Hughes Marine Firms

What Hughes Marine Firms does

Hughes Marine Firms is a privately held, sixth-generation family-owned marine services group operating since 1894 across the US East Coast, Gulf Coast, Caribbean, Central America, and Bermuda. Headquartered in Edison, NJ with its operational hub at the 86-acre Erie Basin Bargeport in Brooklyn, NY (jointly owned with Reinauer Transportation since 1992), the company runs one of the largest deck and hopper barge fleets on the East Coast, supported by two floating drydocks (800-ton and 600-ton capacity), a 4,800 SF fabrication shop, a 350-ton press brake, and ABS-certified oceangoing barges capable of operating in all oceans and seas.

The company operates seven integrated service lines: barge charters (deck, hopper, spud, oceangoing, carfloats, and material barges on bareboat and time charter); marine transportation of oversized cargo and bulk commodities under ICC Certificate W463 (issued 1944); shipyard services including drydock, steel fabrication, blast and paint, and topside repairs; contractor mobilization at Erie Basin with crane and forklift capabilities; marine consulting and brokerage; specialty projects for fireworks, films, and events (including a nearly 30-year engagement with Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks); and green/environmental projects such as the Science Barge. Customers span marine construction, oversized-cargo shippers, entertainment and media producers, environmental organizations, and government agencies, with project examples including the Tappan Zee Bridge Replacement.

Hughes is designated a Responsible Carrier under the American Waterways Operators (AWO) Responsible Carrier Program and holds active memberships in AWO, the Maritime Association of the Port of New York/New Jersey, and the Railway Industrial Clearance Association (RICA). Pricing is quote-based with no published rate cards; the fleet was doubled in size over the past decade through acquisitions and a barge building program under Hughes Bros., and leadership is shared under a rotating presidency tradition among fifth-generation family members Bill Jr., Bob Jr., and Joe Hughes, with sixth-generation Tim and Brian Hughes continuing the business.

Name

Hughes Marine Firms

Legal name

Hughes Marine Firms

Website

https://hughesmarine.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1894

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hughes Marine Firms is a sixth-generation, family-owned marine services company offering barge charters, tug-and-barge transportation, shipyard and drydock services, and contractor mobilization across the US East Coast, Gulf, and Caribbean, anchored by the 86-acre Erie Basin Bargeport in Brooklyn, NY.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Transportation Services

NAICS

Marine Cargo Handling (488320), Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Coastal and Great Lakes Freight Transportation (483113)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730), Water Transportation (4400), Deep Sea Foreign Transportation Of Freight (4412)

akta.pro primary industry

Gear & Lifting Equipment Rental (Cranes, Spreaders, Forklifts, Reach Stackers) (TLAHALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cargo Handling & Lifting Equipment (Cranes, Derricks, Hoists) (IMAJAIAB), Heavy Lifting & Material Handling Infrastructure (Goliath Cranes, Jib Cranes, Hoists) (IMAJALAD)

Keywords

• Barge charter services
• Marine transportation
• Shipyard drydock services
• Tug and barge rental
• Marine construction equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Edison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Barge Charters: Rental of deck barges, hopper barges, carfloats, material barges, and spud barges on bareboat and time charter basis. Most Hughes deck barges are equipped with spuds; mats, anchors, and winches available for rent.
2. Marine Transportation: Tug and barge transportation of oversized cargo, construction materials, bulk materials, and waste materials. Certified by US Interstate Commerce Commission (Certificate W463, issued 1944) to move commodities throughout North America. Operates on US East Coast, Gulf, Caribbean, and throughout the Americas.
3. Shipyard Services: Drydock services, steel fabrication and repair, spudwell fabrication, blast and paint services, cathodic protection installation, tank cleaning, and topside repairs for barges, tugboats and other vessels.
4. Equipment Rental: Rental of floating crane (65 Ton capacity), land-based crane (100 Ton capacity), forklifts (8,000lb capacity), and other marine equipment.
5. Contractor Mobilization: Loading and unloading materials and marine equipment at Erie Basin Bargeport. Crane operators and riggers for cargo handling from trucks to barges. Modification services for barges including spudwells, fenders, anchors, man-rails, crane mats.
6. Consulting Services: Marine industry consulting including purchase and sale of marine equipment, equipment evaluation, market studies, transportation project methods and pricing, expert witness services, collateral appraisals, project evaluation, and management of vessels or entire fleets for absentee owners.
7. Specialty Projects: Special marine projects including fireworks shows, ferry landings, movies, commercials, and public relations spectacles. They have provided barges for blockbuster films such as I am Legend, War of the Worlds, and Meet Joe Black.
8. Green Projects: Barge rental services for environmentally friendly projects including The Science Barge, a floating greenhouse operated on alternative energy sources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Hughes Marine Firms is a marine services group that rents deck, hopper, spud, and ABS-certified oceangoing barges (40' to 300') on bareboat and time charter basis, and provides tug-and-barge marine transportation of oversized cargo, bulk materials, and construction materials along the US East Coast, Gulf, Caribbean, and inland waterways. The company also operates full shipyard and drydock services using two floating drydocks (800 Ton and 600 Ton) and a 4,800 SF steel fabrication shop, plus contractor mobilization, maritime consulting, and specialty/green project rentals from its Erie Basin Bargeport facility in Brooklyn, NY.

