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Definitive Proxy Statement

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )

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¨ Preliminary Proxy Statement

¨ Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

þ Definitive Proxy Statement

¨ Definitive Additional Materials

¨ Soliciting Material Under §240.14a-12

Kirby Corporation

(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

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		KIRBY CORPORATION

Notice of 2013

Annual Meeting of Stockholders

and

Proxy Statement

Meeting Date: April 23, 2013

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT

PLEASE PROMPTLY MARK, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN

YOUR PROXY CARD IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE

KIRBY CORPORATION

55 Waugh Drive, Suite 1000

P. O. Box 1745

Houston, Texas 77251-1745

March 8, 2013

Dear Fellow Stockholders:

On behalf of the Board of Directors, we cordially invite you to attend the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Kirby Corporation to be held on Tuesday, April 23, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. (CDT). The meeting will be held at 55 Waugh Drive, 9th Floor, Houston, Texas 77007. We look forward to personally greeting those stockholders who will be able to attend the meeting.

This booklet contains the notice of the Annual Meeting and the Proxy Statement, which contains information about the proposals to be voted on at the meeting, Kirby’s Board of Directors and its committees and certain executive officers. This year you are being asked to elect three Class III directors, ratify the Audit Committee’s selection of KPMG LLP as Kirby’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2013 and cast an advisory vote on executive compensation.

In addition to the formal proposals to be brought before the Annual Meeting, there will be a report on our Company’s operations, followed by a question and answer period.

Your vote is important. Please ensure that your shares will be represented at the meeting by completing, signing and returning your proxy card in the envelope provided whether or not you plan to attend personally.

Thank you for your continued support and interest in Kirby Corporation.

Sincerely,

JOSEPH H. PYNE

Chairman of the Board and

Chief Executive Officer

KIRBY CORPORATION

55 Waugh Drive, Suite 1000

P. O. Box 1745

Houston, Texas 77251-1745

NOTICE OF 2013 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS


		Date:		Tuesday, April 23, 2013
		Time:		10:00 a.m. CDT
		Place:		55 Waugh Drive
				9th Floor
				Houston, Texas 77007

Proposals to be voted on at the Kirby Corporation 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are as follows:

1. Election of three Class III directors;

2. Ratification of the Audit Committee’s selection of KPMG LLP as Kirby’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2013;

3. Advisory vote on the approval of the compensation of Kirby’s named executive officers; and

4. Consideration of any other business that properly comes before the meeting.

You have the right to receive this notice and vote at the Annual Meeting if you were a stockholder of record at the close of business on March 1, 2013. Please remember that your shares cannot be voted unless you sign and return the enclosed proxy card, vote in person at the Annual Meeting, or make other arrangements to vote your shares.

We have enclosed a copy of Kirby Corporation’s 2012 Annual Report to stockholders with this notice and Proxy Statement.

For the Board of Directors,

THOMAS G. ADLER

Secretary

March 8, 2013

KIRBY CORPORATION

PROXY STATEMENT

GENERAL INFORMATION

This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Kirby Corporation (the “Company”) to be voted at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 55 Waugh Drive, 9th Floor, Houston, Texas, on April 23, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. (CDT).

Whenever we refer in this Proxy Statement to the Annual Meeting, we are also referring to any meeting that results from an adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting. The Notice of Annual Meeting, this Proxy Statement, the proxy card and the Company’s Annual Report, which includes the Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2012, are being mailed to stockholders on or about March 18, 2013.

SOLICITATION OF PROXIES

The Proxy Card

Your shares will be voted as specified on the enclosed proxy card. If a proxy is signed without choices specified, those shares will be voted for the election of the Class III directors named in this Proxy Statement, for the ratification of the Audit Committee’s selection of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2013, for the approval on an advisory basis of executive compensation and at the discretion of the proxies on other matters.

You are encouraged to complete, sign and return the proxy card even if you expect to attend the meeting. If you sign a proxy card and deliver it to us, but then want to change your vote, you may revoke your proxy at any time prior to the Annual Meeting by sending us a written revocation or a new proxy, or by attending the Annual Meeting and voting your shares in person.

Cost of Soliciting Proxies

The cost of soliciting proxies will be paid by the Company. The Company has retained Georgeson Inc. to solicit proxies at an estimated cost of $6,000, plus out-of-pocket expenses. Employees of the Company may also solicit proxies, for which the expense would be nominal and borne by the Company. Solicitation may be by mail, facsimile, electronic mail, telephone or personal interview.

VOTING

Stockholders Entitled to Vote

Stockholders of record at the close of business on March 1, 2013 will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. As of the close of business on March 1, 2013, the Company had 56,719,387 outstanding shares of common stock. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote on each matter to come before the meeting.

Quorum and Votes Necessary to Adopt Proposals

In order to transact business at the Annual Meeting, a quorum consisting of a majority of all outstanding shares entitled to vote must be present. Abstentions and proxies returned by brokerage firms for which no voting instructions have been received from their beneficial owners will be counted for the purpose of determining

whether a quorum is present. A majority of the votes cast (not counting abstentions and broker nonvotes) is required for the election of directors (Proposal 1). A majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote that are represented at the meeting in person or by proxy is required for the ratification of the selection of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2013 (Proposal 2). Proposal 3 is a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and therefore there is no voting standard for that proposal, since the voting results will be informational only.

Please note that if your shares are held in the name of a brokerage firm on your behalf, your broker may not vote your shares on the election of directors or the matters related to executive compensation without voting instructions from you.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON APRIL 23, 2013

This Proxy Statement and the Company’s 2012 Annual Report, which includes the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), are available electronically at www.edocumentview.com/kex.

The following proposals will be considered at the meeting:


Proposal 1 —		Election of three Class III directors

Proposal 2 —		Ratification of the selection of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2013

Proposal 3 —		Advisory vote on the approval of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers

The Board of Directors of the Company unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” the Board’s nominees for director, “FOR” the selection of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2013 and “FOR” approval of our executive compensation.

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS (PROPOSAL 1)

The Bylaws of the Company provide that the Board shall consist of not fewer than three nor more than fifteen members and that, within those limits, the number of directors shall be determined by the Board. The Bylaws further provide that the Board shall be divided into three classes, with the classes being as nearly equal in number as possible and with one class being elected each year for a three-year term. The size of the Board is currently set at ten. Three Class III directors are to be elected at the 2013 Annual Meeting to serve until the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2016.

Each nominee named below is currently serving as a director and each has consented to serve for the new term if elected. If any nominee becomes unable to serve as a director, an event currently not anticipated, the persons named as proxies in the enclosed proxy card intend to vote for a nominee selected by the present Board to fill the vacancy.

In addition to satisfying, individually and collectively, the Company’s Criteria for the Selection of Directors discussed under the “THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS — Governance Committee” below, each of the directors has extensive experience with the Company or in a business similar to one or more of the Company’s principal businesses or the principal businesses of significant customers of the Company. The brief biographies of each of the nominees and continuing directors below includes a summary of the particular experience and qualifications that led the Board to conclude that he should serve as a director.

Nominees for Election

The Board of Directors of the Company unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” the election of each of the following nominees as a director.

Nominees for Election as Class III directors to serve until the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2016


C. Sean Day		Director since 1996
Greenwich, Connecticut		Age 63

Mr. Day is Chairman of Teekay Corporation, a foreign flag tank vessel owner and operator. He serves as Chairman of the Governance Committee and is a member of the Compensation Committee. He is also Chairman of Teekay GP L.L.C., the general partner of Teekay LNG Partners L.P., Chairman of Teekay Offshore GP L.L.C., the general partner of Teekay Offshore Partners L.P., Chairman of Teekay Tankers Ltd. and Chairman of Compass Diversified Holdings.

