Colonial Pipeline And TransMontaigne Announce Completion Of Baton Rouge Barge Dock Facility

** Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony to be held Thursday, March 30, 2000 ** 

BATON ROUGE, La. — Colonial Pipeline Company, Atlanta-based transporter of refined petroleum products, and TransMontaigne Inc. (ASE:TMG), Denver-headquartered provider of seamless petroleum product services, have completed construction of a Baton Rouge-based barge dock facility expected to enhance their ability to deliver and receive customer shipments throughout the Mississippi and Ohio River Regions. The companies first announced plans to construct and operate a barge dock terminal on the Mississippi River near Colonial’s Baton Rouge tank farm last April. To commemorate the facility’s completion, Colonial and TransMontaigne will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, March 30, beginning at 10:30 a.m.

In fulfillment of the original project agreement, TransMontaigne has completed construction of a marine loading and unloading facility capable of handling the petroleum products transported within Colonial’s pipeline system. Owned and operated by TransMontaigne, the facility is located on the Mississippi River 29 miles north of Baton Rouge and 4.5 miles west of Colonial’s Baton Rouge Junction. The barge dock facility is designed to handle simultaneous deliveries to and from the nearby Colonial tank farm. It is capable of loading or unloading barges concurrently at a rate of 7,000 barrels per hour. 

For its part, Colonial constructed three 4.5 mile pipelines: two 16-inch lines (one gas, one distillate) to feed the marine facility and waterway deliveries along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, and one 16-inch pipe (multi-grade service) to receive barge deliveries traveling to the tank farm for long haul system shipments. Colonial also now owns and will operate a new pump station at its 2.5 million-barrel Baton Rouge tank farm and all pipeline connections between the tank farm and marine facility. In addition, a fourth pipeline was constructed from the tank farm to the pump station to accommodate the delivery of premium gasoline to the dock. 

Construction of the joint facilities began in April 1999. Colonial and TransMontaigne expect full operation to commence in late spring. 

Both companies are enthusiastic about the opportunities the new facility will offer to customers. ​“The Baton Rouge facility combines pipeline and waterborne transportation to provide enhanced service to customers in a region where need for supply has continued to increase,” explained Doug Belden, Colonial’s Gulf Coast District Leader. ​“Working together with TransMontaigne, we are providing expanded shipping capability and flexibility to our customers where they need it.” 

TransMontaigne’s leader of Transportation Servies, Larry Clynch, agrees with the new facility’s benefits. ​“We have experienced a rising need for logistical servies from refiners, shippers and other customers who utilize the inland river system to meet increasing energy demands,” Clynch noted. ​“TransMontaigne’s alliance with Colonial combines the strengths and abilities of both companies and provides a solution to the needs of our customers in a growing marketplace.” 

Thursday’s event will commence at Colonial’s Baton Rouge tank farm at 10:30 a.m. and proceed to the barge dock facility for the ribbon-cutting. The ceremony is expected to complete around 1:30 p.m. Colonial and TransMontaigne officials will be on hand following the event to answer questions. 

About TransMontaigne, Inc. 

TransMontaigne Inc. (ASE:TMG), headquartered in Devner, Colorado, provides a broad range of logistically integrated transportation, terminal, supply, distribution, gathering, processing and marketing services through its wholly owned subsidiaries. TransMontaigne serves refiners, manufacturers, producers, transporters, suppliers, distributors, marketers and end-users of petroleum products, natural gas, crude oil, chemicals, and other bulk liquids in the mid/​downstream sector of the petroleum and chemical industry. 

The TransMontaigne Logistical Services Group, which includes TransMontaigne Transportation Services Inc. (TTSI) and TransMontaigne Product Services Inc. (TPSI), operates from principal offices in Atlanta, Georgia, and annually handles over 8.4 billion gallons of petroleum products. Its refined petroluem product, chemical, crude oil and other bulk liquid services are directly supported by TTSI through its ownership and operation of a network of assets in 19 states, including three pipeline systems and 72 terminal, storage and delivery facilities. Operating at over 150 supply points in 49 states, TPSI provides petroleum product services as a supplier, scheduler, distributor, exchanger, and wholesaler of refined petroleum products from points of manufacture to utilization. The services provided by TPSI are integrated with the TTSI facilities, systems and services, and the utilization of over 60 third party terminals and various common carrier pipeline systems, including Colonial Pipeline Company, on which TPSI is a major shipper. 

About Colonial Pipeline Company 

Colonial Pipeline Company, based in Atlanta, provides a vital service to communities and businesses throughout Eastern United States. As a integral part of the nations’s transportation infrastructure, Colonial is focused on excellence in operations as we transport refined petroleum products. With a workforce of people dedicated to safe and environmentally conscious operationn, Colonial delivers a daily average of 80 million gallons of gasoline, diesel fuel, home heating oil, aviation and military fuels. 

As an industry leader, Colonial Pipeline is committed to a high standard of operational excellence. Our corporate vision os to be more than a pipeline company. We are driven to provide enhanced services to our customers in an ever-changing industry marketplace.