Joe pyne kirby corporation

When Joseph H. Pyne joined Dixie Carriers in 1978, little did he know the maritime juggernaut he would help to create. When he took over as president in 1984, the company owned about 20 boats and 50 barges, with a value of about $35m. Today, after nearly 30 years, 50 acquisitions, it has a market cap well in excess of $4B, and its fleet hovers around 350 boats and 950 barges, commanding approximately 35% of the U.S.

market. Joseph H. Pyne, 65, recently spent some time with Maritime Reporter & Engineering News in his beloved Maine to reflect on the evolution and future direction of Kirby Corporation.

By Greg Trauthwein, Editor

Assuming that as a young boy growing up in Maine you did not dream of become the CEO of a marine transportation company, can you tell us how you came to your career?

    I grew up in Bremen, Maine, on the coast and a very rural part of Maine.

We had a summer home which my gr