Mr. Day has over 40 years of experience in the marine transportation business, serving for the past 15 years as Chairman of one of the largest tanker companies in the world and for 10 years before that as chief executive officer of an international bulk shipping company. In addition, Mr. Day has been active in the private equity investment business for the last 28 years, gaining extensive experience in financial management and analysis.


William M. Lamont, Jr.		Director since 1979
Dallas, Texas		Age 64

Mr. Lamont is a private investor. He serves as Chairman of the Compensation Committee and is a member of the Executive Committee and Governance Committee.

Mr. Lamont and his family have been major stockholders of the Company since its formation and he has been a director of the Company throughout its transformation from a company engaged in the oil and gas and insurance businesses, among others, into the largest domestic tank barge company in the United States, as well as a significant presence in the diesel engine services business. Through his private investment activities, Mr. Lamont also has extensive experience in financial analysis and in financial markets.


William M. Waterman		Director since 2012
Bedford, New York		Age 59

Mr. Waterman served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Penn Maritime Inc. (“Penn”) from 1983 through 2012 until the acquisition of Penn by the Company on December 14, 2012. Penn is a coastwise tank barge operator, transporting primarily refinery feedstocks, asphalt and crude oil along the East Coast and Gulf Coast of the United States. He is also a director and past Chairman of The American Waterways Operators, the national trade association for the United States barge industry.

Mr. Waterman has over 36 years of experience in the coastal tank barge business with Penn and predecessor companies, building Penn into one of the largest coastal tank barge operators in the United States. The Company significantly expanded its coastal marine transportation business with several major acquisitions in 2011 and 2012. Mr. Waterman’s extensive experience in that business and knowledge of its markets and customers are valuable to the Board in its oversight of the Company’s expanding coastwise business and complement the inland marine transportation and petrochemical industry experience of other Company directors.

Directors Continuing in Office

The following persons are directors of the Company who will continue in office.

Continuing Class I directors, serving until the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2014


Richard J. Alario		Director since 2011
Houston, Texas		Age 58

Mr. Alario is Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Key Energy Services, Inc. (“Key Energy”), a publicly traded oilfield service company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). He has served in senior executive positions with Key Energy since 2004. Prior to joining Key Energy, Mr. Alario served as Vice President of BJ Services Company, an oilfield service company, from 2002 to 2004, and served for over 21 years in various capacities, most recently Executive Vice President, of OSCA, Inc., also an oilfield service company. He currently serves as Vice Chairman, Director and Executive Committee member of the National Ocean Industries Association and serves as a member of the American Association of Drilling Engineers and the Petroleum Equipment Suppliers Association. He serves as a member of the Audit Committee. Mr. Alario also served as a director of Seahawk Drilling, Inc. from 2009 to 2011.

Mr. Alario has over 30 years of experience in the oilfield service business, currently serving as Chief Executive Officer with both operating and financial responsibility for one of the largest oilfield service companies in the United States. That experience is valuable to the Board in its oversight of the Company’s diesel engine services business which serves the oilfield services industry as a significant part of its customer base. Mr. Alario also adds a current public company Chief Executive Officer to the Board.


David L. Lemmon		Director since 2006
Las Vegas, Nevada		Age 70

Mr. Lemmon is a private investor. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Colonial Pipeline Company, an interstate common carrier of refined liquid petroleum products, from 1997 to 2006. Prior to that, he held management positions with Amoco Corporation and Amoco Pipeline. He serves as a member of the Audit Committee. Mr. Lemmon is also a director of Teekay Offshore GP L.L.C., the general partner of Teekay Offshore Partners L.P., and Deltic Timber Corporation.

Colonial Pipeline Company is the world’s largest refined liquid petroleum products pipeline and a competing mode of transportation for the Company’s tank barge business. Under Mr. Lemmon’s leadership, Colonial placed a strong emphasis on safety and environmental compliance in its operations, receiving the American Petroleum Institute’s “Most Distinguished Pipeline Award for Safety and Environmental Leadership” for four years in a row from 2002 through 2005. Mr. Lemmon’s accomplishments reinforce the Company’s emphasis on safety and its achievement of one of the best safety records in the tank barge industry.


George A. Peterkin, Jr.		Director since 1973
Houston, Texas		Age 85

Mr. Peterkin is a private investor. He has served as Chairman Emeritus of the Board of the Company since 1999 and served as Chairman of the Board of the Company from 1995 to 1999. He served as President of the Company from 1973 to 1995 and serves as a member of the Executive Committee.

Mr. Peterkin has served in executive positions in the marine transportation business with the Company and its predecessor companies for over 50 years. During his tenure as President and then Chairman of the Board of the Company, he presided over the Company’s transition from an oil and gas and insurance company with a small

barge line to the largest inland tank barge company in the United States. Mr. Peterkin’s knowledge of and perspective on the Company and its history, growth and principal businesses are a valuable resource for the Board.


Richard R. Stewart		Director since 2008
Houston, Texas		Age 63

Mr. Stewart served as President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Aero Energy, a division of GE Energy, and as an officer of General Electric Company, from 1998 until his retirement in December 2006. From 1972 to 1998, Mr. Stewart served in various positions at Stewart & Stevenson Services, Inc., including Group President and member of the Board of Directors. He serves as a member of the Audit Committee. Mr. Stewart is also a director of Eagle Materials Inc. and Lufkin Industries, Inc.

During a 35-year business career, Mr. Stewart has been the principal executive officer with both operating and financial responsibility for the diesel engine power and service businesses at Stewart & Stevenson and then at GE Aero Energy. Mr. Stewart’s extensive experience in the diesel engine business is valuable to the Board in its oversight of the Company’s diesel engine services business and complements the marine transportation and petrochemical industry experience of a number of the Company’s other directors.

Continuing Class II directors, serving until the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2015


Bob G. Gower		Director since 1998
Houston, Texas		Age 75

Mr. Gower is a private investor. He has served as Chairman of the Board of Ensysce Biosciences, Inc., a company developing cancer therapeutics using nanotechnology, since 2008. Mr. Gower serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee, is a member of the Executive Committee and Compensation Committee, and has been chosen by the non-management directors to serve as the presiding director at executive sessions of the non-management directors.

Mr. Gower has 46 years of experience in the chemical business, including 11 years as the Chief Executive Officer of Lyondell Petrochemical Company. The transportation of petrochemicals generates a major portion of the Company’s marine transportation revenues and Mr. Gower’s knowledge of the chemical business is valuable to the Board.


Monte J. Miller		Director since 2006
Durango, Colorado		Age 69

Mr. Miller is a consultant and private investor. He served as Executive Vice President, Chemicals, of Flint Hills Resources, LP (“Flint Hills”), a company engaged in crude oil refining, transportation and marketing, and the production of petrochemicals, from 2003 to 2006. From 1999 to 2003, he was Senior Vice President of Koch Chemical Company, a predecessor company of Flint Hills. Mr. Miller serves as a member of the Compensation Committee and Governance Committee.

Mr. Miller has 30 years of experience in the petrochemical and refining business. A significant volume of petrochemical products is transported coastwise and on the inland waterways and petrochemicals represent a major portion of the Company’s business, so Mr. Miller’s extensive knowledge about petrochemical and refining companies, which constitute a substantial part of the Company’s customer base, as well as the products they ship and the end users of the products, is valuable to the Board. He also has experience in developing and administering incentive compensation programs at companies similar in size to the Company.


Joseph H. Pyne		Director since 1988
Houston, Texas		Age 65

Mr. Pyne is the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. He serves as a member of the Executive Committee.