Product overview

Hughes Marine Firms is an affiliated group of marine transportation, tug and barge rental, and property management companies offering a comprehensive suite of marine services. The core offerings include Barge Charters (deck, hopper, spud, and oceangoing barges with sizes ranging from 40' to 300'), Marine Transportation (oversized cargo movement via tug and barge along US East Coast and inland waterways), and Shipyard Services (drydock, steel fabrication, and repair using two floating drydocks and a 4,800 SF fabrication shop). Additional services include Contractor Mobilization (loading/unloading at Erie Basin Bargeport), Consulting (equipment evaluation, market studies, expert witness), Specialty Projects (fireworks, movies, ferry landings), and Green Projects (environmentally sustainable marine solutions). The company operates from its Erie Basin Bargeport facility in Brooklyn, NY, a 4,000 lineal foot berthing facility with shipyard capabilities. Founded in 1894, Hughes Marine is one of the largest deck and hopper barge fleets on the East Coast.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Erie Basin Bargeport: An 86-acre pier and warehouse facility in Brooklyn, New York serving as a marine industrial park for berthing, drydock services, and contractor mobilization
• Hughes Bros.

Products and services

• Barge Charters Rental of deck barges, hopper barges, spud barges, ABS-certified oceangoing barges, carfloats, material barges, and jobsite tugs for marine construction projects on bareboat and time charter basis. Spud barges range from 40' to 300' long by 10' to 60' wide, with oceangoing capacity up to 2,500 ST, car floats up to 300' long, material barges 300 to 3,000 ST capacity, and hopper barges 1,100 ST capacity. Mats, anchors, and winches are available for rent alongside the barges. Intended for marine construction, infrastructure, and waterfront project customers.
• Marine Transportation Movement of oversized cargo, bulk materials, construction materials, and waste materials via tug and barge along the US East Coast, Gulf Coast, Caribbean, and inland waterways including the New York State Canal System. Operations are conducted under US Interstate Commerce Commission Certificate W463 (issued 1944), authorizing movement of commodities throughout North America on inland and coastwise routes. Intended for shippers of oversized, bulk, and construction cargo.
• Shipyard Services Drydock services, steel fabrication and repair, spudwell fabrication, blast and paint services, topside repairs, tank cleaning, and cathodic protection installation for barges, tugboats, and other vessels. Operates Drydock #3 (800 Ton capacity, 120' x 64' outside dimensions) and Drydock #6 (600 Ton capacity, 120' x 52' outside dimensions) plus a 4,800 SF fabrication shop with a 350 Ton press brake and plate roller. Intended for owners of barges, tugboats, and marine vessels requiring maintenance or modification.
• Contractor Mobilization Loading and unloading of construction equipment and materials at Erie Basin Bargeport using a 65 Ton floating crane, 100 Ton land-based American 999 crane, and 8,000 lb forklifts. Includes barge modification services such as installation of spudwells, fenders, anchors, man-rails, and crane mats, plus cargo handling by crane operators and riggers from trucks to barges. Intended for marine construction contractors mobilizing equipment and materials for waterfront projects.
• Consulting Maritime consulting services including purchase and sale of marine equipment, equipment evaluation, market studies, transportation project methods and pricing, expert witness services, collateral appraisals for financial institutions, project evaluation, and management of vessels or entire fleets for absentee owners. Intended for maritime operators, financial institutions, attorneys, and absentee vessel owners.
• Specialty Projects Barge rental and maritime expertise for fireworks displays, ferry landings, movies, commercials, and public relations spectacles, including full marine logistics support. Hughes has operated up to 8 tugboats and barges for Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular for nearly 30 years and has supplied barges for blockbuster films including I Am Legend, War of the Worlds, and Meet Joe Black. Intended for event organizers, film productions, and entertainment companies requiring waterfront staging.
• Green Projects Barge rental services for environmentally friendly and sustainable marine projects, including alternative-energy initiatives such as The Science Barge, a floating greenhouse operated on the Hudson River by Groundworks Hudson Valley using 100% alternative energy (solar and hydroelectric tidal power). Intended for environmental organizations, green energy initiatives, and sustainable marine project operators.
• Erie Basin Bargeport Facility An 86-acre marine industrial park in Brooklyn, NY offering 4,000 lineal feet of modern bulkhead for deep-water berthing of tugs and barges, drydock and shipyard operations, contractor mobilization services, and crane services (65 Ton floating crane and 100 Ton land-based American 999 crane). Jointly owned with Reinauer Transportation since 1992 and managed by the Hughes family. Intended for tug and barge operators, marine construction contractors, and shipyard customers requiring protected berthing and industrial marine services.

