 

The Case:
Kirby Inland Marine, through a centralized dispatching system, can minimize repositioning and power costs. Kirby Inland Marine brings these operating efficiencies to best serve its customers. Kirby Inland Marine seeks opportunities where it can add value to the transportation services it provides. Safety and environmental protection are of paramount importance for Kirby and its customers. Kirby’s safety record is exemplary, as recognized by the U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Coast Guard in awarding Kirby the first William M. Benkert Award in 1995. The operating segments comprising Kirby Inland Marine have been certified to the ISO 9002 standard. The pay-off is consistent & reliable service, safer operations and lower costs. In 1998, Kirby became certified to the AWO Responsible Carrier Program. The AWO Responsible Carrier Program insures the implementation of a comprehensive safety management system through the use of 3rd party auditors. Kirby Inland prides itself on having the best-trained crews and support staff in the industry providing both formal classroom and hands-on instruction at the Kirby Training Center in Houston, Texas.

The Fleet:   
The Kirby Inland fleet of 904 active tank barges and 255 active towboats has a total liquid cargo capacity of 17.4 million barrels. The primary cargoes transported by this fleet are chemicals, petrochemical feedstocks, gasoline additives, refined petroleum products, liquid fertilizer, black oils, and pressurized products. This fleet represents the broadest capabilities in the marine inland tank barge industry to satisfy customers’ diverse needs. Kirby’s inland tank barge fleet represents approximately 25% of the U.S. inland tank barge capacity, as well as being one of the youngest fleets in the U.S. coastal trade, transports refined petroleum products, petrochemicals and black oil along the East Coast, West Coast and Gulf Coast, as well as Alaska and Hawaii. Kirby’s coastal tank barge fleet consists of 72 tank barges with 6.0 million barrels of capacity and 76 tugboats. Kirby also operates eight coastal dry-bulk barge and tug units transporting coal and limestone rock across the Gulf of Mexico, and dry sugar products between Florida and the East Coast.

(As published in the August 2014 edition of Marine News - http://magazines.marinelink.com/Magazines/MaritimeNews)