Mr. Pyne has been with the Company for 35 years, having served as President of its principal marine transportation subsidiary prior to becoming President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. In April 2010, he was elected Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and in April 2011 was elected Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. He has primary responsibility for the business and strategic direction of the Company and is an essential link between the Board and the Company’s day-to-day operations. Mr. Pyne has overall knowledge of all aspects of the Company, its operations, customers, financial condition and strategic planning. Mr. Pyne is the only management representative on the Board.

Except as noted, each of the nominees for director and each of the continuing directors has been engaged in his principal occupation for more than the past five years.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Company’s business is managed under the direction of the Board, which is responsible for broad corporate policy and for monitoring the effectiveness of Company management. Members of the Board are kept informed about the Company’s businesses by participating in meetings of the Board and its committees, through operating and financial reports made at Board and committee meetings by Company management, through various reports and documents sent to the directors for their review and by visiting Company facilities.

Director Independence

The NYSE listing standards require listed companies to have at least a majority of independent directors. For a director to be considered independent, the Board must determine that the director does not have any direct or indirect material relationship with the Company.

The Board has determined that C. Sean Day, Bob G. Gower, William M. Lamont, Jr., David L. Lemmon, Monte J. Miller, George A. Peterkin, Jr. and Richard R. Stewart have no relationship with the Company except as directors and stockholders and are independent within the meaning of the NYSE corporate governance rules.

The Board has determined that an indirect relationship between Richard J. Alario and the Company through Key Energy is not material and that Mr. Alario is also independent. Key Energy is a customer of United Holdings LLC (“United Holdings”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company that provided diesel engine equipment, parts and service to Key Energy in the ordinary course of business in 2012. The volume of business done between Key Energy and United Holdings during 2012 was $13,152,000, which represents less than 1% of Key Energy’s total revenues for 2012. The business relationship between Key Energy and United Holdings predates both the Company’s acquisition of United Holdings in April 2011 and the election of Mr. Alario to the Board.

The Board has determined that the acquisition of Penn and an affiliated company from Mr. Waterman and members of his family for approximately $175 million in cash and Company stock in December 2012 does not affect his independence since he and his family sold their entire interest in Penn and affiliated companies to the Company and he resigned from all director and officer positions he held with Penn and affiliated companies contemporaneously with the closing of the acquisition by the Company. In connection with the acquisition, Mr. Waterman entered into a three-year noncompetition agreement with the Company that is not in any way contingent on continued service with the Company or any of its subsidiaries. In addition, in 2012, Penn paid the Company $1,253,000 for diesel engine services relating to the repair and maintenance of Penn’s vessels. The Board determined that relationship between Penn and the Company does not affect Mr. Waterman’s independence since Mr. Waterman no longer has any ownership in or position with Penn, which is now a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.

Board Committees

The Board has established four standing committees, including the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Governance Committee, each of which is briefly described below. The fourth committee, the Executive Committee, may exercise all of the power and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Company when the Board is not in session, except the power or authority to fill vacancies in the membership of the Board, to amend the Bylaws of the Company and to fill vacancies in the membership of the Executive Committee.

Audit Committee

All of the members of the Audit Committee are independent, as that term is defined in applicable SEC and NYSE rules. In addition, the Board has determined that all of the members of the Audit Committee are “audit committee financial experts,” as that term is defined in SEC rules. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board. A copy of the charter is available on the Company’s web site at www.kirbycorp.com in the Investor Relations section under Corporate Governance.


Principal Functions		Members
• Monitor the Company’s financial reporting, accounting procedures and systems of internal control		Bob G. Gower (Chairman) Richard J. Alario David L. Lemmon Richard R. Stewart
• Select the independent auditors for the Company
• Review the Company’s audited annual and unaudited quarterly financial statements with management and the independent auditors
• Monitor the independence and performance of the Company’s independent auditors and internal audit function
• Monitor the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements

Compensation Committee

All of the members of the Compensation Committee are independent, as that term is defined in NYSE rules. In addition, all of the members of the Committee are “Non-Employee Directors” and “outside directors” as defined in relevant federal securities and tax regulations. The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board. A copy of the charter is available on the Company’s web site at www.kirbycorp.com in the Investor Relations section under Corporate Governance.


Principal Functions		Members
• Determine the compensation of executive officers of the Company		William M. Lamont, Jr. (Chairman) C. Sean Day Bob G. Gower Monte J. Miller
• Administer the Company’s annual incentive bonus program
• Administer the Company’s stock option, restricted stock and incentive plans and grant stock options, restricted stock and performance awards under such plans

Governance Committee

All of the members of the Governance Committee are independent, as that term is defined in NYSE rules. The Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board. A copy of the charter is available on the Company’s web site at www.kirbycorp.com in the Investor Relations section under Corporate Governance.


Principal Functions		Members
• Perform the function of a nominating committee in recommending candidates for election to the Board		C. Sean Day (Chairman) William M. Lamont, Jr. Monte J. Miller
• Review all related party transactions

• Oversee the operation and effectiveness of the Board

The Governance Committee will consider director candidates recommended by stockholders. Recommendations may be sent to the Chairman of the Governance Committee, Kirby Corporation, 55 Waugh Drive, Suite 1000, Houston, Texas 77007, accompanied by biographical information for evaluation. The Board of the Company has approved Criteria for the Selection of Directors which the Governance Committee will consider in evaluating director candidates. The criteria address compliance with SEC and NYSE requirements relating to the composition of the Board and its committees, as well as character, integrity, experience, understanding of the Company’s business and willingness to commit sufficient time to the Company’s business. The criteria are available on the Company’s web site at www.kirbycorp.com in the Investor Relations section under Corporate Governance.

In addition to the criteria, the Governance Committee and the Board will consider diversity in business experience, professional expertise, gender and ethnic background in evaluating potential nominees for director. The Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and Governance Committee Charter include provisions concerning the consideration of diversity in business experience, professional skills, gender and ethnic background in selecting nominees for director.

When there is a vacancy on the Board (i.e., in cases other than the nomination of an existing director for reelection), the Board and the Governance Committee have considered candidates identified by executive search firms, candidates recommended by stockholders and candidates recommended by other directors. The Governance Committee will continue to consider candidates from any of those sources when future vacancies occur. The Governance Committee does not evaluate a candidate differently based on whether or not the candidate is recommended by a stockholder.

Attendance at Meetings

It is the Company’s policy that directors are expected to attend Board meetings and meetings of committees on which they serve and are expected to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company. During 2012, the Board met eight times, the Audit Committee met eight times, the Compensation Committee met six times and the Governance Committee met five times. Each director attended all of the meetings of the Board and of the committees on which he served. All directors attended the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company.

Director Compensation

Directors who are employees of the Company receive no additional compensation for their service on the Board. Compensation of nonemployee directors is determined by the full Board, which may consider recommendations of the Compensation Committee. Past practice has been to review director compensation when the Board believes that an adjustment may be necessary in order to remain competitive with director compensation of comparable companies. Management of the Company periodically collects published survey information on director compensation for purposes of comparison.

Each nonemployee director receives an annual fee of $24,000, a fee of $1,250 for each Board meeting and a fee of $3,000 for each committee meeting attended. A director may elect to receive the annual fee in cash, stock options or restricted stock. The Compensation and Governance Committee Chairmen receive an additional $10,000 retainer per year, the Audit Committee Chairman receives an additional $15,000 retainer per year and the presiding director at executive sessions of the non-management directors receives an additional $5,000 retainer per year. Directors are reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in attending meetings.

