Trailer Bridge Secured Three-Year Tug Services Deal

The agreement aims to bolster weekly barge reliability for Jacksonville-based shippers.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Transportation

Trailer Bridge Secured Three-Year Tug Services Deal

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Trailer Bridge has finalized a three-year agreement with Curtin Maritime to provide tug services for two of its LoLo barges. The partnership is designed to improve schedule integrity for the company's weekly Jones Act service between Jacksonville and San Juan.

Why it matters

This contract represents an effort to stabilize operations for businesses relying on consistent maritime freight between the mainland and Puerto Rico. The move builds on a broader series of logistics investments intended to mitigate downtime and service volatility.

The agreement covers tug support for two LoLo barges for three years, following a $9 million investment by Trailer Bridge in 2026 dry dock and upgrade work. This service shift complements a larger 10-year partnership with Ports America initiated in August 2026.

The players

Trailer Bridge

A logistics provider operating the sole weekly Jones Act barge route between Jacksonville and Puerto Rico.

Curtin Maritime

A Long Beach-based maritime services firm that provides tug operations for cargo fleets.

Ports America

A terminal operator and stevedore that maintains a 10-year partnership with Trailer Bridge.

The details

Curtin Maritime will take over towing responsibilities for two LoLo barges to ensure higher schedule reliability. The tug vessel Mabel C will join the rotation in mid-October after finishing a scheduled dry dock period. This arrangement tightens the operational workflow for the only weekly Jones Act barge service connecting the Jacksonville port to San Juan.

August 2026: Trailer Bridge entered a 10-year partnership with Ports America.
September 29, 2026: The three-year tug services agreement was announced.
Mid-October 2026: The Mabel C is scheduled to enter the trade.

Market Landscape

The agreement highlights the capital-intensive nature of maintaining high-reliability service under the Merchant Marine Act of 1920. It follows a recent trend of local freight operators securing long-term service contracts to hedge against logistical volatility.

Operators reliant on this shipping route should monitor schedule performance once the Mabel C enters service in mid-October. The shift indicates a strategy to stabilize transit times, which may allow for tighter inventory management for businesses importing goods from Puerto Rico.

The takeaway

Reliability in maritime shipping is increasingly dependent on long-term vendor partnerships rather than spot-market services. Jacksonville-based managers should review their current logistics contracts for similar three-year duration clauses to ensure predictable lane capacity.