Weber Marine offers a variety of harbor services to customers on the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. The family business, organized in 1973, provides service to vessels from all over the world on 80 miles of the Mississippi River, 54 of which is the Port of South Louisiana district.
Barge fleeting, anchor salvage, dock maintenance / repair and crew boat operations meet the many requirements of local stevedoring companies, barge lines, steamship operators, chemical plants and grain elevators that make up the bulk of the Weber Marine customer list.
“We provide Harbor services and solutions as efficiently as possible,” said managing member, John Weber. His job duties entail overseeing the complete daily operations and administrative functions of the company, including managing insurance, banking, commercial issues and human resources.
Weber said the company has grown over the years. Initially, it began as a launch service with outboard powered skiffs that transported passengers.
But the need for floating cranes to load supplies to deliver ships also led to the need for push boats, he explains, which move the cranes and barge fleeting for storing the crane barges. “I believe in business school now they would define this as organic growth,” he said.
With 125 employees, Weber Marine operates out of Burnside, Louisiana.
“LA Mile 167 AHP Mississippi is our fleeting area and main location,” he said.
As they have operated within the Port of South Louisiana for more than 40 years now, Weber said it is a completely cooperative relationship with port officials. “Anytime we’ve asked for assistance” the Port has been there for the company, and the help is reciprocated by Weber, as well.
Weber is also proud of the role the company has played in the community, by providing well-paying jobs that enable its employees to be home every day and allowing hundreds of families to support themselves.
He concludes, “We believe in doing the best job we can, as effectively and efficiently as possible.”