In addition to the fees provided to the directors described above, the Company has a nonemployee director stock plan under which nonemployee directors are granted stock options and restricted stock awards. The Company’s 2000 Nonemployee Director Stock Plan (the “2000 Plan”) provides for the automatic grant to nonemployee directors of stock options for 10,000 shares of common stock on the date of first election as a director and stock options for 6,000 shares and 1,000 shares of restricted stock immediately after each annual meeting of stockholders. The 2000 Plan also provides for discretionary grants of an aggregate of 10,000 shares in the form of stock options or restricted stock. In addition, the 2000 Plan provides for the issuance of stock options or restricted stock in lieu of cash for all or part of the annual director fee. A director who elects to receive options in lieu of the annual cash fee will be granted an option for a number of shares equal to (a) the amount of the fee for which the election is made divided by (b) the fair market value per share of the common stock on the date of grant multiplied by (c) 3. A director who elects to receive restricted stock in lieu of the annual cash fee will be issued a number of shares of restricted stock equal to (a) the amount of the fee for which the election is made divided by (b) the fair market value per share of the common stock on the date of grant multiplied by (c) 1.2. The exercise price for all options granted under the 2000 Plan is the fair market value per share of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The options granted on first election as a director vest immediately. The options granted and restricted stock issued immediately after each annual meeting of stockholders vest six months after the date of grant or issuance. Options granted and restricted stock issued in lieu of cash director fees vest in equal quarterly increments during the year to which they relate. The options generally remain exercisable for ten years after the date of grant.

In 2008, the Board established stock ownership guidelines for officers and directors of the Company. The guidelines were effective January 1, 2009 and nonemployee directors must be in compliance within five years after the adoption of the guidelines or five years after first election as a director, whichever is later, but are expected to accumulate the required number of shares ratably over the applicable five-year period. Under the guidelines, nonemployee directors are required to own common stock of the Company having a value equal to four times the annual cash director fee. The Governance Committee of the Board will monitor compliance with the guidelines and may recommend modifications or exceptions to the Board.

The following table summarizes the cash and equity compensation for nonemployee directors for the year ended December 31, 2012:

Director Compensation for 2012


Name	Fees Earned or Paid in Cash		Stock Awards(1)(2)		Option Awards(1)(2)		Total
Richard J. Alario	$	31,000	$	62,988	$	165,234	$	259,222
C. Sean Day		53,000		92,028		138,600		283,628
Bob G. Gower		72,000		92,028		138,600		302,628
William M. Lamont, Jr.		77,000		62,988		138,600		278,588
C. Berdon Lawrence(3)		34,000		62,988		138,600		235,588
David L. Lemmon		58,000		62,988		138,600		259,588
Monte J. Miller		43,000		92,028		138,600		273,628
George A. Peterkin, Jr.		16,000		62,988		165,234		244,222
Richard R. Stewart		58,000		62,988		138,600		259,588
William M. Waterman(4)		—		—		229,896		229,896

(1)

The amounts included in the “Stock Awards” and “Option Awards” columns represent the grant date fair value related to restricted stock awards and option grants to the directors, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For a discussion of valuation assumptions, see Note 9, Stock Award Plans, in the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

(2)

Each director was granted 1,000 shares of restricted stock on April 24, 2012 at a value of $62.99 per share. Each director was granted stock options for 6,000 shares on April 24, 2012 at an exercise price of $62.48 per share. Mr. Waterman was granted stock options for 10,000 shares at an exercise price of $61.89 per share on December 31, 2012, the date of his first election as a director. Mr. Day, Mr. Gower and Mr. Miller were each granted 461 shares of restricted stock on April 24, 2012 at a value of $62.99, as they elected to receive their annual director fee in the form of restricted stock awards. Mr. Alario and Mr. Peterkin were each granted stock options for 1,153 shares on April 24, 2012 at an exercise price of $62.48 per share, as they elected to receive their annual director fee in the form of stock options.

The following table shows the aggregate number of shares of unvested restricted stock and stock options outstanding for each director as of December 31, 2012, as well as the grant date fair value of restricted stock and stock option grants made during 2012:


Name	Aggregate Shares of Unvested Restricted Stock as of December 31, 2012		Aggregate Stock Options Outstanding as of December 31, 2012		Grant Date Fair Value of Restricted Stock and Stock Options Awarded during 2012
Richard J. Alario		—		17,153	$	228,222
C. Sean Day		116		24,000		230,628
Bob G. Gower		116		20,574		230,628
William M. Lamont, Jr.		—		60,000		201,588
David L. Lemmon		—		42,000		201,588
Monte J. Miller		116		55,264		230,628
George A. Peterkin, Jr.		—		64,947		228,222
Richard R. Stewart		—		34,000		201,588
William M. Waterman		—		10,000		229,896

(3)	Mr. Lawrence retired from the Board on December 31, 2012.

(4)	Mr. Waterman was elected to the Board on December 31, 2012.

Board Leadership Structure

The Board has no set policy concerning the separation of the offices of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, but retains the flexibility to decide how the two positions should be filled based on the circumstances existing at any given time. In light of the economic conditions during recent years and the significant acquisitions completed by the Company during 2011 and 2012 and the challenge of integrating these acquisitions with the Company’s operations, the Board considers it important to continue to have someone in the role of Chairman of the Board with a comprehensive understanding of, as well as primary responsibility for, the Company’s businesses and strategic direction. The Board also determined that having Mr. Pyne serve as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer for a period of time would facilitate the management succession process.

The Board does not have a “lead director,” but has chosen Mr. Gower to be the “presiding director” to preside at the regular executive sessions of the non-management directors that are held at least quarterly. Mr. Gower also serves as a liaison between the independent directors and management on certain matters that are not within the area of responsibility of a particular committee of the Board.

Risk Oversight

The Board carries out its risk oversight function primarily through the Audit Committee. Management prepares and reviews with the Audit Committee annually a comprehensive assessment of the identified internal and external risks of the Company that includes evaluations of the potential impact of each identified risk, its probability of occurrence and the effectiveness of the controls that are in place to mitigate the risk. The Audit Committee then brings to the attention of the Board any issues that warrant further discussion or action. The Audit Committee and the Board also receive regular reports of any events or circumstances involving risks outside the normal course of business of the Company. At times, a particular risk will be monitored and evaluated by another Board committee with primary responsibility in the area involved, such as the Compensation Committee’s review of the risks related to the Company’s compensation policies and practices. The Board’s administration of its risk oversight function has not affected the Board’s leadership structure.

TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS

The Board has adopted a written policy on transactions with related persons that provides that certain transactions involving the Company and any of its directors, executive officers or major stockholders or members of their immediate families, including all transactions that would be required to be disclosed as transactions with related persons in the Company’s Proxy Statement, are subject to approval in advance by the Governance Committee, except that a member of the Committee will not participate in the review of a transaction in which that member has an interest. The Committee has the discretion to approve any transaction which it determines is in, or not inconsistent with, the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. If for any reason a transaction with a related person has not previously been approved, the Committee will review the transaction within a reasonable period of time and either ratify the transaction or recommend other actions, including modification, rescission or termination, taking into consideration the Company’s contractual obligations. If a transaction is ongoing or consists of a series of similar transactions, the Committee will review the transaction at least annually and either ratify the continuation of the transaction or recommend other actions, including modification, rescission or termination, taking into consideration the Company’s contractual obligations. The policy provides certain exceptions, including compensation approved by the Board or its Compensation Committee.

