Page 45: of Marine News Magazine (August 2015)

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M N 100 has allowed Harvey Gulf to weather the storm nicely. success has focused tightly on safety. “It’s my most costly

Seemingly never content to sit back on its laurels, HGIM division and there’s no doubt it brings in the most in terms also this year launched a new af? liate – Harvey Shipyard of return.” If so, then you can’t argue with what that phi-

Group – to manage its shipbuilding assets. As the basis for losophy has so far produced.

the move, Harvey Shipyard Group acquired Gulf Coast

Shipyard and Trinity Yachts. The shipyard acquisitions Ingram Barge Company: position Harvey Gulf as America’s only builder, owner and Greening America’s Marine Highway operator of dual-fuel (diesel/LNG) offshore supply ves- Ingram Barge Company (IBCO) has been a marine sels and will likely allow them to pass along the savings transporter on America’s inland waterways since 1946, of lower operating costs and environmental protection to and has grown to become a leading carrier on America’s the marine transportation industry. Unspoken in all of that inland waterways. A commitment to continuous improve- is the power that a now vertically-integrated HGIM will ment sets Ingram apart from the competition and provides bring to the market. the best possible service and value for the transportation

Far ahead of the curve in terms of compliance with the dollar. The IBCO ? eet includes nearly 4,000 barges pow- relatively new Maritime Labor Convention (MLC 2006), ered by one of the industry’s best towboat ? eets, consisting you nevertheless get the impression that Guidry and Har- of more than 100 line haul vessels ranging up to 10,500 vey Gulf care less about complying with a new statute than horsepower and another 40 boats under 1800 horsepower.

they do about the welfare of their people. If so, they are Other value-added services include Custom Fuel Services more than on their way to accomplishing both. Other op- (CFS) which provide dockside and midstream fueling, wa- erators might take note. ter, lubes, slop services, ? lters, garbage, and degreasers. The

The Maritime Labor Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006) midstream service allows boats to avoid time-consuming is now in effect. That said, the United States has not and fuel stops. Looking ahead, however, Ingram has its eyes on likely will not ratify the convention. And, Harvey Gulf much, much more. As they move forward, the inland inter- doesn’t care. The newly delivered Harvey Energy is a per- modal world could well be the primary ultimate bene? ciary.

fect example. The LNG/dual fuel aspect of the vessel and In a nutshell, Ingram Barge Company moves bulk car- cutting edge equipment in virtually every aspect of its de- go, with quality service and a business approach rooted in sign leads the way for other U.S. operators to follow suit or safety. Beyond this, and no less important, are Ingram’s get left behind. Nevertheless, the interior out? tting of the goals that include Zero Harm to associates, the environ- state-of-the-art vessel is often overlooked. ment, customers, communities, and property. Empha-

The initial reaction of crews who get to sail on these sizing those commitments, David G. Sehrt, Senior Vice richly appointed, sparkling U.S. ? ag vessels is predict- President and Chief Engineering Of? cer of Ingram Barge able. The decision to comply with MLC where possible Company, was recently elected Chairman by the members is a business decision for most American operators. None of the American Waterways Operators (AWO), the nation- of that comes without a cost, but the chosen course will al trade association representing the tugboat, towboat and eventually determine where and when an operator can de- barge industry. Sehrt will serve at AWO’s Chairman until ploy his or her ? eet. Once there, that decision will drive April 2016. As it turns out, that kind of green approach the quality of the mariners tasked with carrying out that can lead to another.

operator’s missions. IBCO maintains in-house repair and fueling capabili-

Underpinning all of that success, however, it turns out ties to also insure uninterrupted service to customers. A that safety is really the most important part of CEO Shane state-of-the-art information system, employing direct

Guidry’s business plan. He insists, “At our company, there satellite communications with towboats that utilize elec- is no budget in our safety department – they get what- tronic charting systems using Differential GPS and radar ever they want. They can make any changes they need to integration technology allows the ? rm to provide the best for the betterment of the boat; no matter what the cost possible service and value for the transportation dollar. Fi- or the time involved.” Guidry knows that the price of oil nally, Training and Safety go hand in hand with stringent shouldn’t dictate the level of commitment to safety any hiring practices at Ingram. An in-house deckhand training more than the economy should dictate the safety of the school that involves extensive safety training ensures uni- vehicles we drive to work. As far back as 2013, when we form service, no matter which boat or barge is employed ? rst interviewed him on this subject, Guidry’s formula for and a standardized transportation package. It all adds up to 45 www.marinelink.com MN