Growth fuelled change and fabrication operations expanded
in Berne. The management team decided that it made good
business sense to relocate headquarters to Berne to be closer
to manufacturing operations and moved offices in 2018.
A 38,000-square-foot addition is currently underway,
which will bring the total manufacturing space to more than
100,000 square feet. Poseidon Barge has distribution depots
out of Plain, Wis.; St. Louis, Mo.; New Orleans, La.; Cocoa,
Fla.; Wilmington, N.C.; and Coeymans, N.Y.
The company is led by Donnie Fain, CEO and owner,
and Mary Habegger-Fox, president and owner. Sprunger
describes both leaders as “two visionaries.” They make solid
business decisions, such as protecting the products’ intellectual
property with patents, and they’re always looking for
ways to be more efficient.
For instance, Poseidon Barge used to send out barges
for painting, but in 2018, Fain and Habegger-Fox decided to
bring that process in-house. A steel-grit blasting booth and a
large liquid paint booth were installed as part of the operation.
Bringing these operations in-house allowed Poseidon to
shorten lead times and control cost and quality.
They also listen to their employees and welcome new
ideas. “They both have open-door policies. Mary Habegger-
Fox often stops by my door to say good morning and check
in. They are so supportive of new ideas or methods that can
make things better,” said Sprunger.
Poseidon Barge has an in-house naval architect/engineer
who focuses on improving design and works with customers
to analyze how the barges will react based on the information
clients provide. Recommendations from an in-house
naval architect is not something that all sectional barge
manufacturers offer. Poseidon Barge’s Basic Stability Analysis
includes detailed reports about how the imparted trim and
heel angles affect the platforms’ buoyancy and stability.
As other companies struggled due to the economic downturn
caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Poseidon Barge
expanded its team by hiring 40 employees, bringing the total
number of staff to 150.
Poseidon Barge is also in the process of obtaining ISO
9001:2015. The ISO 9001 series demonstrates that a company
has quality assurance processes in place and continually
monitors operations to find ways to improve processes. “We
pride ourselves on being leaders in the industry and quality
assurance is essential. The certification is a formal step to
recognize the quality assurance processes we already have in
place,” said Sprunger.
Poseidon sectional barges
What sets Poseidon Barge apart from its competitors? The
sectional barges are easily transported by truck – the fivefoot
model can transport two units in one truck – which is
ideal for projects on inland lakes and rivers. Most of Poseidon
Barge’s distribution depots stock barges that can be hauled
on step deck trailers, saving customers time and money.
The versatile barge sections can be used for work platforms,
transport platforms or material platforms. The
sectional barges come in different hull sizes, ranging from
four-feet, five-feet, seven-feet to 10-feet tall.
The 40-foot by 10-foot by 5-foot Poseidon P1 Sectional
Barge, the original design and one of the most popular
models, comes with a connection system whereby hairpin
connections are dropped into position. The P1 can support
up to 35,000 pounds.
Poseidon’s P2 and P3 models are compatible with other
sectional barges in the industry. “It’s Poseidon Barge’s innovation
and quality, tailored to be used in conjunction with
barges of a different manufacturer that customers already
have in their fleet,” Sprunger said.
Poseidon also designs and builds custom sectional barges.
Customers can provide the Poseidon team with the details of
their need and a customized product will be developed.
All Poseidon barges share some common features. For
example, all barges are built with patented roll form deck
material, which has four times the strength of a standard
quarter-foot deck plate. Each barge section is built to last
with a quality finish and zinc anodes installed on the exterior
for extra corrosion protection. Poseidon Barge also coats the
internal void in each barge section with a vegetable-based,
environmentally friendly rust inhibitor.
Working with customers
Whether customers rent or purchase barges, they will receive
personalized solutions. “The customer provides us information
relating to equipment size and weight, and how it will
be used. We analyze that information and then make recommendations,”
said Sprunger.
The team assists clients with determining the number
and type of barges needed for a project, arranging the transportation
of the barges and providing support during set up
of the worksite. One of the value-added services Poseidon
offers is engineering support so the job gets done safely and
efficiently. “We provide a basic stability analysis during the
initial planning stages of a project to assist the customer
in making sound, safe decisions for their activities on the
barge,” said Sprunger.
For rentals, Poseidon provides detailed guidelines about
how to install and take down the barges without damaging
the equipment. Support is available at every stage of the project.
When equipment is returned to the yard, technicians
perform inspections to ensure the customer power washed
COMPANY PROFILE
A drill rig rests on a deck of Poseidon P2 seven-foot barge
8 Q3 2020 www.pilingcanada.ca
/www.pilingcanada.ca