During 2012, the Company and its subsidiaries paid 55 Waugh, LP, a partnership owned 60% by Mr. Lawrence and his family, $1,487,000 for the rental of office space in a building owned by 55 Waugh, LP. The Company’s headquarters are located in the building under a lease that was signed in 2005, prior to the purchase of the building by 55 Waugh, LP, and expires at the end of 2015. The aggregate amount of rent due from January 1, 2012 to the end of the lease term on December 31, 2015 is approximately $5,498,000. Mr. Lawrence resigned from the Company’s Board of Directors effective December 31, 2012.

The Company is a 50% owner of The Hollywood Camp, L.L.C. (“The Hollywood Camp”), a company that owns and operates a hunting and fishing facility used by the Company and L3 Partners, LLC (“L3P”), a company owned by Mr. Lawrence, which is also a 50% owner. The Company uses The Hollywood Camp primarily for customer entertainment. L3P acts as manager of The Hollywood Camp. The Hollywood Camp allocates lease and lodging expenses to its members based on their usage of the facilities. The Company paid The Hollywood Camp $2,392,000 in 2012 for its share of facility expenses.

The Company paid L3P $144,000 in 2012 for air transportation services provided by L3P in the ordinary course of business of the Company.

The son of Mr. Lawrence is the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, and owns 70% of the common stock of Bayou City Pumps, Inc. (“Bayou City”). Bayou City provides overhauls of black oil barge pumps to the Company. Bayou City acquired Engineering Pump Services (“EPS”), previously the Company’s primary vendor for overhauls of black oil barge pumps, in the first quarter of 2012. The Company paid Bayou City $1,409,000 in 2012 for overhauls of black oil barge pumps in the ordinary course of business of the

Company. In addition, the Company specified the use of a particular EPS pump in certain of its shipyard contracts for new barge construction, resulting in payments of approximately $3,700,000 from the shipyard to Bayou City in 2012.

Mr. Alario, a director of the Company, is the Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Key Energy. Key Energy paid the Company $13,152,000 in 2012 for oilfield service equipment and for parts and service in the ordinary course of business of the Company. In addition, Key Energy paid The Hollywood Camp $463,000 for use of the facility during 2012.

In December 2012, the Company acquired Penn and an affiliated company from Mr. Waterman and his family for approximately $175 million in cash and Company stock. Contemporaneously with the closing of the acquisition, Mr. Waterman resigned from all director and officer positions with Penn and affiliated companies and no longer has any ownership in or position with Penn or any of its affiliated companies.

During 2012, Penn paid the Company $1,253,000 for diesel engine services related to the repair and maintenance of Penn’s vessels in the ordinary course of business of the Company.

The husband of Amy D. Husted, Vice President — Legal of the Company, is a partner in the law firm of Strasburger & Price, LLP. The Company paid the law firm $384,000 in 2012 for legal services in connection with matters in the ordinary course of business of the Company.

Wayne G. Strahan, the brother of Dorman L. Strahan, the President of one of the Company’s two principal diesel engine services subsidiaries, is the Service Manager of the Company’s diesel engine services facility in Tampa, Florida. In 2012, Wayne G. Strahan received compensation of $128,878 from the Company.

Bernard L. Casey, the brother of Timothy J. Casey, former President of one of the Company’s marine transportation subsidiaries, is the West Coast Division Manager of the Company’s coastal marine transportation operations. In 2012, Bernard L. Casey received compensation of $159,884 from the Company.

In 2012, United Holdings, a subsidiary of the Company, paid Midwest Hoses and Specialty, Inc. (“Midwest”) $2,422,000 for fabrication services at one of its manufacturing and remanufacturing facilities. The stepdaughter of Bill F. Moore, Jr., the President of United Holdings, is an account representative for Midwest and received approximately $12,000 in commissions from Midwest in 2012 on the business done by Midwest with United Holdings.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Business Ethics Guidelines

The Board has adopted Business Ethics Guidelines that apply to all directors, officers and employees of the Company. A copy of the Business Ethics Guidelines is available on the Company’s web site at www.kirbycorp.com in the Investor Relations section under Corporate Governance. The Company is required to make prompt disclosure of any amendment to or waiver of any provision of its Business Ethics Guidelines that applies to any director or executive officer or to its chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. The Company will make any such disclosure that may be necessary by posting the disclosure on its web site at www.kirbycorp.com in the Investor Relations section under Corporate Governance.

Corporate Governance Guidelines

The Board has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines. A copy of the guidelines is available on the Company’s web site at www.kirbycorp.com in the Investor Relations section under Corporate Governance.

Communication with Directors

Interested parties may communicate with the full Board or any individual directors, including the Chairmen of the Audit, Compensation and Governance Committees, the presiding director or the non-management or independent directors as a group, by writing to them c/o Kirby Corporation, 55 Waugh Drive, Suite 1000, Houston, Texas 77007. Complaints about accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters should be directed to the Chairman of the Audit Committee at the same address. All communications will be forwarded to the person(s) to whom they are addressed.

Web Site Disclosures

The following documents and information are available on the Company’s web site at www.kirbycorp.com in the Investor Relations section under Corporate Governance:

•

Audit Committee Charter

•

Compensation Committee Charter

•

Governance Committee Charter

•

Criteria for the Selection of Directors

•

Business Ethics Guidelines

•

Corporate Governance Guidelines

•

Communication with Directors

BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK

Beneficial Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers

The following table shows the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by each director, each named executive officer listed in the Summary Compensation Table, and by the directors and executive officers of the Company as a group as of March 1, 2013. Under rules of the SEC, “beneficial ownership” is deemed to include shares for which the individual, directly or indirectly, has or shares voting or investment power, whether or not they are held for the individual’s benefit. Except as otherwise indicated, the persons named have sole voting and investment power over the shares shown.


	Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned on March 1, 2013										Percent of Common Stock(3)
	Direct(1)			Indirect			Right to Acquire(2)		Total		Percent of Common Stock(3)
DIRECTORS
Richard J. Alario		1,479			—			17,153		18,632
C. Sean Day		54,095			—			24,000		78,095
Bob G. Gower		36,383			—			20,574		56,957
William M. Lamont, Jr.		54,284	(4)		—			60,000		114,284
David L. Lemmon		7,000			—			36,000		43,000
Monte J. Miller		2,636			—			55,264		57,900
George A. Peterkin, Jr.		149,418	(5)		69,920	(6)		64,947		284,285
Joseph H. Pyne		427,226			—			70,850		498,076
Richard R. Stewart		8,000			—			34,000		42,000
William M. Waterman		150,001	(8)		349,999	(7)(8)		10,000		510,000
NAMED EXECUTIVES
Gregory R. Binion		73,243			—			29,532		102,775
David W. Grzebinski		37,580			—			15,679		53,259
William G. Ivey		29,854			—			22,430		52,284
James F. Farley		45,863			—			21,046		66,909
Directors and Executive Officers as a group (24 in number)		1,226,626			421,439			531,798		2,179,863		3.8	%

(1)	Shares owned as of March 1, 2013 and held individually or jointly with others, or in the name of a bank, broker or nominee for the individual’s account. Also includes shares held under the Company’s 401(k) Plan.

(2)	Shares with respect to which a director or executive officer has the right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days after March 1, 2013.

(3)	No percent of class is shown for holdings of less than 1%.

(4)	Does not include 395,170 shares owned by Mr. Lamont’s wife, or 682,662 shares owned by trusts of which Mr. Lamont’s wife is the beneficiary. Mr. Lamont disclaims beneficial ownership of all 1,077,832 shares. A total of 176,000 of such shares are pledged as security for a credit facility.

(5)	Does not include 8,000 shares owned by Mr. Peterkin’s wife. Mr. Peterkin disclaims beneficial ownership of those shares.

(6)	Shares owned by trusts of which Mr. Peterkin is trustee, the beneficiaries of which are relatives of his or his wife’s. Mr. Peterkin disclaims beneficial ownership of those shares.

