CBR Steersman Wins Maritime Throwdown Final At IMX

Nine mariners competed for bragging rights and top honors at the Maritime Throwdown (MTD) final competition for the 2024 season, held May 29 during the opening reception of this year’s Inland Marine Expo (IMX).

The top spot went to 26-year-old Leighton Loveless, a steersman with Central Boat Rentals (CBR) who has about three years total in the maritime industry. Joe Wilson, a 46-year-old tankerman with Barge Transfer Services and a veteran of MTD competitions, finished second. Adam LeBlanc, an almost-25-year-old student at San Jacinto College’s maritime campus who’s in the midst of an internship with Edison Chouest Offshore, placed third.

The competition featured both shoreside and vessel-based tankerman and mariners in the process of moving to the wheelhouse. What’s more, this year’s competitors ranged in age from 22 up to 47. In fact, Wilson, who placed second, started out in the industry 25 years ago—before LeBlanc, who finished third, was born.

Capt. Kenny Brown, founder of the Maritime Throwdown and a captain with Central Boat Rentals, said that’s the whole point of his industrial maritime line-handling skills challenge. Safe operations and skillful line handling aren’t about brute strength, and youth isn’t a prerequisite.

“It’s all about technique,” Brown said. “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.”

The MTD course involves eight obstacles, including single- and two-part throws and technical tie-offs, along with the knot trifecta (bowline, double becket, alpine butterfly), suitcasing lines and donning a Type I life vest. Competitors are timed and scored according to their accuracy in performing each task.

“The course is based on fundamental line handling,” Brown said. “No one should be intimidated by this course.”

Mariners can earn a spot in the final competition in three ways. MTD holds qualifiers each year in Houston, New Orleans and Paducah, Ky. MTD also does inter-company training events. Companies can also bring the MTD course to special events, like family days or crawfish boils.

Brown said his recent move to Central Boat Rentals came about to launch the first MTD incentivized training program. That course at CBR will have its own timer and camera in place. Mariners will be able to upload their course video, which will then be scored and verified by MTD personnel and added to the running leader board. Brown said he hopes to see other companies partner with him in a similar way in order to promote competition and, ultimately, improve safety and professionalism for mariners.

“That’s our goal with Maritime Throwdown—to be a tool to help recruit, train and retain,” he said.

Loveless said he sees the Maritime Throwdown course and competition as a valuable way to mimic real-life situations in a low-anxiety environment.

“It lets you, in a non-threatening way, practice what’s happening,” he said.

Wilson concurred, adding that, for a shore-based tankerman, practicing line handling, knots and tie-offs helps him know what a properly secured barge should look like and make corrections, if needed.

LeBlanc echoed that assessment as well.

“It incorporates pretty much everything you’ll see on the water, and some things you won’t see,” he said.

Brown noted that each of the three top finishers had at least two things in common: they had each competed in prior MTD events and they drew late numbers for the finals at IMX. That experience, and the chance to watch other competitors go first, likely calmed their nerves and lessened the crowd-induced anxiety.

Even the crowd noise is a training tool, Brown said, since the cheering crowd and passersby can simulate distractions on the boat in a real-life emergency. Brown said the idea is for mariners to slow down, tune out the distractions, and focus.

“Focus on proper set up, proper technique,” he said.

Other competitors at the IMX final included Michael Taylor, a tankerman with Marathon; Ricky Baxley, a tankerman with Barge Transfer Services; Jose Reta, a tankerman trainee with Blessey Marine; Raymond Leonard Jr., an apprentice mate and steersman with Broussard Bros.; Jake Cheramie, first mate with Turn Services; and Anthony Baker, an engineer with Genesis Energy.

Reflecting on the latest final competition, Brown said he’s excited about the growth and energy he sees with Maritime Throwdown.

“I want to thank our initial supporters all the way to our supporters now,” he said. “We wouldn’t be here without them, and we anticipate a great future.”

Current sponsors of Maritime Throwdown include UMC Marine, Bay Ltd., Eckstein Fleeting Services and Yale Cordage. With Loveless winning the event, the MTD trophy will reside at Central Boat Rentals for the next year. In all, MTD awarded $10,000 in prizes, with Loveless taking home $7,000, Wilson receiving $2,000 and LeBlanc pocketing $1,000.

Caption for top photo: Leighton Loveless, a steersman with Central Boat Rentals, prepares to throw a line at the Maritime Throwdown final at IMX. Loveless came in first place. (Photo by Frank McCormack)

More Photos From IMX