Hines Furlong Line (HFL), Nashville, Tenn., has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the river division of Campbell Transportation Company (CTC). The deal, announced Dec. 3, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, pending regulatory approvals.
The acquisition links two long-established inland operators with deep ties to the river industry. HFL said the combined operation will expand fleet capacity, broaden service lines, and strengthen coverage along the Ohio River and its tributaries.
“As two long-standing, family-led organizations, HFL and CTC share not only a deep respect for the rivers we operate on, but also a commitment to the people who navigate them and the communities they serve,” said Kent Furlong, HFL president and founder. He said HFL’s newer and recently refurbished towboats and barges will add capability across Campbell’s existing River Division, while continuing the standards that customers expect. “At the same time, we are honored to carry forward the legacy that Campbell has built over decades, while uniting complementary trade lines, vessels, and—most importantly—cultures under a single, shared purpose.”
Upon closing, the combined organization will include more than 800 employees and a significantly expanded inland fleet. HFL will own and/or manage 870 hopper and tank barges, 64 inland towboats, and 1,000 permitted fleeting spaces across the river system. The company will also oversee two shipyards and support facilities in key river corridors.
Campbell executive chairman Peter Stephaich said in the HFL statement that the move provides continuity for employees and customers. “Kent Furlong has a deep understanding and commitment to the river industry. He will provide a good home to our River Division employees,” he said. Campbell CEO Kyle Buese will continue to lead the company, which will shift its focus exclusively to tank barge operations.
Buese said the restructuring supports long-term stability. “Our people and our customers are at the heart of every decision we make,” he said. “By positioning our Gulf Division as a stand-alone company and aligning our river operations with HFL, we’re building a future where both can grow stronger, invest deeper, and respond faster to changing market needs.”
In earlier comments to WorkBoat about inland market dynamics, Stephaich noted that the barge sector is sensitive to even modest shifts in export and commodity demand. When volumes change, operators may cut rates, pursue new cargoes, or tie up barges until conditions improve. Stephaich said in April there is a good equilibrium between demand and supply of barges and upsetting that equation would have a negative impact on all dry cargo barge companies, especially those operating without long-term contracts or the ability to pass surcharges onto customers. That long-term, cycle-driven view helps frame why scale, diversified fleets, and broader river coverage remain important for companies like HFL and Campbell.
Campbell’s Gulf Division will remain headquartered in Houston and continue to operate under the CTC brand. Hines Furlong Line will maintain its bases in Nashville, Tenn., and Paducah, Ky., while adding Campbell’s Pittsburgh operation, extending the company’s reach from the upper to the lower Ohio River.
HFL is also in the beginnings of an 11-vessel newbuild program underway at two Intracoastal Iron Works, Bourg, La. and Eymard Marine Construction & Repair, Harvey, La.
