James Marine expands to Calvert City with composite cover manufacturing

James Marine is expanding their western Kentucky presence with a new composite barge cover manufacturing facility in Calvert City.

James Composites, a new division of James Marine, will build the new facility along Riverside Lane just west of Calvert City. The project represents an investment of about $5.8 million and is expected to create 25 full-time jobs. The company, incorporated in April of 2025, will manufacture the fiberglass covers that fit over barge cargo during transport. This new business further expands the portfolio of services that James Marine provides to customers along the inland waterway system.

Jeff James, the president and CEO of James Marine and a managing member of James Composites, said, "We are extremely excited about the opportunity to start our fiberglass barge cover manufacturing operations in Calvert City. This new business will allow us to create high-quality jobs here in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and provide an additional supply option for a vital product to the inland waterways barge market that we serve.”

Calvert City Mayor Gene Colburn added, "Having a company like James Marine invest and expand through James Composites is a strong sign that our location, our workforce and our access to the inland waterways continue to make Calvert City a prime economic driver for Marshall County and Western Kentucky."

The company is expecting its building to be completed around November 2026, with manufacturing to kick off in early 2027.