Campbell Christens Mv. Linda Hughes Farley
Campbell Transportation Company Inc. held a renaming ceremony November 9 in Galveston, Texas, for one of its newest towboats, the mv. Linda Hughes Farley. Campbell, a Pittsburgh, Pa.-based marine transportation and logistics solutions provider, recently opened a second corporate office based in Houston to support its growing Gulf Coast operation.
The 3,000 hp., triple-screw towboat originally entered service as the mv. Julian Cenac in 2020. Measuring just over 90 feet by 34 feet, with a molded depth of 10.8 feet, the Linda Hughes Farley was built by Main Iron Works in Houma, La., in 2020. Cenac Marine Services initially operated the vessel before Campbell acquired it in early 2021. The vessel has operated under its new name since July 2023.
The mv. Linda Hughes Farley is named for the wife of Jim Farley, who serves as a member of Campbell’s board of directors and a friend of company chairman and CEO Peter Stephaich. Farley is also a past chairman of the American Waterways Operators (AWO).
“We are very fortunate to have Jim Farley on our board,” Stephaich said. “Jim brings a wealth of experience and practical advice to our team as we grow our liquid operations in the Gulf. Campbell is thrilled to name this boat for Linda Farley. She is the best!”
“Jim has been an asset and an advocate both on the Ohio River and here on the Gulf Coast for years,” said Nathan Hough, vice president of Gulf operations for Campbell Transportation.
Hough said approximately 180 friends, family and colleagues attended the renaming ceremony.
When Campbell Transportation leaders approached Farley with the idea of naming a boat in his honor, Hough said, Farley requested a different route.
“He asked that the boat be named after his wife, knowing that he never would’ve been able to achieve the level of success he has without her love and support,” Hough said.
Following the event, during which both Jim Farley and Linda Farley spoke, both described it as one they will never forget.
“Linda and I had a memorable day welcoming one of the newest additions to the Campbell Transportation Company boat fleet with friends, family and a great cross section of the marine industry,” Farley said.
After remarks from the Farleys and from Campbell Transportation leadership and a prayer of blessing by Rev. David Shirk, a chaplain with Seamen’s Church Institute, Jim and Linda Farley climbed up to the third deck of the towboat, with Linda Farley breaking a bottle of champagne over the rail, officially christening it into the Campbell fleet.
“I’m appreciative of the support Jim has provided both me and our business over the years,” said Campbell Transportation President Kyle Buese. “I’m happy that we’re able to honor the Farley family name with this incredible vessel.”
The mv. Linda Hughes Farley forms part of Campbell Transportation’s liquid towing fleet, transporting tank barges primarily along the Gulf Coast and the Lower Mississippi River. The vessel is powered by a trio of Caterpillar C32 main engines, which each produce 1,000 hp. Those main engines are mated to Twin Disc MGX5321 gearboxes, which have a reduction ratio of 6:39 to 1.
The vessel recently underwent a mid-period maintenance overhaul at Main Iron Works.
The mv. Linda Hughes Farley is one of 25 vessels in Campbell’s Gulf Coast towing fleet. The company also operates line haul and harbor vessels on the Ohio River for a total fleet of close to 60 inland towboats.
