Trailer Bridge, Jacksonville, Fla., has signed a three-year agreement with Curtin Maritime, Long Beach, Calif., to provide towing services for its two load-on, load-off barges operating between Jacksonville, Fla., and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Curtin’s Corinne C currently tows one of the barges. The Mabel C is scheduled to join the trade after completing drydock work in mid-October, placing both barges under Curtin’s towing operation.
The agreement, announced Sept. 29, is intended to improve schedule reliability on Trailer Bridge’s Jones Act service.
“Our customers have been clear about the importance of schedule integrity, and we know we have work to do to deliver the consistency they expect from Trailer Bridge,” Tony Kvasnicka, Trailer Bridge’s chief operating officer, said in a statement. “We are already seeing the benefits of working with Curtin, including improved fuel efficiency and strong operational performance and know this move is an important step in building a more dependable service for our customers.”
Founded in 1997, Curtin provides marine transportation, towing and other maritime services. The company has previously supported Trailer Bridge operations.
“Trailer Bridge takes its commitment to Puerto Rico seriously, and that stood out to us from the start,” said Blake Klingeman, Curtin’s chief operating officer. “We look for partners who care about the work as much as we do. This is an opportunity to bring the right vessels and crews to a service that matters to the people who depend on it.”
The tug agreement follows other investments in Trailer Bridge’s vessels and Jacksonville terminal operations. The company said it invested approximately $9 million in scheduled drydock work and upgrades to its two roll-on, roll-off barges in 2026.
In August, Trailer Bridge also entered a 10-year partnership with Ports America for its Jacksonville terminal operation. That agreement includes stevedoring services and plans to implement Dockworks terminal operating technology.
Trailer Bridge operates weekly Jones Act barge service between Jacksonville and San Juan, carrying containers, vehicles, temperature-controlled cargo and non-containerized freight.
