ACBL, MBLX Form Joint Venture Logistics Company

American Commercial Barge Line Company (ACBL) and MBLX, Inc. recently announced the formation of BargeLink, a joint venture logistics company in which each company owns a 50 percent stake. The new company will provide a wide range of transportation and logistics related services at both ends of the barge transport chain. These services include ocean transportation, customs clearance, discharge of vessels, loading and unloading of barges, warehousing, distribution and truck/rail deliveries. BargeLink will be based in MBLX's New Orleans offices.

"The joint venture offers domestic and international shippers the combination of MBLX's logistics expertise and advanced web-based tracking systems with the unmatched coverage offered by ACBL's extensive inventory of boats, barges, and fleeting services," according to a statement issued by the joint venture partners.

According to an MBLX official, the joint venture arose from a growing number of requests from ACBL's existing customer base for a wider range of logistics services. While there are a large number of logistics companies currently operating in the market place, BargeLink's primary focus will be to expand the market by offering third-party logistics services to companies not currently using them. An MBLX spokesman indicated that the new joint venture already has business on its books.

While ACBL owns a 50 percent interest in the new joint venture, BargeLink will not have an exclusive relationship with ACBL. "There may be some movements in which ACBL is not the most competitive alternative," an MBLX spokesman explained.

MBLX is a subsidiary of M.G. Maher, a New Orleans-based custom brokerage and freight forwarder. The company was formed in late 1996 when ACBL outsourced its less-than-barge-load import steel business to the newly formed company (see RTN 12/16/96, p.1). MBLX will continue to offer its less-than-barge-load consolidation services outside of the BargeLink joint venture operation.