Kirby (KIY) Risk Analysis
Risk Overview Q2, 2026
Source: the company's latest filing for the period ended Jun 30, 2026, filed Aug 05, 2026
Risk Change Over Time
Risk Highlights Q2, 2026
Risk Word Cloud
Risk Factors Full Breakdown - Total Risks 28
- Manufacturing - Risk 1The Company could be adversely impacted by a marine accident or spill event.
A marine accident or spill event could close a portion of the inland waterway system or a coastal area of the United States for an extended period of time. Although statistically marine transportation is the safest means of surface transportation of bulk commodities, accidents do occur, both involving Company equipment and equipment owned by other marine operators. The Company transports a wide variety of petrochemicals, black oil, refined petroleum products and agricultural chemicals throughout the Mississippi River System, on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, and coastwise along all three United States coasts. The Company manages its exposure to losses from potential unauthorized discharges of pollutants through the use of well-maintained and equipped tank barges and towing vessels, through safety, training and environmental programs, and through the Company's insurance program, but a discharge of pollutants by the Company could have an adverse effect on the Company. Risks may arise for which the Company may not be insured. Claims covered by insurance are subject to deductibles, the aggregate amount of which could be material, and certain policies impose limitations on coverage. Existing insurance coverage may not be able to be renewed at commercially reasonable rates or coverage capacity for certain risks may not be available or adequate to cover future claims. If a loss occurs that is partially or completely uninsured, or the carrier is unable or unwilling to cover the claim, the Company could be exposed to liability.
- Manufacturing - Risk 2KMT is dependent on its ability to adequately crew its towing vessels.
The Company's vessels are crewed with employees who are licensed or certified by the USCG, including its captains, pilots, engineers and tankermen. The success of KMT is dependent on the Company's ability to adequately crew its vessels. As a result, the Company invests significant resources in training its crews and providing crew members an opportunity to advance from a deckhand to the captain of a Company towboat or tugboat. Inland crew members generally work rotations such as 20 days on, 10 days off rotation, or a 30 days on, 15 days off rotation. For the coastal fleet, crew members are generally required to work rotations such as 14 days on, 14 days off rotation, a 21 days on, 21 days off rotation or a 30 days on, 30 days off rotation, dependent upon the location. The nature of crewmember work schedules and assignments away from home for extended periods require special recruiting and at times it can be difficult to find candidates. With ongoing retirements and a mariner shortage in the industry, the Company faces competitive labor pressure and continues to monitor and implement market competitive pay practices. The Company also utilizes an internal development program to train Maritime Academy graduates for vessel leadership positions. KMT has approximately 3,054 employees, of which approximately 2,337 are vessel crew members. None of the segment's inland operations are subject to collective bargaining agreements. The segment's coastal operations include approximately 436 vessel employees, of whom approximately 339 are subject to collective bargaining agreements in certain geographic areas. Any work stoppages or labor disputes could adversely affect coastal operations in those areas.
- Manufacturing - Risk 3KMT could be adversely impacted by the construction of tank barges.
At the present time, there are an estimated 4,004 inland tank barges in the United States, of which the Company operates 1,105, or 28%. For 2023, the Company estimates that industry-wide 27 new tank barges were placed in service and 48 tank barges were retired. For 2024, the Company estimates that industry-wide 34 new tank barges were placed in service and 38 tank barges were retired. For 2025, the Company estimates that industry-wide 66 new tank barges were placed in service and 65 tank barges were retired. The Company estimates that approximately 60 to 70 new tank barges have currently been ordered for delivery in 2026 and expects a number of older tank barges will be retired, dependent on 2026 market conditions. The long-term risk of an oversupply of inland tank barges may be mitigated by the fact that the inland tank barge industry has approximately 600 tank barges that are 30 years old or older and approximately 350 of those are 40 years old or older. Given the age profile of the industry inland tank barge fleet and extensive customer vetting standards, the expectation is that these older tank barges will continue to be removed from service and replaced by new tank barges as needed, with the extent of both retirements and new builds dependent on petrochemical and refinery production levels and crude oil and natural gas condensate movements, both of which can have a direct effect on industry-wide tank barge utilization, as well as term and spot contract rates. The Company estimates there are approximately 260 tank barges operating in the 195,000 barrels or less coastal industry fleet, the sector of the market in which the Company operates, and approximately 22 of those are over 25 years old. The Company is aware of no ATBs placed in service in 2023, 2024 or 2025 and no ATBs currently under construction.
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