(7)	Shares are held by a grantor retained annuity trust for the benefit of Mr. Waterman and, following the expiration of the two-year annuity term, for the benefit of Mr. Waterman’s wife and Mr. Waterman’s two adult children.

(8)	A total of 83,825 of the shares owned by Mr. Waterman and the grantor retained annuity trust are held in escrow to secure potential indemnification obligations to the Company under the purchase agreement for the acquisition of Penn by the Company.

Principal Stockholders

The following table and notes set forth information as of the dates indicated concerning persons known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company’s outstanding common stock, based on filings with the SEC:


Name and Address	Number of Shares Beneficially Owned			Percent of Class(1)
Select Equity Group, Inc. and Select Offshore Advisors, LLC 380 Lafayette Street, 6^th Floor New York, NY 10003		4,171,573	(2)		7.4	%

Atlanta Capital Investment Managers 1075 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 2100 Atlanta, GA 30309		3,449,500	(3)		6.1	%

BlackRock, Inc. 40 East 52^nd Street New York, NY 10022		3,295,927	(4)		5.8	%

Araltec, S.L. Calle Santisima Trinidad, 2 Madrid, Spain 28010		2,990,190	(5)		5.3	%

(1)	Based on the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock on March 1, 2013.

(2)	Based on Schedule 13G, dated February 14, 2013, filed by Select Equity Group, Inc. and Select Offshore Advisors, LLC with the SEC.

(3)	Based on Schedule 13G, dated January 29, 2013, filed by Eaton Vance Management for its subsidiary, Atlanta Capital Investment Managers, with the SEC.

(4)	Based on Schedule 13G, dated January 30, 2013, filed by BlackRock, Inc. with the SEC.

(5)	Based on Schedule 13G, dated December 23, 2009, filed by Araltec, S.L. with the SEC.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

The Company’s directors and executive officers, and persons who own beneficially more than 10% of the Company’s common stock, are required under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) to file reports of beneficial ownership and changes in beneficial ownership of the Company’s common stock with the SEC and the NYSE. Based solely on a review of the copies of reports furnished to the Company and written representations that no other reports were required, the Company believes that its executive officers and directors complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements during 2012, except that a report covering two sales on February 13, 2012 and February 14, 2012 for an aggregate of 10,000 shares by a trust for the benefit of Mr. Lamont’s wife was filed on March 19, 2012 and the reports covering the stock option grants and restricted stock awards to Mr. Alario, Mr. Day, Mr. Gower, Mr. Lamont, Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Lemmon, Mr. Miller, Mr. Peterkin and Mr. Stewart on April 24, 2012 for an aggregate of 56,306 stock option grants and 10,383 restricted stock awards were filed on April 30, 2012.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Executive Summary

Named Executive Officers

The Company’s “named executive officers” for 2012 are Joseph H. Pyne, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, David W. Grzebinski, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and the three other most highly compensated executive officers for 2012, consisting of Gregory R. Binion, President and Chief Operating Officer, William G. Ivey, President of the Company’s principal inland marine transportation subsidiary, and James F. Farley, President of the Company’s principal offshore marine transportation subsidiary. Compensation of the named executive officers is based primarily on three elements: (1) base salary, (2) annual incentive compensation and (3) long-term incentives, including stock options, restricted stock and performance awards. The overall goal of the Company’s compensation program is to pay compensation competitive with similar corporations and to tie annual incentives and long-term incentives to corporate performance and a return to the Company’s stockholders.

Compensation Objectives

The objectives of the compensation program are:

•

to attract and retain senior executives with competitive compensation opportunities;

•

to achieve consistent performance over time; and

•

to achieve performance that results in increased profitability and stockholder value.

The Company’s executive compensation program is designed to reward:

•

performance that contributes to the long-term growth and stability of the Company and the effectiveness of management in carrying out strategic objectives identified for the Company (through the base salary);

•

the financial and operational success of the Company for the current year (through the annual incentive plan); and

•

the future growth and profitability of the Company (through long-term incentive compensation awards).

Chief Executive Officer Compensation for 2012

Mr. Pyne’s salary increased from $710,000 to $772,500 in 2012 (an increase of 8.8% over 2011). He earned cash incentive compensation payments of $2,334,224 (a decrease of 17.1% from 2011) and received equity compensation awards with a grant date fair value of $1,853,172 (an increase of 9.0% over 2011). A total of 59% of his direct compensation (annual bonus, three-year performance award and stock options) was performance-based.

Highlights of Company Performance in 2012

The Company achieved strong financial results in 2012. The following table summarizes a number of key financial measures for 2011 and 2012 (dollars in millions except per share amounts):


	2011			2012			Increase (Decrease)
Total assets	$	2,960		$	3,653			23	%
Total revenues	$	1,850		$	2,113			14	%
Net earnings attributable to Kirby	$	183		$	209			14	%
EBITDA(1)	$	436		$	507			16	%
Earnings per share (diluted)(1)	$	3.33		$	3.73			12	%
Return on total capital(1)		17.2	%		15.2	%		(13	%)

(1)	Performance measures for annual and long-term incentive compensation discussed under “Elements of Compensation — Annual Incentive Compensation” below.

The Company’s total stockholder return was (6%) for the last year and 78% for the last three years. During 2012, the Company further expanded and consolidated its position in the coastal marine transportation business through two significant acquisitions and made significant progress in changing the primary focus of the land-based diesel engine business acquired in 2011 from manufacturing to a more stable and predictable remanufacturing and service operation.

Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of the Company has the authority and responsibility to (1) determine the salaries for executive officers of the Company, (2) administer the Company’s annual incentive compensation program, (3) administer all of the Company’s stock option and incentive compensation plans and grant stock options, restricted stock and other awards under the plans and (4) review and make recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to incentive and equity-based compensation plans and any other forms of compensation for executive officers of the Company. The Compensation Committee is composed of four members, all of whom are “independent directors,” “Non-Employee Directors” and “outside directors” as those terms are defined in relevant NYSE standards and federal securities and tax regulations.

The Committee does not delegate any of its authority to determine executive compensation. The Committee considers recommendations from the Chief Executive Officer in making its compensation decisions for executive officers other than the Chief Executive Officer. The Committee will usually follow those recommendations when setting compensation for other executive officers since the Chief Executive Officer is in the best position to evaluate the contributions of the other executive officers to the success of the Company. The Committee undertakes an independent evaluation of the individual performance of the Chief Executive Officer prior to setting his compensation. The Committee also engaged a compensation consultant in connection with its compensation decisions for 2012.

In determining the compensation of the named executive officers, the Compensation Committee considered all elements of total compensation, including salary, annual incentive compensation, equity-based and other long-term incentive compensation and projected payouts under the Company’s retirement plans. The Compensation Committee also relied in part on the marketplace analysis prepared by Cogent Compensation Partners, a compensation consulting firm retained by the Compensation Committee (the “Consultant”), to determine that the Committee’s compensation decisions, both as to specific elements of compensation and as to aggregate compensation, were in a reasonable range for comparable companies and for the positions held by the named executive officers. The Committee also considered the Consultant’s analysis in evaluating internal pay equity among the named executive officers. From that foundation, the Committee refined the individual compensation decisions based on a number of factors, including the prior year’s compensation, the performance of the

Company or its business groups, individual performance of the named executive officer, any increased responsibilities assigned to a particular executive officer, the recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer (except as to his own compensation) and considerations of internal pay equity. However, the final decisions of the Committee are to some extent subjective and do not result from a formulaic application of any of those factors.

