Campbell Transportation Acquires E Squared Marine

Campbell Transportation Company Inc., a fully integrated marine services company, announced April 1 that it has purchased the marine assets of E Squared Marine Service LLC. 

Campbell said the acquisition “is a significant expansion of Campbell’s tank barge operations providing an operating and fleeting location in Houston, Texas.” Campbell Transportation owns and/or manages a growing number of dry and liquid cargo barges and operates 50 towboats on the inland waterways system. Campbell will add E Squared’s eight towboats and 25 barges to its fleet. E Squared employees were retained. 

This acquisition is “another step forward in Campbell’s strategic plan to grow by diversifying and expanding its current business into new and growing markets,” the company said.  

Headquartered in Friendswood, Texas, E Squared Marine was founded in 2012 by Travis Elam and Tommy Echols. Its name reflects both of their last names, and the logo is a capital “E” with a number 2 in the upper right-hand corner. Both founders brought extensive experience in the marine services world. Tommy Echols is the son and collaborator of Capt. Tom Echols, who founded Echo Towing Service Inc. in 1972. Elam spent three years at Echo learning every aspect of the business. E Squared was incorporated in May 2012, and accepted delivery of its first two tank barges from Trinity Marine in December. 

E Squared quickly grew into a significant marine service supplier along the Gulf Coast. E-Squared’s fleet includes the Richard O (2,000 hp.), Sherry L (2,000 hp.), Lincoln Thomas (2,000 hp.), Kami Renee (1,600 hp.), Irene C (800 hp.) London Renee (1,200 hp.), Everett C (2,000 hp.) and Kennedy Grace (1,200 hp.). It’s a young fleet. Apart from the Lincoln Thomas (1975) and the Irene C (1977), all the rest have been built since 2007.