Turn Services To Acquire Bayou Fleet

Turn Services, a New Orleans-based barge fleeting and shifting company that also offers barge repair and cleaning services, has announced a definitive agreement to acquire the assets and business of Bayou Fleet at Mile 125.5 on the Lower Mississippi River.

Bayou Fleet, located in Hahnville, La., on the west bank of the river, covers 85 acres along the batture and provides fleeting, shifting and both dry cargo and liquid barge cleaning, with operations independent of river stages.

According to Turn Services, the acquisition should be complete by the end of the year.

“The acquisition of Bayou Fleet is significant for Turn Services,” said Mario Muñoz, president of Turn Services. “This location, coupled with our other fleets along the Lower Mississippi River, allows us to offer our customers efficient solutions for the movement of their cargo.

“With this acquisition, we gain a strategic location offering a wide assortment of services, primarily focusing on the liquid tank barge market,” Muñoz added. “We look forward to working with the Bayou Fleet team and would like to especially thank the Durant family for entrusting us and for assisting with the transition to make this another premier location for Turn Services.”

Bayou Fleet is situated directly across the river from Valero’s St. Charles, La., refinery and in the vicinity of other tank storage and petrochemical facilities, making it a strategic location for both Turn Services’ continued growth in the liquid market and the company’s focus on safety and environmental responsibility, Turn Services Co-Chairman Gary Poirrier said.

“This acquisition gives us another location to offer logistical and service solutions to our customers at a strategic stretch of the river,” Poirrier said. “Of even greater importance to Turn Services is that Bayou Fleet provides a growth opportunity in step with our emphasis on zero harm. Given the stretch of the river and the liquid-related nature of the activities that take place there, we view this as a responsibility much more than an opportunity.

“Our partners in the area are extremely sensitive to safety and environmental concerns, and so are we,” he added. “Likewise, the importance of the safety of our people cannot be overstated. The top-notch facilities at Bayou Fleet will allow us to prioritize safety and the well-being of our people. We consider ourselves extremely fortunate to be acquiring a facility and equipment so well developed by Robin Durant and his team.”

The Bayou Fleet acquisition is just the latest for Turn Services, which over the past couple years, has also acquired Dockside Fleet and Michoud Fleet in New Orleans and taken over fleeting operations at InterGulf Fleet in Houston. Over that same time period, the company has grown its lock tripping, “last mile” towing and towboat chartering business, while also adding to its fleet of towboats.

To learn more about Turn Services’ operations, go online to www.turnservices.com.