Say on Pay

At the Company’s 2012 Annual Meeting, stockholders approved the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers by 95% of the votes cast. Although the Company interpreted the vote as an endorsement of its executive compensation policies and practices, the Compensation Committee continues to reevaluate the principal elements of the Company’s executive compensation and for 2012 modified the structure of the annual incentive plan as described under “Elements of Compensation — Annual Incentive Compensation” below.

Compensation Consultant

For 2012, the Compensation Committee engaged the Consultant to provide information for the Committee to consider in making compensation decisions. The Consultant was engaged directly by the Compensation Committee to:

•

review the reference group of comparable companies used for comparisons of Company performance and executive compensation;

•

perform a marketplace analysis of direct compensation for senior executive officers compared to the reference group of companies and published compensation surveys;

•

update the Committee on current issues in executive compensation;

•

consult with the Committee concerning risks of the Company’s compensation policies and practices;

•

consult with the Committee concerning the structure of the annual incentive plan; and

•

consult with the Committee concerning the evaluation of executive compensation by proxy advisory firms.

At the Compensation Committee’s request, the Consultant has addressed the six independence factors for compensation committee advisers that were identified in a recently adopted SEC regulation. The Committee concluded that there are no conflicts of interest that affect the work of the Consultant for the Committee. The Consultant was not retained by the Company or any of its affiliates (other than the Compensation Committee) to perform any services during 2012.

During 2012, Cogent Compensation Partners was acquired by another executive compensation consulting firm, Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc. (“FWC”). The acquisition did not result in any conflicts of interest or other impediments to continuing work for the Committee by FWC and the Committee continued to engage FWC after the acquisition to perform the same types of services that the Consultant had previously provided.

Elements of Compensation

Salary

The Compensation Committee attempts to set base salaries for the named executive officers at approximately the median for comparable companies. The Committee and management believe that the Company is a leader in the industries in which it operates and that its employees are frequently targeted by its competitors. Therefore the Committee generally attempts to set compensation at levels to keep pace with inflation and the competitive market to avoid losing valuable employees.

Based on information available in January 2012, the Consultant determined that the Company’s salaries for its top executive officers averaged approximately 89% of the median for the reference group and that salaries for four of the five named executive officers were 84% to 92% of the market median for comparable positions. Salary increases for those four executive officers for 2012 ranged from 5% to 14%, depending on the amount of the increase necessary to bring them closer to the market median. The Committee determined that the increases were warranted by the performance of the executives and the Company and were consistent with the Company’s compensation philosophy. One of the named executive officers, Mr. Farley, was not covered by the Consultant’s executive compensation review. He was promoted during the year to President of the Company’s principal offshore marine transportation subsidiary. His salary was increased by 3% at that time to reflect his increased responsibilities.

Annual Incentive Compensation

With regard to the annual cash incentives for executive officers, the Compensation Committee attempts to set annual incentive compensation targets at a level such that, with target performance by an executive officer and the Company, the total cash compensation (base salary plus annual incentive bonus) for the executive officer will be at approximately the median for comparable companies and positions, but with a superior performance by an executive officer and the Company, the total cash compensation for the executive officer will be above the median. Based on the market analysis provided to the Committee by the Consultant, the Committee determined that the 2012 salaries for the executive officers and the target total cash compensation would be within the median range and could reach a range around the 75^th percentile with strong company performance, which is consistent with the Company’s compensation philosophy. With the Company’s strong performance in 2012, actual total cash compensation was between the 50^th and 75^th percentiles for four of the five named executive officers, including the Chief Executive Officer, and slightly above the 75^th percentile for the other named executive officer. The Compensation Committee believes that total annual cash compensation above the median for similar corporations and positions is appropriate since a significant portion of each executive officer’s total annual cash compensation is at risk due to both individual performance factors and the Company’s success in achieving the targeted performance measures described in the next paragraph. The annual incentive compensation constitutes a significant portion of direct cash compensation and can vary significantly from year to year depending on the Company’s achievement of those performance measures.

Following the 2011 evaluation of the Company’s annual incentive plan by the Compensation Committee, the Committee decided in 2012 to modify the structure of the plan to allow more flexibility in determining awards to individual participants. Bonuses paid under the plan are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. For 2012, the performance goal required in order for any participants in the plan to receive a bonus was the achievement by the Company of net earnings greater than $1,000,000. Target annual incentive compensation expressed as a percentage of a participant’s base salary was established for each participant in the plan and a recommended bonus was determined for each participant based on the extent to which three additional equally weighted performance measures were achieved by each of the Company’s business groups and by the Company as a whole. The aggregate amount of the bonus pool for the year was equal to the sum of the recommended bonuses so determined for all participants. The recommended bonus for each participant serves as a guideline for the individual awards, but each individual bonus may be increased or decreased from that level. However, in no event will a bonus paid to any participant exceed 200% of the target bonus for that participant. The Compensation Committee may decrease (but not increase) the bonus paid to any participant below that maximum amount based on such quantitative or qualitative criteria as the Compensation Committee determines to be appropriate.

The three additional performance measures are EBITDA, return on total capital and earnings per share. EBITDA for the year is calculated by adding the following amounts shown in the Company’s audited financial statements: (1) net earnings attributable to Kirby, (2) depreciation and amortization, (3) interest expense and (4) provision for taxes on income. Return on total capital for the year is calculated by dividing (i) net earnings attributable to Kirby plus provision for taxes on income plus interest expense by (ii) the average of total equity plus long-term debt for the year.

Performance under the annual incentive plan is measured on a calendar year basis. At the beginning of the year, the Committee established the sole performance goal under the plan of net earnings greater than $1,000,000. The Committee also established objectives for the three additional performance measures for the year, based on the budget for the year that is prepared by management and approved by the Board, to serve as the basis for determining the total amount to be paid out pursuant to the annual incentive plan.

For 2012, the Company exceeded $1,000,000 in net earnings, the performance goal that had to be achieved for any plan participants to receive incentive payments. In addition, the target and actual amounts for the three additional performance measures for the Company were:


	Target	Actual
EBITDA	$520 million	$507 million
Return on total capital	16.0%	15.2%
Earnings per share	$3.80	$3.73

In addition to the target bonus established for each participant in the annual incentive plan, the Compensation Committee also established a range of possible incentive compensation payments, with no payment unless at least 80% of the target performance is achieved and a maximum possible award of 200% of the target amount if 120% of the target performance is achieved. Annual incentive compensation payments for employees of the Company itself (a holding company which conducts operations through its subsidiaries) are based entirely on the performance of the Company as a whole. Payments for the heads of the Company’s business groups are based 50% on the performance of the business group and 50% on overall Company performance. Payments for all other employees in a business group are based 70% on the performance of the business group and 30% on Company performance.

For 2012, the Compensation Committee set the target annual incentive compensation for the named executive officers at the following percentages of base salary: Joseph H. Pyne (105%), Gregory R. Binion (70%), David W. Grzebinski (70%), William G. Ivey (70%) and James F. Farley (70%). Mr. Pyne’s target percentage represented an increase from 2011, when his target percentage was 90%. The Committee approved the increase with the objective of paying Mr. Pyne total cash compensation (salary plus annual incentive payment) between the median and the 75^th percentile for comparable companies, depending on the Company’s performance. The other four named executive officers have all been hired for, or promoted to, their current positions in the last three years. Their target percentages, which were unchanged from 2011, were set at levels which the Committee determined, based on analysis by the Consultant, are commensurate with their increased responsibilities, consistent with the Company’s executive compensation philosophy and the target percentages for other officers of the Company and competitive for executives with their qualifications and experience. Payouts under the annual incentive plan for 2012 were 91.9% of the target amount for Mr. Pyne, Mr. Binion and Mr. Grzebinski (employees of the parent Company), 97.1% of the target amount for Mr. Ivey, the President of the Company’s principal inland marine transportation subsidiary, and 102.3% of the target amount for Mr. Farley, the President of the Company’s principal offshore marine transportation subsidiary.

