Marine Transportation christens three towboats

Business News

Marine Transportation welcomed three vessels to the Marathon Petroleum Marine Transportation fleet at a recent christening ceremony. The three new towboats – the M/V Kenova, the M/V Mt. Vernon and the M/V Patoka, were christened for good luck and safe travels with the traditional breaking of a sacrificial bottle of champagne over the bow of each vessel.

“We are proud to add these three vessels to our fleet, as this addition allows MPLX Marine to move an additional 24 million gallons of commodities each day for Marathon Petroleum,” says Marine Transportation Manager Todd Sandifer. “Two of these vessels are unique to our system: the M/V Mt Vernon, at 6000 hp, is the largest horsepower inland river vessel Marathon Petroleum has ever owned. And the M/V Patoka is equipped with a retractable pilothouse – the first of its kind in the Marathon Petroleum fleet.” 

Vessels in the Marine Transportation fleet are named for terminals, or cities where terminals are located. These three vessels join the Marathon Petroleum Marine Transportation fleet of 23 boats and 256 barges.

The Marathon Petroleum fleet of boats and barges transport light products, heavy oils, crude oil, renewable fuels, chemicals and feedstocks to and from inland refineries and terminals throughout the Midwest and Gulf Coast regions.