Settoon Towing Celebrates 50 Years Of Marine Service

Since 1968, the Settoon family has provided the inland marine industry with tank and storage barges, vessel management services, and marine and logistics support through two companies—Settoon Marine and Settoon Towing—that eventually merged under the Settoon Towing name in 1996.

In recognition of its 50^th anniversary, Settoon Towing hosted an employee golf outing enjoyed by all—experienced and inexperienced golfers alike—at Atchafalaya at Idlewild Golf Course in Patterson, La., on October 5. Following an early morning shotgun start on the course, employees were treated to food and beverages.

CEO Russ Settoon offered a speech in which he thanked employees for their service to the company. Senior employees presented Russ with a Visionary Leader award.

The Settoon Story

Started by Russ’ father, Fred Settoon, Settoon Towing got its humble beginnings in the oil fields of South Louisiana. The son of a timber manager and commercial fisherman, Fred started his own welding company, where he built small boats, barges and oilfield construction. Shortly thereafter, he started up Settoon Marine as a marine transportation segment of his oil field construction and shipyard business he named Fred Settoon Inc.

In 1994, Russ, who is Fred’s youngest son, followed in his father’s footsteps at age 23 and started his own marine company called Settoon Towing. Two years later, Russ purchased and merged Settoon Marine with Settoon Towing.

With a new vision in mind for the company, Russ turned his focus on the company’s future by growing its fleet and expanding its services to its customers. For the next 15 years, Settoon Towing made several acquisitions and grew its inland transportation fleet. In 2006, the company took on a strategic partner, Plains All American, to create an alliance in its core business: crude oil gathering and transportation.

With market conditions and timing being paramount considerations in the oil and gas sector, Settoon Towing said it began an aggressive growth plan over the next 10 years. The company nearly tripled its fleet and became one of the largest privately-owned tank barge businesses in the country, before selling some of its assets to Savage Marine last year.

Russ said that Settoon Towing’s success has been in large part due to its strong relationship with its customers over the years. Russ said he has long considered the business with his customers as a “relationship business.”

“This 50^th year of Settoon Towing stands as a testament to the business standards and commitment to the business, its customers, its employees and the community of our Settoon family,” added Russ.

Settoon’s Rodney Estay, marine scheduler, echoed Russ’ sentiment. “In all the years that I’ve been here at Settoon—with an up and down industry—we have always stayed strong and on course,” he said.

Caption for top photo: Settoon employees presented CEO Russ Settoon with a Visionary Leader Crystal Award. From left are, Russ Settoon, Rodney Estay, Stephanie Aucoin, Mandy Rousseau, John Boudreaux and Tana Indovina. (Photo courtesy of Settoon Towing)

Here are more pictures from the anniversary celebration (all photos courtesy of Settoon Towing):

<

►

>

Settoon employees presented CEO Russ Settoon with a Visionary Leader Crystal Award. From left are, Russ Settoon, Rodney Estay, Stephanie Aucoin, Mandy Rousseau, John Boudreaux and Tana Indovina. (Photo courtesy of Settoon Towing)