Kirby Corporation, through its subsidiary Kirby Inland Marine, LP, is the largest and one of the fastest growing and most efficient transporters of bulk liquid products on the Mississippi River System and Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Kirby is one of only a few carriers capable of servicing its customers' complete inland transportation requirements. Kirby, through its subsidiary Kirby Engine Systems, Inc., and its three operating subsidiaries, Marine Systems, Inc., Engine Systems, Inc. and Rail Systems, Inc., is engaged in the in-house and in-field overhaul and repair of large medium-speed and high-speed diesel engines, and related parts sales.

The history of Kirby can be traced back to 1921 when John Henry Kirby, a pioneer in the development of the Houston business community, formed Kirby Petroleum Company, an oil and gas exploration and development company. Today, the name "Kirby" is a well recognized name in Houston, with the "Kirby Building" and the "Kirby Mansion" in downtown Houston and a major Houston street, "Kirby Drive," all named in John Henry Kirby's honor.

The history of Kirby Inland Marine, Kirby's principal marine operating company, can be traced to 1948, when a group of Houston investors, including George Peterkin, Sr., father of Kirby's Chairman Emeritus, George Peterkin, Jr., purchased River Terminals Corporation, a transporter of petroleum between Houston and New Orleans and cotton down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. This company became Dixie Carriers, Inc. which was acquired by Kirby in 1969.

Kirby Petroleum Company operated as a Houston based independent oil and gas exploration and development company until 1956 when, after the sale of its producing properties, the remaining non-producing acreage was merged with three other independent oil and gas companies to form Kirby VenSyn Petroleum Company, a publicly traded company. As a result of the mergers, the Murchison family of Dallas, later noted for its ownership of the Dallas Cowboys, owned approximately 35% of Kirby. Murchison family members remain shareholders of Kirby today.

Kirby VenSyn Petroleum Company changed its name to Kirby Petroleum Co. in 1957 and adopted the name Kirby Industries, Inc. in 1967. As was quite common for the time, Kirby Industries operated as a conglomerate with many different operations: oil and gas exploration and development through Kirby Petroleum Co., the manufacture of steel buildings through Kirby Building Systems, Inc., financing of automobiles through Caribbean Finance Company, Inc., property and casualty insurance through Universal Insurance Company, and marine transportation through Dixie Carriers, Inc. Even though Kirby Industries had many different operations, the primary emphasis was on oil and gas exploration and development.

In 1974, with the underlying value of Kirby Industries assets substantially higher than the stock price, the Board of Directors adopted a plan of complete liquidation, designed to distribute to the stockholders of Kirby Industries cash and the stocks of certain companies. The oil and gas producing assets of Kirby Petroleum and the assets of Kirby Building Systems were sold, with the cash proceeds distributed to Kirby Industries stockholders. The stock of Caribbean Finance Company was distributed pro rata to the Kirby Industries stockholders, with Caribbean Finance Company becoming a publicly traded company. The liquidation also resulted in the stocks of Dixie Carriers and Universal Insurance, and the nonproducing oil and gas acreage, royalty interests and interests in oil and gas limited partnerships being transferred to a new corporation named Kirby Exploration Company. Kirby Exploration Company became publicly owned on September 30, 1976, when its common stock was distributed pro rata to the former Kirby Industries stockholders.

From 1976 through 1988, Kirby Exploration Company was engaged in oil and gas exploration and development, marine transportation through Dixie Carriers, and property and casualty insurance through Universal Insurance. During that period, as in the past, Kirby's primary emphasis remained on oil and gas exploration and development. The oil and gas boom of the early 1980's was a very active period for the oil and gas operation, with extensive exploratory drilling in the Fletcher Field of Oklahoma. The field was not as productive as anticipated, with Kirby relying on the cash flow of Dixie Carriers and the stock value of Universal Insurance to financially support the oil and gas operation.

Kirby entered the Kirby Engine Systems business in 1982 with the acquisition of Marine Systems, Inc. At the time a small Gulf Coast Kirby Engine Systems facility, through internal growth and through acquisitions, the operation has grown into the industry's nationwide recognized leader in the overhaul and repair of large medium-speed and high-speed diesel engines and reduction gears used in marine, power generation and railroad applications. Today, Kirby Engine Systems has 15 parts and service facilities nationwide, employing over 300 project engineers, mechanics and machinists.

During 1987, after an extensive study and much consideration, the Kirby Board of Directors determined that the future of Kirby should be concentrated on marine transportation and related activities. In April 1988, the oil and gas assets were sold and Kirby embarked on its marine transportation strategy. Following that strategy, in 1990 the name of the company was changed to Kirby Corporation, retaining the Kirby identity as a publicly traded company.

During the late 1980's and early 1990's, under the guidance of Joseph H. Pyne, Kirby's President and Chief Executive Officer, Kirby grew from a medium-sized inland tank barge company to a diversified marine transportation company, offering transportation services in both inland and offshore arenas, as well as Kirby Engine Systems to marine and non-marine users. During that time frame, Kirby acquired Alamo Inland Marine Co., Brent Towing Company, Inc., Sabine Towing & Transportation, Ole Man River Towing Company, Scott Chotin, Inc., AFRAM Carriers, Inc., the transportation assets of Dow Chemical Company, as well as numerous other smaller inland and offshore transportation acquisitions. Sabine Towing, acquired in 1992, has a history dating back to 1909. Kirby Inland Marine and Sabine Towing, as well as numerous of the other marine companies acquired by Kirby, were very instrumental in the development of the United States inland waterway system, which is composed of thousands of miles of navigable rivers, canals and coastal waterways.

In late 1997, the Board of Directors reassessed Kirby's business strategy, and adopted a new strategy to focus on core inland tank barge and diesel engine service businesses. In 1998, Kirby sold its offshore tank barges and ships, harbor tugs, and its remaining 45% ownership interest in Universal Insurance Company.

In October 1999, Hollywood Marine, Inc. was merged into Kirby Inland Marine, combining the nation's largest and third largest inland tank barge companies. Hollywood Marine, like Kirby, had a long history in the inland tank barge business, growing through a series of acquisitions, including Alamo Barge Lines in 1985, as well as through tank barge construction. Hollywood Marine was owned by C. Berdon Lawrence, who became Chairman of the Board of Kirby following the merger.

During 2002, Kirby continued its strategy of external growth with the purchase of the Cargo Carriers fleet, Union Carbide fleet, and part of the Coastal Towing fleet, with a management agreement for the remaining Coastal fleet. In 2003, Kirby acquired the SeaRiver Maritime fleet, the U.S. transportation affiliate of Exxon Mobil Corporation. In 2005, Kirby acquired the black oil fleet of American Commercial Lines, Inc., and in 2006, purchased the remaining Coastal Towing fleet and previously leased barges from Cypress Leasing, Midland Marine and Siemens Financial.

The number of inland tank barges operated by Kirby has grown from 71 in 1988 to approximately 913 active tank barges today, with a current liquid cargo capacity of approximately 17.3 million barrels, and approximately 258 active inland towboats.

Kirby and its marine transportation and diesel engine services subsidiaries have approximately 3,000 employees, all of whom are in the United States. Kirby's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange trading under the symbol "KEX".