KEX Kirby Corporation

HOUSTON, March 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Kirby Corporation ("Kirby") (NYSE: KEX) announced today that Kirby will present at the J.P. Morgan Aviation, Transportation and Defense Conference on Thursday, March 24, 2011.  Specifics of the conference are as follows:

A live audio webcast of the presentation will be available to the public and a replay will be available after the presentation by visiting Kirby's website at http://www.kirbycorp.com.   A copy of the material prepared by Kirby for the presentation will be available at 7:00 a.m. central time on Thursday, March 24, 2011 on Kirby's website.  A replay of the presentation will be available through April 15, 2011 on Kirby's website.

Kirby Corporation, based in Houston, Texas, operates inland tank barges and towing vessels transporting petrochemicals, black oil products, refined petroleum products and agricultural chemicals throughout the United States' inland waterway system.  Kirby also owns and operates four ocean-going barge and tug units transporting dry-bulk commodities in United States coastwise trade.  Through the diesel engine services segment, Kirby provides after-market service for medium-speed and high-speed diesel engines and reduction gears used in marine, power generation and railroad applications.

This press release and the presentation may contain statements that may be considered to be forward-looking statements.  These statements reflect management's reasonable judgement with respect to future events.  Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties.  Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated as a result of various factors, including cyclical or other downturns in demand, significant pricing competition, unanticipated additions to industry capacity, changes in the Jones Act or in U.S. maritime policy and practice, fuel costs, interest rates, weather conditions, and the timing, magnitude and the number of acquisitions made by Kirby.  Forward-looking statements are based on currently available information and Kirby assumes no obligation to update such statements.  A list of additional risk factors can be found in Kirby's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE Kirby Corporation