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AEP River Operations's Overview

Total employees148
HeadquartersChesterfield
Founded

AEP River Operations, formerly a significant subsidiary of American Electric Power (AEP), was a prominent entity in the United States' inland barge transportation sector. Established in 1973 and headquartered in Chesterfield, Missouri, it specialized in the movement of bulk commodities. Key cargoes included coal for power generation, grain, steel, petroleum products, and other liquids, primarily navigating the Ohio River, Mississippi River system, and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. In a strategic move to divest non-core assets, AEP sold AEP River Operations to American Commercial Lines (ACL) in May 2015. ACL, which is now known as American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL) and is a portfolio company of Platinum Equity, integrated AEP River Operations' substantial fleet (which at the time included approximately 56 towboats and 2,933 barges) and its experienced workforce. This acquisition significantly enhanced ACBL's capacity and market presence, solidifying its status as one of the largest and most comprehensive liquid and dry cargo barge operators in the U.S.

Where is AEP River Operations's Headquarters?

HQ Function

The headquarters served as the central administrative and operational hub for AEP's barge transportation business. This included fleet management, dispatch, logistics planning, customer service, safety oversight, and financial management for its extensive river operations.

Notable Features:

The Chesterfield facility likely housed advanced dispatch and communication systems for managing a large and geographically dispersed fleet, along with corporate offices for its management and administrative staff. Proximity to the Missouri River and central U.S. location were advantageous.

Work Culture:

As a subsidiary of a major utility (AEP) and operating in the demanding maritime industry, the work culture at AEP River Operations would have emphasized safety, reliability, operational efficiency, and skilled navigation. A strong focus on regulatory compliance and preventative maintenance would also have been core.

HQ Significance:

The headquarters was crucial for managing the logistics of vital commodities, particularly coal for AEP's power plants and other bulk materials for various industries, playing a key role in the regional and national supply chain.

Values Reflected in HQ: The headquarters operation would have reflected values such as dedication to service, operational excellence, commitment to safety for employees and the environment, and contributing to the energy infrastructure of the regions served.

Location:

Historically, AEP River Operations conducted its business entirely within the inland waterways of the United States, focusing on major river systems like the Ohio, Mississippi, Illinois, Tennessee, and Monongahela Rivers, as well as the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Its functions, now fully integrated into American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL), continue to support the domestic U.S. transportation of a diverse array of dry and liquid bulk commodities. ACBL's operations are concentrated within this U.S. inland river system, providing essential logistics services for sectors including energy (coal, petroleum), agriculture (grains, fertilizers), chemicals, and manufacturing (steel, construction materials). While not 'global' in terms of international maritime shipping, ACBL plays a critical role in the North American supply chain and economic infrastructure.

Street Address:

14755 N Outer Forty Dr

City:

Chesterfield

State/Province:

Missouri

Country:

USA

AEP River Operations's Global Presence

Jeffersonville, IN, USA

Address: 1701 E Main St, Jeffersonville, IN 47130

Serves as the primary command center for ACBL's extensive network across U.S. inland waterways.

Harahan, LA, USA

Address: 527 Deckbar Ave, Harahan, LA 70123

Supports high-volume traffic of petrochemicals, agricultural products, and other bulk commodities in the critical Gulf region.

Cairo, IL, USA

Address: 2000 Commercial Ave, Cairo, IL 62914

Facilitates efficient cargo movement and vessel operations between two of the nation's most important inland waterways.

Buying Intent Signals for AEP River Operations

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Executive Team of AEP River Operations

As of April 2025, AEP River Operations' leadership includes:

Mike Kennelly - President and Chief Executive Officer
Patrick Sutton - Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Paul Dry - Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Administrative Officer and Secretary
Robert Blocker - Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer
Del Wilkins - Executive Vice President, Operations

Investors of AEP River Operations

AEP River Operations has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

Platinum Equity (current owner of American Commercial Barge Line - ACBL)
American Electric Power (AEP) (former parent company and seller of AEP River Operations)

Executive New Hires/Exits in the Last 12 Months

Hire0
Exits0

American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL) is a privately held company. Major C-suite executive changes are typically announced via official press releases or through industry publications. Based on publicly available information from the last 12 months, there have been no widely reported major changes (hires or exits) at the highest C-suite levels. Routine management and director-level adjustments may occur as part of normal business operations.

Technology (Tech Stack) used by AEP River Operations

Discover the tools AEP River Operations uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

AEP River Operations Email Formats and Examples

When AEP River Operations was part of American Electric Power (AEP), employee emails likely followed AEP's corporate email format (e.g., [initial][lastname]@aep.com or [firstname].[lastname]@aep.com). Its successor, American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL), uses its own domain. Common corporate email patterns are [first_initial][last_name]@[companydomain].com or [first_name].[last_name]@[companydomain].com.

For ACBL: Likely [first_initial][last_name]@acbl.com (e.g., jdoe@acbl.com) or [first_name].[last_name]@acbl.com (e.g., jane.doe@acbl.com). For historical AEP context: [j][lastname]@aep.com.

Format

example for ACBL: msmith@acbl.com

Example

80%

Success rate

News and media

WorkBoatFebruary 28, 2023

ACBL (Successor to AEP River Operations) to build three new towboats

American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL) announced plans to construct three new 3,000-hp towboats with Conrad Shipyard. These vessels are part of ACBL's ongoing fleet modernization and renewal program, aimed at enhancing efficiency and environmental performance across its U.S. inland waterways operations....more

Platinum Equity Press ReleaseOctober 19, 2020

Platinum Equity Acquires American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL)

Platinum Equity announced the re-acquisition of American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL), a leading provider of barge transportation services in the United States. This move brought ACBL back under Platinum Equity's ownership, aiming to support its growth and operational excellence. ACBL had previously incorporated the assets of AEP River Operations....more

Reuters / AEP News ReleaseMay 4, 2015

AEP Completes Sale Of River Operations Unit To American Commercial Lines

American Electric Power (AEP) finalized the sale of its AEP River Operations subsidiary to American Commercial Lines (ACL), then also a portfolio company of Platinum Equity, for approximately $550 million. The transaction included AEP River Operations' entire fleet of towboats and barges, marking AEP's exit from the barge transportation business....more

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