Ironwood Marine
A pushboat moving an empty deck barge along a calm, misty waterway at sunrise.

The right tug or barge, found fast and put in writing.

Ironwood Marine is a Houston brokerage for working vessels on the Gulf Coast and inland waterways. Tell us the job. We find available equipment, negotiate the terms and lock them in before anything moves.

Request equipment List your equipment
Based in HoustonWorking the Gulf Coast and the inland waterways that feed it.
No fee to askWe earn a commission only when a deal is made.
Terms in writingA fixture recap records the deal before the equipment moves.
One point of contactThe same desk from the first call to the signed charter.

What we broker

Working equipment for marine construction, aggregates, heavy haul, scrap and industrial cargo.

An empty flat deck barge moored at a dock at sunrise.

Deck barges

Flat decks for cranes, pile driving, dredging support and heavy equipment.

Request a deck barge An open hopper barge loaded with crushed stone.

Hopper barges

Sand, gravel, stone and other bulk cargo. One run or a standing schedule.

Request a hopper barge An inland pushboat underway on a marsh waterway.

Tugs and pushboats

Towing, harbor shifts and longer pushes along the coast and the rivers.

Request a tug A green and white harbor workboat with an open work deck.

Workboats

Crew, lines, inspections and job-site support on the water.

Request a workboat
Aerial view of a towboat pushing covered hopper barges on a river.

Need equipment for a job?

One deck barge for two weeks or a tug and tow for a season. Send the job and we come back with options, usually within 24 to 48 hours.

  • Spot and short-term charters, from days to months
  • Equipment from owners who have it available now
  • Rate, laytime, fuel and demurrage agreed before it moves
For contractors
A pushboat moving a loaded hopper barge past a refinery at dusk.

Own equipment that is sitting idle?

Put your tugs, barges and workboats in front of the contractors and shippers who need them. There is no fee to list.

  • We bring you the job and negotiate the terms
  • You decide whether to accept, and you keep operating your own vessels
  • Commission only, stated in the charter terms
For vessel owners

How it works

One desk from the first message to the signed fixture.

  1. 1

    Tell us what you need

    The job, the dates, the location and the cargo or equipment. A few lines is enough to start.

  2. 2

    We find the match

    We go to the owners and operators with equipment that fits, and negotiate rate, laytime, fuel and demurrage.

  3. 3

    We put it in writing

    A fixture recap records the terms for both sides, followed by the standard charter paperwork.

See the full process

The work we broker

Marine construction, aggregates, heavy haul and industrial cargo, moved by the kinds of equipment shown here.

A hopper barge being loaded with aggregate at a riverside dock.
Aggregate loading at a riverside dock
A tug pushing a deck barge loaded with large steel vessels.
Heavy-haul deck barge tow
A pushboat moving an empty deck barge along a tree-lined channel.
Deck barge under tow on an inland channel
An empty hopper barge tied up at a dock under a cloudy sky.
Hopper barge waiting for cargo

Tell us what you need.

A short request is enough to start. We come back with options or questions, not a sales pitch.

Request equipment List your equipment
(713) 347-6107 info@ironwoodmarine.com