Page 18: of Marine News Magazine (November 2025)

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Insights

Kyle Durden, CEO, Bergan Marine Systems

From inland towboats and tank barges, to oceangoing tankers and government fleets, Bergan

Marine is everywhere you look on the waterfront. Kyle Durden,

President & CEO, Bergan

Marine Systems, discusses the history of this company; born in 1975 in Norway but operating from

Florida since 1980, it offers a full family of product and services that are connected, modular solutions that reduce installation and operating costs – ultimately providing better data.

DURDEN hen Kyle Durden re? ects on his maritime Coast Guard, earning his chief engineer’s license at age 29.

career, the story starts where so many seafar- “Those early years shaped my view of what mariners need ing lives do: at the dock. Growing up in Port and how critical equipment is in this industry,” he says. “That

W

Aransas, Texas, a ? shing village near Corpus perspective has stayed with me throughout my career.”

Christi, Durden’s ? rst taste of maritime work came early. Today, as President and CEO of Bergan Marine Sys- “My ? rst job in high school was working as a deckhand tems, Durden leads a long-tenured and respected sensor on offshore ? shing boats,” he recalls. “Early on, I had and systems providers, a company that in 2025 celebrates a deep appreciation for the sea and for the people who its 50th anniversary.

work on it.” Founded in Norway, Bergan Marine Systems relocated

That early fascination turned into a lifelong calling. After to Pensacola, Florida, in 1980, where it continues to de- hearing about Texas Maritime Academy (now Texas A&M sign and manufacture mission-critical vessel systems for

University at Galveston), Durden enrolled — the only operators around the world.

school he applied to — and graduated in 1986 with an “Fifty years in business is a long time,” Durden says engineering degree. Soon after, he went to sea with the U.S. proudly. “Today we operate a state-of-the-art manufactur- 18 | MN November 2025