NABRICO Forges Path, Anticipates Growing Demand For New Construction Barges
The Waterways Journal had the chance to interview Bryson Person, president, and Kerrigan Robin, vice president of sales, for NABRICO Marine Products regarding the future of the business following its sale to Wynnchurch Capital.
Person grew up in south Louisiana. He is a fourth-generation Louisiana State University graduate with a B.S. in industrial engineering. After being commissioned through Navy Officer Candidate School, he served aboard the USS FLORIDA. Altogether, he spent 11 years on active duty in the United States Navy and nine years in the Naval Reserve, retiring in 2022.
In 2012, Person joined Trinity’s propane tank manufacturing business, where he was responsible for supply chain and operations before being promoted to general manager of the domestic tank business.
In 2018, he joined the marine products business (now NABRICO Marine) as the industry was showing positive momentum prior to COVID-19. He was promoted to vice president/general manager in August 2022, as the company began rebuilding its capacity again after the COVID-related slowdown.
After the purchase by Wynnchurch, it was announced that the company will operate as NABRICO Marine Products (NABRICO) with Person as president. NABRICO, pronounced NABREECO, a storied name in river history, is once again the largest builder of new construction barges in America.
Waterways Journal: What is expected to change, other than the name and titles? What will product development or research and development (R&D) look like under new ownership?
NABRICO: While the business is now operating as a standalone entity under Wynnchurch Capital, the entire leadership team from Arcosa Marine remains in place. The management team and structure remain largely unchanged to provide continuity that ensures the expertise and relationships built over the years stay within the organization and continue to provide value for our constituents.
When the opportunity arrived to establish ourselves as a standalone company under new ownership, choosing a name was an easy decision, given the heritage of NABRICO. It is the only identity that truly honors our more than century-long legacy of durability while signaling our renewed, singular focus on the maritime industry.
Our transition to an independent company allows us to pivot from a subsidiary to a highly focused standalone company. This independence ensures that all capital and strategic decisions are focused exclusively on enhancing our core strengths in barge manufacturing and marine components. To support urgent fleet renewal needs, we are leveraging our new ownership structure to reinvest in our facilities. By prioritizing production technology and evaluating advanced automation opportunities, we will further streamline our shipyards to improve efficiency, increase throughput to meet demand and deliver the value our customers require to directly address the industry’s replacement and growth needs.
We also look forward to continuing to invest in innovation, with our R&D focused on the next generation of automated, high-efficiency deck hardware. We are engineering “smart” components that reduce manual labor and improve safety, ensuring our products meet the evolving technical and operational demands of the modern mariner.
WJ: What shipyards were transferred under the purchase?
NABRICO: The transaction included all of Arcosa Marine’s facilities, consisting of the following locations:
Barge Construction: Ashland City, Tenn., and Caruthersville, Mo., as well as the currently idle Madisonville, La.
Fiberglass Barge Cover Manufacturing: Paducah, Ky., and Caruthersville, Mo.
Marine Components: The NABRICO facility in Gallatin, Tenn., and the Wintech facility in Bossier City, La.
WJ: How many barges and what types do you expect to deliver in 2026?
NABRICO: 2026 deliveries are in line with 2025 with modest year-over-year growth in both hopper and tank unit counts.
WJ: What efforts or needs are there when it comes to workforce development?
NABRICO: To meet the industry’s anticipated fleet renewal requirements, we are actively prioritizing workforce development and recruitment across all our locations. Our strategy centers on creating a sustainable pipeline of maritime manufacturing talent through expanded training programs. We are investing in internal training initiatives and specialized welding schools to equip our team with the technical expertise required for high-precision barge construction and component manufacturing.
We are strengthening our ties with the high schools, technical colleges and vocational programs in the regions where we operate to ensure that our growth directly supports local economic development.
We are also reinvesting in our facilities through equipment replacement and upgrades while integrating more automation into our plants. These investments will help control costs, increase throughput and create a safer, more ergonomic environment that attracts and retains the next generation of skilled tradespeople.
WJ: As the largest manufacturer of barges in the United States, NABRICO is a crucial supplier for America’s marine transportation industry. 1) How do you project demand of barges to be in the next five years? 2) What are current expectations for the price of steel, labor and ultimately new construction barges?
NABRICO: When addressing the current market cycle, it is essential to acknowledge some challenges that have shaped the industry over the last several years. Since the surge in steel prices began in the early 2020s, industry build rates have remained well below historical replacement levels, creating a prolonged period of underbuilding that has forced a significant shift in operator behavior. With the high cost of new capital, certain operators opted to defer replacements and instead made substantial investments in their existing fleets to secure life extensions.
However, these life-extension programs can only go so far, with many of these aged assets now reaching their ultimate end-of-life. As a result, we are beginning to see a clear inflection point with demand for new barges improving as the necessity for fleet renewal becomes more pressing. Given the age profile of the current inland fleet, we expect this momentum to build steadily over the next five to 10 years. Our transition to an independent entity, backed by the support of Wynnchurch, is well suited to provide the increased production capacity and automation required to meet this sustained demand.
WJ: What about foreign markets? Does or will NABRICO export, and if so, what and how much and to whom?
NABRICO: We are not currently exporting barges but would be willing to do so if the opportunity presents itself. On the component side, we have seen tremendous growth in demand in South America for our products to support their inland transportation capability, driven by growth in agricultural exports.
WJ: What are your thoughts on the current Jones Act waiver, and how might it affect your business or markets served?
NABRICO: As a standalone company, we are reinvesting in our facilities and workforce to support the industry’s anticipated barge replacement cycle. The stability of these long-term investments depends on a consistent regulatory environment. Broad waivers create market uncertainty that stifles the incentive to build new, American-made vessels and invest in the next generation of maritime technology.
We have been strong advocates of the Jones Act as it supports investment in U.S.-flagged fleet and a skilled merchant marine workforce.
Our workforce is the lifeblood of NABRICO. The maritime industry directly supports nearly 650,000 American jobs, from the welders in our barge plants to the mariners on the water.
NABRICO stands with our industry partners and believes American energy and commodities should move on American hulls, built and crewed by Americans, ensuring that our national security remains non-negotiable.
WJ: Is there anything else you would like to share with readers? Anything about how the new ownership and the purchase might impact management and/or operational decisions? Will industry benefit from the change of ownership and, if so, how?
NABRICO: Our customers and the mariners and tankermen of the inland marine industry depend on the quality of our barges, systems and hardware. Designing and delivering quality solutions to the industry is an honor we are committed to.
Our commitment to quality ensures we carry on the legacy of the thousands of men and women who came before us as a trusted industry partner.
Wynnchurch recognizes that NABRICO is a cornerstone of the American maritime industry. Their investment thesis is built on the conviction that by empowering us with independent resources, we can better support our customers through the industry’s critical fleet renewal cycle. This means we are not just continuing our work; we are modernizing it. From upgrading our barge plants with advanced production technology to accelerating the R&D of automated deck hardware, Wynnchurch is providing the backing needed to ensure that NABRICO remains the industry leader in both quality and efficiency.
Our focus remains clear. We are reinvesting in our people, facilities and products to build a more responsive and capable partner for the maritime industry. We are honored to carry the NABRICO name into this new chapter and look forward to the innovations this partnership will bring to the waterways.
NABRICO’s Rich History: Bridges, Boats and Barges
Featured photo caption: NABRICO’s long history of towboat innovations included pioneering some of the first all-steel hulls for inland towboats. (Photos courtesy of NABRICO)
