ARTCo Christens Mv. Royce Wilken, Hosts Open House

Forty-eight years ago, Royce Wilken, after graduating from the University of Illinois with a degree in agricultural business, went to work for Archer Daniels Midland (ADM). Over his first 19 years with ADM, Wilken worked to learn every aspect of the business, holding commercial management roles in six different divisions and living in 10 different towns.

In 1995, Wilken became president of American River Transportation Company (ARTCo), a wholly-owned subsidiary of ADM, and was instrumental in the acquisition of both Hugh Mac Towing and Garvey Marine. He later served as president of ADM Harvest Shipping, during which time that company built its first five ocean-going vessels. During his lengthy career in the maritime industry, Wilken also served as both vice chairman and chairman of The American Waterways Operators (AWO), chairman of the Inland Waterways Users Board, and a board member of two separate joint ventures. He retired from ARTCo in 2014.

ADM and ARTCo honored Wilken for his lasting impact on the company and the maritime industry with an August 10 christening of a boat named in his honor. The mv. Royce Wilken was originally built by Dravo Corp. of Neville Island, Pa., in 1980. The 190- by 54-foot triple-screw towboat, originally named the mv. Jason, features three EMD 16-710 main engines that combine for 10,500 hp. Hugh Mac Towing acquired the vessel in late 1991 and renamed it the Dan MacMillan. Fittingly, the vessel was part of ARTCo’s acquisition of Hugh Mac Towing in 1998, which occurred under Wilken’s leadership.

“Royce was a beloved and respected leader, and we can’t think of a better way to honor him than with this boat and this event here in Mt. Vernon,” said Chris Boerm, president of ADM-Transportation.

To mark the occasion, the ADM team presented Wilken with a commemorative ship’s bell and a a model of his namesake vessel. After a prayer of blessing from Bill Coscarelli, a chaplain associate with the Seamen’s Church Institute, Wilken’s wife, Lois, christened the vessel.

Matthew French, general manager of ARTCo Lineboats, recalled the way Wilken used to encourage and challenge crew members.

“When Royce attended our crew meetings, he always challenged the captains and crew to think about the legacy they were leaving behind by their actions and how they treated people,” French said. “If you have a compass that is steering you to making sound day-to-day decision, in time, you could look back on a career and be proud of the legacy you created. I know the crew of the mv. Royce Wilken will embrace that same challenge and try every day to create their own legacy.”

Boerm and a group from ARTCo met with Wilken about a month a go to show him a photo of the boat with his name on the nameplate. He immediately recognized the vessel just from its superstructure and lines, recalling the role he played in acquiring it in 1998.

According to ARTCo, the mv. Royce Wilken recently underwent extensive structural and hull replacement work at JMI in Paducah, Ky., to meet Subchapter M requirements both now and long into the future.

As one of the highest horsepower towboats in the inland fleet, the mv. Royce Wilken routinely pushes as many as 46 loaded barges southbound on the Mississippi River from St. Louis to New Orleans and up to 64 empties northbound.

Along with the christening ceremony, ARTCo hosted an open house/family day at its terminal in Mt. Vernon, Ind., on the Ohio River. More than 600 people attended the open house, which featured dry dock, vessel, facility and dockside tours, carnival games, like a dunking booth and bounce house, face painting, and food trucks.

“Mt. Vernon is the hub for the expansion into the Ohio River that we embarked on with the addition of TPG Marine in 2019,” Boerm said. “The crews and landside staff here have done tremendous work, and this event not only shows our respect for Royce but our appreciation for the team’s dedication and pride in ARTCo and the Mt. Vernon facility.”