Marquette Renames Three Towboats After Veterans, Company Leaders

Marquette Transportation Company has announced the renaming of three of its towboats.

The mv. John Paul Eckstein, a 9,300 hp. vessel built in 1997, is being renamed the mv. Marquette Veteran.

The company said it is proud to have so many veterans among its employees and that the vessel “is being renamed to honor each of them and the service, sacrifice and continued contributions these individuals have made to support our great nation and the freedoms we all enjoy as Americans. It stands as a tribute to every veteran within the Marquette family.”

Capt. Greg Welch will continue to serve as the vessel’s high captain.

The mv. Steve Crowley is being renamed the mv. Whitney Ann Cruse.

Cruse serves as vice president of barge logistics, a role she has held since 2017. She is entering her 18th year with Marquette and was a member of the river boat logistics team until her transition to leading the barge logistics team in 2017.

“Whitney has provided great leadership to her team and has always been a standard bearer of Marquette’s culture and values,” the company said.

In addition to honoring her contributions to Marquette, Whitney’s namesake pays tribute to the work she has done in the industry as founder and president of the western Kentucky chapter of Women in Maritime Operations (WIMOs), including for six years as president. She is also past president of the Paducah Charity League and has held roles on other local boards.

Cruse, her husband, Bryan, and their two sons live in the Paducah area.

Capt. Blake Mooney will continue to lead the vessel as high captain. The mv. Whitney Cruise is a 6,000 hp. vessel built by St. Louis Ship.

The mv. Jeffrey G is being renamed the mv. Kendall Chauvin. Chauvin has led the company’s Gulf-Inland Division since being named its vice president in 2019.

“Like Whitney, Kendall has provided outstanding leadership to the Gulf-Inland team and has helped the Gulf-Inland Division reach industry-leading safety and operating performance levels,” the company said.

Chauvin is a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y., and sailed offshore for five years before moving into shore-based leadership roles at Rigdon Marine and GulfMark Americas.

“He has a true appreciation for the hard work and sacrifices Marquette’s mariners make and how critical vessel leadership is to our continued success,” the company said.

Chauvin and his wife, Jennifer, are both Louisiana natives and are raising their three children in New Orleans.

Capt. Josh Sanford is the high captain of the vessel, which is an 8,000 hp. boat built by Jeffboat in 1984. The vessel was part of Marquette’s acquisition of boats from Alter Bargeline in September 2011.

“It’s a special maritime tradition to be able to honor people in such a meaningful way who have made and continue to make such great contributions to Marquette,” Marquette President and CEO Damon Judd said. “Without the hard work, passion and commitment of our mariners and shore-based teams, none of this would be possible.”