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www.marinelink.com 77can bring someone in from high school, for example, and bring them through your training system, it helps to reinforce the company culture. You put them in the ß eet for six months, bring them back in for more training to not only reinforce the culture but give to them an addition-al skill set, I think you not only have a much better chance of keeping the indi-vidual, but you have someone who really understands what you are about. Have you investigated incorporation of LNG as Fuel onto your ß eet. What do you think will be the impetus to make this a more standard option on the waterways? The answer is yes, because the cost savings appear to be compelling. From a technology perspective I?m not sure that we have really Þ gured out how to do it. The vessels are going to be more expensive, and how you store LNG on a vessel is problematic. Intuitively what I think is going to happen is that the indus-try is going to be slow to get there, and it?s going to be dual fuel, it?s not going to be strictly LNG at Þ rst. There is going to need to be a conÞ dence that crude oil isn?t going to collapse. The only reason this works is on a BTU basis. I person-ally think that we are going to get there. I think the pricing differential for the next 20 years are probably sustainable; the economics are compelling. The chal- lenge: Are you going to replace all of your towboats? I don?t think so. We?re going to have to Þ gure out how you convert diesel powered vessels to LNG powered vessels, storing the fuel either in a barge that?s ahead of the tow or sponsons on the side of the towboat. Where do you see future growth? I think there are some oppor- tunities for us everywhere, because we are in all of the markets. We would Þ nd consolidation attractive in almost any geographic area. We?re not looking for another geography; for the U.S. ß ag we are in all of them. Looking back at your career, of what are you most proud? The people that I?ve had the opportunity to work with that have built with me a really great company that fo-cuses on the right things. It has been suc-cessful in terms of building shareholder value, in terms of building revenue and reputation. It?s not about me; it?s not about an individual; great companies have great cultures, and a great culture is one that allows everyone to contribute to a company?s success. ?It is pretty easy to get out your check- book and help this organization. Frankly I had resisted getting involved in the Coast Guard Foundation for years, because you?re so busy and when you get involved in something you either do it or you don?t; you don?t want to do it just to have your name on it. When I got more active and had a better understanding of what it does I became very enthusiastic about it, and I can see myself continuing.?Joseph Pyne, Kirby Corp.MR #9 (74-81).indd 77MR #9 (74-81).indd 778/30/2013 10:31:41 AM8/30/2013 10:31:41 AM