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Reinauer TransportationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1992Jointly purchased an 86-acre pier and warehouse facility in Brooklyn, NY (Erie Basin Bargeport) with Reinauer Transportation in 1992. Hughes family manages this marine industrial park on behalf of the partnership. The facility serves as the fleet hub for Hughes Marine Firms, Reinauer, and other companies with tugs and barges in New York.
• American Waterways Operators (AWO)coreOthersProud member of AWO, the national trade organization for the US tugboat, towboat, and barge industries. Designated Responsible Carrier under AWO Responsible Carrier Program (RCP). The RCP is a nationally-recognized safety program requiring third-party audits twice every five years.
• Groundworks Hudson ValleyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Groundworks Hudson Valley to support The Science Barge, a floating greenhouse operated by 100% alternative energy (solar and hydroelectric tidal power) on the Hudson River. Hughes provides barge rental for this environmental education project.
• American Bureau of ShippingcoreTechnology or IntegrationSeveral of Hughes barges are designated as oceangoing by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), enabling them to work in all oceans and seas. ABS certification provides quality assurance for oceangoing operations.
• Railway Industrial Clearance Association (RICA)minorOthersMember of RICA, having built a competent network of inter-modal and logistics suppliers to provide assistance for marine transportation needs from origin to destination.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Cavendish Marine: Marine services company providing barge and tug services on the East Coast of Canada and the US. Comparable in barge charter and marine transportation services, with a regional focus.

Broad incumbents

• Tidewater Marine: Global provider of offshore marine services including vessels and barges. Comparable in marine vessel/barge operations, but with a strong offshore energy focus and much larger international footprint.
• Kirby Corporation: The largest inland marine transportation company in the US, operating a fleet of over 1,000 barges. Comparable in marine transportation and barge charter services, but a much larger, publicly traded incumbent with broader geographic reach.

Direct peers

• Reinauer Transportation: Joint venture partner at Erie Basin Bargeport and operator of tug and barge services on the US East Coast. Highly comparable as a marine transportation company operating in the same geography and serving similar marine construction and bulk cargo customers.
• Bouchard Transportation: One of the largest independently owned tug and barge companies in the US, transporting petroleum and dry bulk along the East Coast and Gulf Coast. Directly comparable in barge fleet operations, marine transportation services, and customer base.
• Weeks Marine: Marine construction, dredging, and tug/barge services provider on the US East Coast and Gulf. Comparable in serving marine construction customers with barge fleets and having integrated shipyard capabilities.
• Vane Brothers: Baltimore-based marine transportation company providing tug and barge services along the US East Coast. Comparable in barge operations, marine transportation, and East Coast customer base.
• McAllister Towing: Family-owned marine transportation and tug/barge company serving the US East Coast. Comparable in East Coast barge operations, fleet-based services, and multi-generational family ownership.
• Donjon Marine: Provides marine salvage, dredging, and heavy lift services with a fleet of barges and tugs in the Northeast US. Comparable in marine services portfolio (salvage, heavy lift, shipyard) and East Coast operating area.
• Moran Towing: Fifth-generation, family-owned tug and barge operator headquartered on the US East Coast. Comparable in family ownership structure, marine transportation services, and long-standing industry presence.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HFirms
• Facebookfacebook.com/hughesmarinefirms

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hughes Marine Firms