Brennan Marine Expands Footprint, Fleet, Team

Brennan Marine Inc. expanded its locations, assets and team along the Upper Mississippi earlier this year with the acquisition of Matteson Marine Service.

Adam Binsfeld, president of Brennan Marine, said the deal added 20 employees to the Brennan team, all well-trained and experienced in switching and fleeting operations, barge cleaning and lock assists.

“The Matteson crews share a similar culture with Brennan Marine, one of hard work, stewardship and family,” Binsfeld said. “Integrating our procedures into their operation has gone smoothly because of their on-site leadership and experienced crews.”

Brennan Marine specializes in harbor management, switching, fleeting and towing services along the inland waterways, with a focus on safety and environmental responsibility. The company serves a diverse range of clients in the maritime and industrial sectors. The acquisition allowed Brennan Marine to add to its marine portfolio of services, expanding fleeting, barge cleaning and repair services.

“Both Matteson and Brennan Marine have been part of the river industry for decades, evolving and adapting,” Binsfeld said. “Matteson originally provided dredging services. However, after Matteson transitioned out of dredging and shifted its focus to building high-quality rental barges, our relationship changed. In that sense, we’ve worked alongside each other for many years, developing a strong and mutually beneficial partnership.”

The acquisition made sense from a geographical perspective, too, with Matteson’s Burlington, Iowa, facility located between Brennan’s existing operations in Wisconsin and its Midsouth locations in Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee.

“Our existing shoreside staff, including our 24/7 dispatch center in La Crosse, can support mariners and vessel operations in Burlington,” Binsfeld said. “Our proprietary compliance tracking software allowed for a seamless onboarding process.”

It was also important for a smooth and seamless transition for customers of both companies, complete with maintaining a high level of customer service, he said.

“Brennan Marine is committed to maintaining the strong customer relationships Matteson has built over the years while also bringing additional resources and expertise to enhance service offerings,” Binsfeld said. “We aim to make this transition as smooth as possible while exploring new opportunities to improve and grow our services. The acquisition of Matteson Marine expands Brennan’s presence along the Upper Mississippi River. The integration of six more vessels and a talented workforce with Brennan’s technology-forward operations will provide our customers with the best features of both organizations.”

Binsfeld added that the city of Burlington has extended a warm welcome and was most helpful when preparing for the season.

“We look forward to getting involved in the community and enjoy working with our new mariners,” Binsfeld said. “Thank you to Larry Matteson Jr. for trusting us to continue his legacy of hard work, family and stewardship on the Upper Mississippi.”