Weekly News Summary For August 1–7, 2005:
"If you think you’ve won the battle against terrorism and security concerns—just because you’re in compliance (with current security clearance and regulation postings) and you’ve gotten Coast Guard approval of your plans—you’re wrong," said retiring Cmdr. Richard C. Johnson as he began his presentation to the Paducah Propeller Club July 19.
"I’m speaking now as a private citizen," Johnson prefaced his remarks, after accepting a gift of appreciation from the local club in recognition of his five-year association with area marine industry executives and operational staff.
"We’ve gotten along really well and we haven’t had any gun battles with the Coast Guard," quipped Tennessee Valley Towing Company president Bill Dyer as he presented the gift to the highly-regarded officer. Dyer went on to commend Johnson for his efforts to ensure compliance with Coast Guard mandates while cooperating with the marine industry to make the task less of a burden.
"We’re really going to miss Rick," Dyer said. "I wish he wasn’t leaving the area."
Johnson explained his views regarding several developments affecting the inland marine industry during his tenure as commanding officer of Marine Safety Office-Paducah, where he arrived as the unit’s executive officer in 2001.
Prior to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, we had to only worry about vandalism, theft or retaliation from angry employees, he said, "but it’s a whole different ball game now," he noted….
One of the Tennessee Valley’s oldest continuous river carriers continues to expand and update its fleet with the addition of two more towboats and the renaming of another.
Company president Bill Dyer can trace his river heritage back to the early part of the last century when his family operated sternwheel towboats and mussel shell harvesting boats along the Tennessee River. He began working on the river in the mid-1950s, during the summer on the little sternwheel towboat Stanley Petter, transporting mussel shells to button factories in Paducah.
Following more than two decades in the family business, Dyer ventured out on his own in 1981 and formed Tennessee Valley Towing Inc. in partnership with some other veteran river operators. The company they built now owns six towboats and leases two others.
Dyer says much of the success and growth of the company is the result of hard work from the dedicated management and support staff, which may appear lean by some standards. Many office personnel serve in multiple capacities where there appears to be no problem with anybody stepping on another’s "turf" when something needs attention.
Dyer is a low-key operator who shuns the limelight and lets his highly-regarded staff share responsibility and credit for the company’s success. This philosophy is reflected in the company’s decision to rename three boats in honor of key office or management personnel….
Kirby Corporation, Houston, Texas, last week announced record net earnings for the second quarter and first half of 2005.
Net earnings for the quarter were $18.45 million or 72 cents per share, compared with $13.78 million or 55 cents per share for the second quarter of 2004. The earnings were above Kirby’s published earnings guidance range of 65–70 cents per share, but included a $404,000 net gain after taxes from the sale of marine equipment and loss on debt retirement.
Consolidated revenues for the 2005 second quarter were $199.28 million, a 17 percent increase compared with a year ago.
Kirby reported record net earnings for the first six months of 2005 of $31.77 million or $1.24 per share, compared with $22.8 million or 91 cents per share, for the first six months of 2004. Consolidated revenues for the first six months of 2005 were $383.72 million, 17 percent increase compared with the first half of 2004.
Marine transportation revenues and operating income for the 2005 second quarter increased 15 percent and 23 percent, respectively, compared with the second quarter of 2004….
Lock and Dam 11, Mississippi River Mile 583, Dubuque, Iowa, and Lock and Dam 19, Mississippi River Mile 364.3, Keokuk, Iowa, will be closed to all navigation from 7:30 a.m. on December 15 to 7:30 a.m. on March 15 to perform major rehabilitation and maintenance work.
Lock and Dam 11, built in the 1930s, will not require a dewatering, as the Corps will be preparing for a full dewatering the 600-foot lock the following year. Work will include installing slots for bulkheads, concrete structural repairs on guidewalls and other preparation work needed for next year. Maintenance and repair work on Lock and Dam 11 began in 2001. The next portion of the contract work on the project was awarded to J.F. Brennan & Civil Contractors in the amount of $26.9 million for the next two years. The Corps is deferring upgrades in mechanical and electrical component upgrades….
The Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association (GICA) will hold its 100th annual convention August 8–10 in Victoria, Texas.
The group, representing coastal marine interests of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, has met in several Gulf Coast cities over its 100-year history, but overwhelmingly selected Victoria, the birthplace of the association in 1905, for this milestone occasion.
The convention will begin August 8 with a golf tournament, reception and awards dinner. Tom Kornegay, executive director of the Port of Houston Authority, and Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) will be the featured speakers at the evening banquet. GICA will also present life member awards and the Dale Miller Award.
The August 9 agenda includes reports from GICA president John McClelland of Midstream Fuel Services and Raymond Butler, GICA executive director. A panel entitled "U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: 100 Years of Partnership!" will feature Cols. Steve Haustein, Richard Wagenaar and Pete Taylor, commanders of the Galveston, New Orleans and Mobile Engineer Districts, respectively. Adm. Robert Duncan, commander of the Eighth Coast Guard District, will discuss GICA and Coast Guard partnership….
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