Parker Towing Christens Mv. Chipper Rabbit
Parker Towing Company recently christened the mv. Chipper Rabbit, the newest vessel in its fleet, during a ceremony attended by employees, family members, vessel crew and industry partners. The new towboat, built by Serodino Inc. of Chattanooga, Tenn., honors longtime Parker Towing executive Chipper Rabbit, whose nearly three decades of service have helped shape the company’s financial growth and long-term strategy.
Tim Parker III, president, speaking during the christening, called the occasion a special moment for both the company and the Rabbit family.
“If you’re here, you probably know Chipper, and you know the role he’s played with our company,” Parker said. “We’re just so excited we get to name this boat after you.”
Rabbit joined Parker Towing on December 1, 1997, as vice president of finance and chief financial officer, a role he continues to hold today. According to company materials, he also serves as secretary of the board and remains deeply involved in key business operations beyond finance.
Parker emphasized that Rabbit’s contributions extend far beyond traditional CFO responsibilities. Over the years, Rabbit has served as a central figure in mergers and acquisitions, contract negotiations, legal strategy, insurance matters and risk management.
“Chipper not only is a CFO. He wears many hats,” Parker said. “He is very involved in any M&A that we do. He is our de facto in-house counsel a lot of times for negotiating contracts. He’s also involved in our insurance business and in our risk issues as well.”
That versatility, Parker said, has made Rabbit indispensable to the company’s evolution.
“He has been incredibly important in our growth and our success as a company,” Parker said.
Before joining Parker Towing, Rabbit built a long career in finance and accounting. He served as CFO for Shelby Die Casting, an aluminum die casting company whose customers included major manufacturers such as General Motors, Mercedes-Benz and General Electric. Earlier in his career, he worked as division controller for Pennaco Hosiery, a division of Danskin Inc.
Rabbit began his professional career in public accounting, spending 10 years with Ernst & Whinney and BDO Seidman. Those early years, Parker Towing noted, helped establish the accounting and leadership foundation that would later benefit the marine transportation company.
Over nearly 30 years at Parker Towing, Rabbit has worked closely with departments across the organization, helping maintain the financial discipline and strategic planning necessary to support continued expansion.
Company literature noted that Rabbit credits relationships with coworkers, customers, lenders, legal advisers and insurance professionals as among the most rewarding aspects of his career.
Peter Serodino IV of Serodino Inc., the vessel’s builder, reflected on the partnership with Parker Towing and praised the company’s hands-on approach during construction.
At its Chattanooga shipyard, Serodino said, boatbuilding remains a multigenerational family business. The yard has operated at its current location since 1962.
Through repeated projects with Parker Towing, Serodino said he has come to appreciate the company’s culture and attention to detail.
“They all seem like they have a real sense of ownership,” Serodino said. “They want to have excellence. They want to see products built right. They want to see it done in a way that suits their needs.”
The mv. Chipper Rabbit represents the seventh vessel built to the Super Tiger Class design, continuing a proven towboat platform tailored to Parker Towing’s operational requirements.
The christening also included an invocation by Jerry Hewitt, who prayed for safety for all who will serve aboard the vessel and for successful operations in the years ahead.
Outside of work, Rabbit is known for his devotion to family and his enthusiasm for Louisiana State University athletics, particularly the Tigers football program. He and his wife, Sheila, have been married for 39 years and have three children and three grandchildren.
The vessel bearing his name now stands as a visible symbol of his lasting impact on Parker Towing and the inland marine industry.
Vessel Specs
The mv. Chipper Rabbit measures 60 feet by 24 feet with an 8-foot depth and was completed May 15. Built by Serodino Inc. of Chattanooga, Tenn., the vessel is powered by twin Mitsubishi S6R-Y3 Tier 3 main engines rated at 684 hp. each at 1,800 rpm. from Laborde Products and is equipped with Twin Disc MGX5222DC reduction gears with a 4.03:1 ratio. Auxiliary power is supplied by a John Deere 4045FM75A engine driving a 40-kW generator.
The mv. Chipper Rabbit features keel cooling, Eagle Control Systems alarms and steering, Furuno radar, SI-TEX AIS, Standard Horizon radios and a Radio Zeeland swing meter. Deck equipment includes twin 5 hp. winch motors and fittings from UMC and Wintec with towknees and perimeter fendering provided by Schuyler Rubber. Additional onboard systems include Mitsubishi climate control, a Honeywell Fire-Lite detection system and USCG-approved Type II marine sanitation equipment.
The crew of the mv. Chipper Rabbit include Capt. David Ashcraft and Relief Capt. Gary Fulmer.
Featured photo caption: The mv. Chipper Rabbit, completed by Serodino Inc. for Parker Towing, is a twin-screw boat with engines rated at 684 hp. each. It is 60 feet by 24 feet with an 8-foot depth. (Photo by Zac Metcalf)
