M/V Sheila McDevitt Begins Service

The newest vessel in TECO Transport's Gulfcoast Transit fleet is now in service. The M/V Sheila McDevitt - named in honor of TECO Energy's senior vice president, general counsel and chief legal officer - left Tampa for Texas early last week, where it will load a shipment for delivery to the east coast. Gulfcoast Transit purchased the geared 40,000-ton bulk carrier in February of this year to meet the needs of its growing business. It is the third ship added to the company's diverse fleet, which also includes 13 oceangoing tug and barge units. The M/V Sheila McDevitt will handle new transportation business for Gulfcoast Transit, traveling between the Pacific, Gulf and Atlantic coasts of the United States. TECO Transport President Jeff Rankin said, "Thanks to the ability of our team to aggressively pursue opportunities to build our business, we were able to make an excellent acquisition - one that we're confident will add value for our customers." Gulfcoast Transit, the largest ocean-going U.S.-flag dry bulk carrier, is a subsidiary of TECO Transport. Other TECO Transport businesses include Mid-South Towing and Electro-Coal Transfer. TECO Transport is a wholly owned subsidiary of TECO Energy, Inc., a $2.3-billion revenue energy holding company based in Florida whose other businesses include Tampa Electric, Peoples Gas System, TECO Power Services, TECO Coal, TECO Coalbed Methane, TECO Propane Ventures and TECO Solutions.