Illinois Marine Towing Navigates Toward A Busy Future

Jason Stoterau is strategic development manager at Illinois Marine Towing (IMT), which provides towing, fleeting and shipyard services along the Illinois Waterway.

Founded after the acquisition of Joliet Harbor Service in December 1987, Illinois Marine Towing includes the largest fleet of harbor and towing vessels in the Chicago Harbor, a quick-repair shipyard, a dry cargo terminal, liquid and dry cargo barge cleaning, barge readiness services and now crewing services.

A subsidiary of Canal Barge Company of New Orleans, La., since 2008, IMT continues to be a best-in-class provider of marine services in the Chicago Harbor and down the Illinois River. IMT currently operates 10 vessels in its fleet.

Waterways Journal: What was the most challenging job you have done recently, and why?

Jason Stoterau: One of the most challenging projects our team has completed in the last few years was the installation of our new Syncrolift drydock, which took place about two and a half years ago. The drydock was designed, built and transported to our facility, and the shipyard team — with assistance from the engineering and design firm — was responsible for installing it on site.

Many members of our team agree that this was the most complex project the facility has undertaken, as it was well outside the scope of our typical repair operations. The installation required careful coordination, specialized knowledge and the use of industry experts and local engineering firms to properly fit and weld the drydock components into place.

It was a monumental effort, and our team rose to the challenge. Completing the installation successfully was a major milestone for the facility and positioned us to better serve our customers for years to come.

[Editor’s note: According to Syncrolift, there are “almost 60” Syncrolift drydocks in North America, with the vast majority in the United States.]

WJ: Is there a vessel in the Syncrolift drydock being serviced now?

JS: Currently we do not have a vessel on the Syncrolift itself, but we do have a barge positioned in one of the repair bays in the yard. The Syncrolift plays an important role in that process, as it allows us to safely remove vessels from the water so we can complete the necessary repairs.

We are currently performing an internal structural examination [ISE] along with knuckle repairs on a customer’s tank barge. The vessel has been at our facility for several weeks while our team completes the required steel work, as well as repairs and rebuilding of various topside components and equipment.

WJ: What was the last vessel serviced in the Syncrolift?

JS: The last vessel serviced was the mv. City of Ottawa, an Army Corps of Engineers vessel commissioned in 2007. It’s a square-bow, twin-screw 2,100 hp. pushboat.

WJ: How has demand for repair services kept up?

JS: Repair demand has kept up with expectations. Quick repair jobs account for the majority of our work, but we have seen an increase in the number of tank barge ISEs as well as long-term vessel projects. This mix of short-duration repairs and larger projects has helped keep our facilities consistently busy while allowing us to support a wide range of customer needs.

WJ: How have you handled worker retention and recruitment at your facilities? Have you increased your hiring lately?

JS: Recruiting and retention are always an ongoing and evolving process for our facilities. As an organization, we take a proactive approach by forecasting upcoming retirements and work to bring new employees on board with enough lead time to allow for knowledge transfer and training. This helps minimize the operational impact of retirements while ensuring continuity in the quality of service we provide.

We have continued to hire as needed to support both our current operations and future growth. Our employee benefit package, company culture and opportunities for career advancement are some of the strongest tools we have for attracting and retaining talent.

We place a strong emphasis on hiring individuals who are a good cultural fit and who are looking to build a long-term career with us, not just fill a short-term job. By investing in our people and creating opportunities for development, we’ve been able to build a skilled and dedicated workforce at our facilities.

WJ: What has IMT done to get the word out about opportunities for motivated young people with the right backgrounds?

JS: To help get the word out about opportunities for motivated young people, we focus on several outreach and recruiting efforts. One of the most effective tools we have is word of mouth. Our current employees are some of our best ambassadors because they understand the work, know the type of individuals who will fit well with our culture and can share firsthand experiences about working in the industry. Many times, they help introduce us to family members, friends or former colleagues who may be a good fit.

We also participate in local community job and career fairs, as well as hiring events, to connect with individuals who are interested in learning more about careers in the marine industry. In addition, we are planning to participate in educational outreach programs such as We Work the Waterways, which help introduce school-age students to the wide range of careers and opportunities available in the inland marine industry.

WJ: Has the customer base stayed the same, or have there been changes in the past few years?

JS: Overall, our customer base has remained relatively consistent over the past several years. However, we have seen some modest growth with certain customers as we’ve expanded our service offerings and capabilities. The majority of our work continues to come from traditional barge lines and towboat operators, which remain the core of our business.

At the same time, we also serve a diverse group of customers that includes government entities, municipalities and tourist or sightseeing operators. That diversity helps provide a steady mix of work across our facilities.

WJ: What’s your view of the future for the IMT facilities?

JS: We want to continue to expand our capabilities and service offerings at our facilities. We take pride in being able to be a “one-stop shop” for our customers on the upper end of the Illinois River, as well as being mobile enough to reach any other part of the inland waterways.

Looking ahead, we plan to continue investing in our facilities, equipment and people to support that vision. That includes adding new and upgraded equipment, expanding our workforce and providing ongoing training to ensure our team is prepared to meet evolving customer needs. By building on the strong foundation we have today, we believe IMT will continue to grow its role as a reliable, full-service partner for operators across the inland waterways.