CONTACT ST. JOHNS MARINE GROUP

Robert Gibbs began Dixie Towing in 1980 and grew the company from one boat the Atlantic Endeavor to four boats and five barges by the end of the 1990s.

In 2014 Robert purchased W&D Ship Deck Works Inc. as an opportunity to diversify his business beyond marine towing and expand into mobile ship repair. After a few years of success performing repairs and modifications to US Navy and Commercial Vessels Robert discovered a need for a waterfront facility where he could further his business beyond mobile repair and become a full-service ship repair company. In 2016 Robert purchased St. Johns Boat Co. and created St. Johns Marine Group as a holding company to consolidate the three businesses.

Robert Birtalan or “Bob” as he is known in the industry began working at Atlantic Marine in 1982 and held many positions within the company including Project Manager, Yard Superintendent, and ultimately became head of the Atlantic Marine Mayport Division.

Bob retired from BAE Systems in 2012 and in 2013 was approached by Robert Gibbs to consult on his perspective purchase of W&D Ship Deck Works Inc. Bob ultimately decided to collaborate with Robert on the purchase of W&D and quickly became invaluable to the company’s success with his wealth of ship repair and government contracting experience. Sharing Robert’s same visions Bob has maintained his partnership with the acquisition of St. Johns Boat Co and continues to be an active member of the management team.

Robert K. Gibbs Jr. began working for Dixie Towing full time in 2011 although he never missed an opportunity to ride one of his father’s tugs as a child.

With the guidance of his father and some local shipyard workers Robert Jr. fully redesigned and rebuilt the tug Atlantic Endeavor over the course of two years in the time between his college classes. In 2014 Robert Jr. took a larger role within Dixie Towing overseeing all maintenance activities on the tugs in addition to scheduling the jobs and managing the crews. Robert Jr. developed a taste for ship repair over the last few years, and eagerly joined his Father’s mission to develop a full service ship repair business.