What James Marine does

James Marine, Inc. is a family-owned, privately held inland waterways services company founded in 1986 by C. Ronald James and headquartered at 4500 Clarks River Road, Paducah, Kentucky. The company operates a family of wholly-owned service divisions — including Paducah River Service, Walker Boat Yard, JMI Wickliffe, JMI Elmwood, JMI Hahnville (towboat and barge repair), Tennessee Valley Towing, James Fleet (towing and harbor services), James Built (new vessel construction), Paducah River Painting, Big River Propeller, Paducah River Fuel Service, and the T.T. 104/183/237 tank cleaning group — delivering a comprehensive suite of repair, construction, towing, fueling, propeller repair, and environmental services to commercial marine operators on the inland river systems of the United States.

The company's underlying technology is industrial-mechanical rather than digital: it is anchored by capital-intensive physical assets including dry docks up to 3,500 tons, syncrolifts, floating cranes up to 250 tons, three climate-controlled construction buildings, a fleet of 25 towboats ranging from 750 to 5,600 HP, and a patented Automated In-Door Abrasive Blasting Barge Painting System (Patent #7,837,410) enabling 365-day, weather-independent operations. ABS and USCG certified welders, certified marine chemists, and a documented Total Safety Management System underpin execution across service lines.

Commercially, James Marine generates revenue primarily through B2B professional services for enterprise marine operators — repair and refurbishing contracts, vessel new-build projects (categorized in source data as one-time/large projects), for-hire tramp towing and charter services, recurring fuel/lubricant provisioning and supply sales, and tank barge cleaning and gas-freeing services. The go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales executed by an EVP and VP of Sales & Business Development along with regional operations leadership, supported by an American Waterways Operators (AWO) Responsible Carrier Program membership. The company serves a horizontal customer segment (commercial marine operators) across 12+ facilities in Kentucky, Louisiana, and Alabama, employing over 1,500 people across the JMI family of companies; revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

James Marine

Legal name

James Marine, Inc.

Website

https://jamesmarine.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

James Marine, Inc. is a family-owned inland waterways services company founded in 1986, headquartered in Paducah, Kentucky, operating 12+ facilities across Kentucky, Louisiana, and Alabama to deliver towboat and barge repair, towing, new vessel construction, fueling, painting, propeller repair, and tank cleaning services to commercial marine operators on U.S. inland rivers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Inland Marine Services

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Ship and Boat Building (33661)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730), Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Piping, HVAC & Auxiliary Systems Repair (TLAKAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Underwater Hull Inspection, Cleaning & Propeller Services (TLAKAKAJ), Naval & Government Vessel Maintenance & Modernization (TLAKAKAB), Emergency/Expeditionary Repairs & Afloat Maintenance (Voyage Repairs) (IMAJAFAK), Emergency Towage & Rescue (Refloating, Grounding Response) (IMAJANAB), Engine & Mechanical Overhaul (Main/Aux Engines, Pumps, Valves, Compressors) (TLAHAMAD)

Keywords

• Inland marine repair
• Towboat barge services
• Vessel new construction
• Marine towing chartering
• Tank barge cleaning

Headquarters

HQ city

Paducah

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Towboat & Barge Repair Services: Full-service repair and refurbishing of towboats and barges including dry dock services, machine shops, fabrication, and specialized repairs.
2. Towing & Chartering Services: For-hire tramp towing and charter services for cargo moved by barge on inland river systems. Operates fleet of 25 towboats.
3. Vessel New Construction: Specialty vessel construction including towboats, tank barges, deck barges, and mid-stream fueling barges.
4. Fuel, Supplies & Groceries: 24/7 fueling services, grocery delivery, and supplies for river operations.
5. Tank Barge Cleaning & Gas Freeing: Tank barge cleaning, gas freeing, steaming, and repairs at multiple Louisiana locations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

James Marine, Inc. is a full-service inland river marine company providing towboat and barge repair, dry-dock services, specialty vessel new construction, for-hire towing and chartering, harbor/fleet services, blasting and painting, propeller repair, tank barge cleaning and gas freeing, and 24/7 fuel, supplies, and grocery delivery. Operations span 12+ facilities on the Tennessee, Ohio, Mississippi, and Illinois River systems across Kentucky, Louisiana, and Alabama.

