Who We Are

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Stevens Towing Company, Inc. is a multi-generational, family-owned shipyard and marine transportation company based on Yonges Island, South Carolina, just south of Charleston.

Our family founded Stevens Towing in 1913 on Yonges Island, originally moving produce and passengers from local barrier islands to the Charleston market.

Today, Stevens Towing Company engages in inland, coastwise, and ocean towing, as well as operating two shipyards serving both large and small vessels. Our experienced team operates a complete fleet of tugs, barges and cranes for all freight and construction operations that regularly service the East, West, and Gulf Coasts of the United States, including the western rivers, Great Lakes, Caribbean and international ports.

OUR HISTORY

Since the late 17th century, the Stevens family has called South Carolina home, proudly focusing on the needs of the community at-large. Throughout history, the Stevens’ have been known to provide service, invention, and ingenuity to their communities and neighbors.

While some of the family migrated south to Georgia, the direct descendants of the Stevens family remained in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina. Moving closer to the coastline proved to be the beginning of a promising future for generations to come.

19th Century

During this time, road transportation was difficult due to flooding and lack of infrastructure. Transportation by carriage and horseback were the most common modes, especially inland. Oxcarts were often used to take produce and goods to landings for river transport. Brothers Joseph Stanyarne Stevens and William Yates Stevens acknowledged the need for reliable water transportation from Edisto Island to Charleston and many points in between. In the late 1800s (estimated 1878), Stevens Brothers was created and began providing marine transportation services after the purchase of their first boat, the Mary Draper.

20th Century

In 1903, Stevens Brothers expanded as a company and as a family – both brothers were wed and welcomed sons.

In the early 1900s, boats were in demand to handle the burgeoning market for transporting not only produce and supplies, but also passengers who were dependent upon reliable transportation. In response, Stevens Line Company was incorporated in 1913, and in the 1970’s the company’s name was changed to Stevens Towing Company, Inc.

The company began transporting produce such as cabbage, potatoes, cucumbers, and beans. Farmers would take their crops out in their small boats to meet the Stevens’ freight boat and then the cargo was brought to Yonges Island, SC where it would be loaded on a train and carried into Charleston, SC. The next week, William Johnson Stevens would meet the farmers to pay them for their sold goods or to return to them their unsold goods. His least favorite part was delivering the bad news to farmers that some of their produce did not sell.

Business thrived until tragedy struck in 1962 when the dock at Yonges Island burned down, causing a temporary halt in the Stevens Line Company’s prosperous maritime business. Our family persevered, rebuilt and relaunched.

Today, Stevens Towing Company, Inc. operates 13 towboats, a US flag Jones Act ship, several 500-ton floating cranes, and shipyards including an 820-metric ton travelift boat hoist. We own more than fifty barges of various sizes and employ over 100 people, some of whom are second generation.

Mission

Stevens Towing strives to be a leader in the marine transportation and shipyard repair industry by providing experience, safety and value-based service to our customers, their cargos and our employees.

Environmental Policy

Stevens Towing is committed to doing business in an environmentally responsible manner. We operate with the highest concern for the well-being of the environment and the safety of our employees, in compliance with all federal, state and local regulations pertaining to the environment.

Safety

Stevens Towing fosters a culture that stresses safety in all aspects of our operations. Our culture sets the tone for how we operate our business in the minds of our employees, customers, vendors, and the public. Providing a safe work culture has made it possible for us to operate successfully for over 100 years and continue to grow our company by retaining an unparalleled workforce.