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LEON JOHNSON
Photo by: Captain Ted

Built in 1971, by the Nashville Bridge Company of Nashville, Tennessee (hull #2050) as the Bill Gee for the Ingram Barge Company Incorporated of Nashville, Tennessee.

In 1994, the tug was acquired by Coastal Towing Incorporated of Houston, Texas. Where she was renamed as the Ross Pickett.

In 2003, she was acquired by the Kirby Corporation of Channelview, Texas. Where the tug was renamed the Leon Johnson.

In 2021, the tug was phased out of active service and was "laid up" at Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Powered by two, GM 8-645E5 diesel engines. She was a twin screw towboat, rated at 2,800 horsepower.


  • Vessel Name: LEON JOHNSON
  • USCG Doc. No.: 530133
  • Vessel Service: TOWING VESSEL
  • Trade Indicator: Coastwise Unrestricted
  • Call Sign: WDC2711
  • Hull Material: STEEL
  • Hull Number: 2050
  • Ship Builder: Nashville Bridge Co.
  • Year Built: 1970
  • Length: 121
  • Hailing Port: HOUSTON, TX.
  • Hull Depth: 10.3
  • Hull Breadth: 33
  • Gross Tonnage: 349
  • Net Tonnage: 237
  • Previous Vessel Names:
    BILL GEE, ROSS PICKETT, LEON JOHNSON
  • Previous Vessel Owners:
    Ingram Barge Co. Inc., COASTAL TOWING INC., KIRBY INLAND MARINE LP.