Product overview

James Marine is a family-owned inland waterways services company founded in 1986, operating as a portfolio of specialized service divisions rather than a single unified product. The company offers a comprehensive suite of marine services including towboat and barge repair (through Paducah River Service, Walker Boat Yard, JMI Wickliffe, JMI Elmwood, and JMI Hahnville), towing and chartering (Tennessee Valley Towing), harbor and fleet services (James Fleet), new vessel construction (James Built), blasting and painting (Paducah River Painting), propeller repair (Big River Propeller), fuel and provisions supply (Paducah River Fuel Service), and tank barge cleaning/gas freeing/repairs (TT 104, TT 183, and TT 237). These divisions operate across 12+ locations in Kentucky, Louisiana, and Alabama, serving the inland waterways of the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, and Illinois River systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Paducah River Service Full-service repair and refurbishing for all towboats and barges, operating 365 days per year with dry docks up to 2500-Ton capacity, machine and electrical shops, fabrication and carpentry shops, warehouse, floating cranes, and tank cleaning services. Serves commercial marine operators at Mile 5 and Mile 3 on the Tennessee River.
• Walker Boat Yard Complete full-service repair services for all sizes of barges and towboats, from minor repairs to major hull replating, featuring 7 dry docks up to 2000 Ton capacity, spares storage, in-water repair areas, machine, fabrication, and carpentry shops, and floating crane.
• JMI Wickliffe Full-service repair and refurbishing strategically located at Mile Point 951.2 Lower Mississippi River, featuring dry docks up to 3000 Ton capacity, tug service, fueling service, fleeting for dry-cargo barges, machine shop, and engine and gear repair services.
• JMI Elmwood Towboat and barge repair services at Mile 4.5 Harvey Canal with 7 dry docks up to 2500 Ton capacity, machine and fabrication shops, blasting and painting, cranes, and fuel storage; designed for fast turn-around on small repairs to major hull replating.
• JMI Hahnville Full-service repair on the Lower Mississippi River offering 2000 Ton Capacity Syncrolift, 3500 Ton Capacity Dry Dock, 3000 Ton Capacity Dry Dock, full-service machine shop/CNC, wheel shop, in-water boat and barge repairs, fuel storage and tank cleaning, and floating crane service.
• Tennessee Valley Towing For-hire tramp towing and charter services for cargo moved by barge on inland river systems, operating 25 towboats ranging from 750 to 5600 HP, covering the Tennessee, Ohio, Mississippi, Illinois, and Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.
• James Fleet Short haul towing, fleeting space, and tug services operating two supply/crew change vessels and two harbor tugs ranging from 740 to 1800 HP, with 24-hour dispatch and barge fleeting in Paducah KY and Cairo IL Harbors.
• James Built Specialty vessel construction including towboats, tank barges, deck barges, mid-stream fueling barges, and specialty barges, with three climate-controlled construction buildings, full-time draftsman, ABS and USCG certified welders, 250 tons of crane capacity, certified marine chemist, and on-site safety personnel.
• Paducah River Painting Patented blasting and painting facility using the patented Automated In-Door Abrasive Blasting Barge Painting System (Patent #7,837,410), providing environmentally friendly, enclosed, and weather-protected services 365 days per year, with marine ways, repair areas, and off-site surface preparation and coating of vessel tanks, voids, hulls, and superstructures.
• Big River Propeller Propeller repair services 24 hours a day, combining experienced technicians with industry-leading propeller repair techniques at service locations in LaCenter, KY and Belle Chasse, LA.
• Paducah River Fuel Service Fuel, lubes, supplies, and groceries operation running 24/7 - 365 days per year in the Paducah Harbor at the junction of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers, offering warehouse storage, slop oil removal, waste removal, full-service grocery, boat supplies, recycling, 24-hour deliveries, two midstream fueling barges, and recycled waste removal.
• TT 104, TT 183 & TT 237 (Tank Barge Cleaning) Tank barge cleaning, gas freeing, steaming, and repair services at three locations: TT 104 in Westwego, LA (Mile 104), TT 183 in Donaldsonville, LA (Mile 183), and TT 237 in Port Allen, LA (Mile 237) on the Lower Mississippi River.

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Alliance Sand and GravelminorOthersAlliance Sand and Gravel operates the Decatur Fleet location at Mile 301 Tennessee River in Decatur, AL, operated in partnership with James Marine / JMI.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Marquette Transportation Company: Inland towboat and barge operator that also runs shipyard repair facilities (Paducah, Houston); directly comparable to James Marine's towing fleet and repair yard operations in overlapping inland waterways.
• ACBL (American Commercial Barge Line): Major inland barge operator with affiliated marine services; shares the same customer base of barge operators requiring towboat/barge repair, fueling, and towage on the inland river system.
• Crescent Towing & Salvage: Gulf and inland towing, salvage, and marine services company; comparable to Tennessee Valley Towing and JMI's towing/chartering business in the inland and Gulf market.
• Quality Marine Services: Inland marine services and shipyard repair operator providing towboat and barge repair across U.S. inland waterways; directly comparable shipyard operations to James Marine's repair divisions.
• Bollinger Shipyards: One of the largest U.S. shipyard operators, with extensive Gulf and inland newbuild and repair capacity; directly comparable for marine vessel MRO and construction services to James Marine's shipyard divisions.
• Ingram Marine Group: Inland barge operator with marine service operations across the Mississippi River system; comparable customer base and overlapping towing and barge maintenance operations with James Marine.
• Bouchard Transportation: Coastal and inland tug and barge operator with associated marine services; comparable vessel operations and customer base in U.S. waterways.
• Trinity Industries (Trinity Marine Products): Operates one of the largest inland barge manufacturing and repair networks in the U.S.; directly comparable for towboat/barge construction and MRO services and serves a similar inland marine customer base.
• Campbell Transportation: Inland marine transportation company operating towboats and barges on U.S. river systems; directly comparable inland customer base that consumes repair, fueling, and towage services.

Broad incumbents

• Kirby Corporation: Largest U.S. inland tank barge operator with significant internal MRO infrastructure and shipyard operations; a broad incumbent in inland marine services with overlapping repair and vessel operation capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtiktok.com/@jamesmarineinc
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=100042131778884
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jamesmarine
• Instagraminstagram.com/jamesmarineincorporated

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries19 records

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 James Marine