The Compensation Committee awarded the recommended bonus calculated under the plan, without adjustment, to each named executive officer for 2012 after determining that the performance of each of the officers met expectations for the year. That determination for the Chief Executive Officer was based on the performance evaluation of the Chief Executive Officer conducted by the Board of Directors under the guidance of the Governance Committee and on the extent of the Company’s achievement of its financial, operational and strategic goals for 2012. The determination for the other named executive officers was based primarily on evaluations and recommendations made by the Chief Executive Officer, as well as on the Board’s interaction with the other named executive officers during the previous year in relation to matters in their areas of responsibility.

Long-Term Incentive Compensation

The Compensation Committee’s objective for long-term incentive compensation for executive officers is generally to fall between the 50th and 75th percentiles (depending on performance) in long-term incentive compensation of similar corporations and positions. The primary long-term incentives for executive officers are stock options, restricted stock and performance awards. The Committee views stock option and restricted stock awards as a regular component of compensation for executive officers, as well as for managerial level employees generally, because the Committee believes that such awards provide an incentive for key employees to remain with the Company and focus on the long-term performance of the Company. The long-term incentive compensation supplies the incentive of tying a meaningful portion of total compensation to Company performance, as well as business group and individual performance. In addition, the ultimate value of the options and shares of restricted stock granted depends on the Company’s stock price, aligning the interests of recipients of those awards with the interests of the Company’s stockholders.

In 2012, the Compensation Committee granted nonqualified stock options covering 60,637 shares of common stock and 36,335 shares of restricted stock to the named executive officers. Those numbers include options and shares granted under the long-term incentive compensation program discussed below. The options were granted at a price equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant, vest in equal increments over three years and have a term of seven years. The restricted stock vests in equal increments over five years. In deciding on the number of options and shares of restricted stock to award to executive officers other than the four named in the discussion of the long-term incentive compensation program below, the Committee considered the performance of the Company, the performance of the officer, information from the Consultant about the level of long-term equity-based incentive compensation awards made by comparable companies, the Company’s option overhang (considering both outstanding options and shares remaining available to be granted under the Company’s plans) and recommendations from the Chief Executive Officer. Those factors are not weighted in any specific manner and the resulting awards are therefore to some extent subjective.

The Company maintains a long-term incentive compensation program for selected senior executives that is administered by the Compensation Committee. The program allows the grant of incentive stock options, nonincentive stock options, restricted stock, performance shares and performance units (or any combination thereof). The objective of the program is to provide long-term incentive compensation to the specified executives in an amount that falls between the 50th and 75th percentiles (depending on performance) when compared to companies or business units of similar size. For 2012, the value of long-term incentive compensation awards to the named executive officers actually ranged from 73% to 92% of the market median.

Under the program, the elements of long-term compensation to be awarded, as well as the executives selected to participate, are determined each year by the Compensation Committee. For 2012, the Compensation Committee determined that the executives who would receive awards under the long-term incentive compensation program would include the five named executive officers and that 20% of the target value of the awards would be in the form of stock options, 40% in the form of restricted stock and 40% in the form of cash performance awards. The target values of the awards, broken down by the three components, were as follows:


	Stock Options		Restricted Stock		Performance Awards		Total
Joseph H. Pyne	$	600,000	$	1,200,000	$	1,200,000	$	3,000,000
Gregory R. Binion		180,000		360,000		360,000		900,000
David W. Grzebinski		160,000		320,000		320,000		800,000
William G. Ivey		135,000		270,000		270,000		675,000

The Committee granted Mr. Farley options to purchase 6,540 shares of common stock and 3,400 shares of restricted stock at the beginning of the year when he was Executive Vice President-Operations of the Company’s principal inland marine transportation subsidiary. Then when he was subsequently named President of the

Company’s principal offshore marine transportation subsidiary, the Committee granted him a three-year cash performance award with a target value of $224,000 to increase his long-term incentive compensation to a level commensurate with his increased responsibilities.

The options vest over a three-year period and the restricted stock vests over a five-year period. The performance awards are based on a three-year performance period beginning January 1, 2012. The percentage of the target award paid at the end of the performance period will be based on the Company’s achievement on a cumulative basis for the three-year period of the objective levels of EBITDA, return on total capital and earnings per share established under its annual incentive plan, with the three factors equally weighted. The officers will be paid the target amount if 100% of the objective performance measures is achieved over the three-year period. The payment can range from zero if less than 80% of the objective performance measures is achieved to a maximum of 200% of the target award for the achievement of 130% or more of the objective performance measures.

The amount and form of the long-term incentive compensation awards, including the specific mix of long-term incentive compensation elements, were based in part on an analysis of market data on the amounts of awards and recommendations on the form of awards provided by the Consultant to the Compensation Committee.

Chief Executive Officer

The Compensation Committee set the base salary for Joseph H. Pyne, the Company’s Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, at $790,000 effective April 1, 2012, which resulted in a total salary for 2012 of $772,500, an 8.8% increase over his salary for 2011. The Chief Executive Officer’s base salary was generally based on the same factors and criteria outlined above, which include compensation paid to chief executives of similar corporations, individual as well as corporate performance and a general correlation with the compensation of other executive officers of the Company. In particular, the analysis by the Consultant indicated that Mr. Pyne’s salary was at 87% of the median for comparable companies prior to the increase. In setting the compensation of Mr. Pyne, the Committee also considered the Company’s success in achieving the financial, operational and strategic corporate goals established for each year, as well as the annual evaluation of the Chief Executive Officer’s performance conducted by the Board under the guidance of its Governance Committee. However, neither the achievement of corporate goals, the performance evaluation nor any other particular aspect of Company or individual performance is given any specific weighting or tied by any type of formula to decisions on the Chief Executive Officer’s base salary or long-term incentive compensation awards. The $2,334,224 in non-equity incentive plan compensation shown for Mr. Pyne in the Summary Compensation Table consisted of (1) $745,424 determined under the annual incentive plan described above and (2) a $1,588,800 payment earned by Mr. Pyne for the 2010-2012 performance period under a performance award granted as part of the Company’s long-term incentive compensation program that was based on the formula for the performance award that was established by the Compensation Committee when the award was made at the beginning of 2010.

Retirement Plans

The Company maintains two primary retirement plans in which the named executive officers are eligible to participate on the same basis as broad categories of employees — a Profit Sharing Plan and a 401(k) Plan. Most of the Company’s shore-based employees are eligible to participate in the Profit Sharing Plan. The aggregate contributions made to the plan by the Company are allocated among the participants according to base salary. All employees of the Company are eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan, under which the Company will match employee contributions in an amount up to 3% of an employee’s base salary.

The Company maintains an unfunded, nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan for Key Employees, which is designed primarily to provide additional benefits to eligible employees to restore benefits to which they would be entitled under the Company’s Profit Sharing Plan and 401(k) Plan were it not for certain limits imposed by the

Internal Revenue Code. The plan is designed to restore benefits for employees being compensated in excess of certain limits ($250,000 per annum for 2012). In 2012, the Committee approved contributions for each participant at the maximum amounts allowed by the Plan.

Perquisites and Personal Benefits

The only perquisites or other personal benefits that the Company provides to the named executive officers are an automobile allowance that is given to approximately 123 executive and management employees, payment of the cost of club memberships that are used for both business and personal purposes and the payment of a portion of the cost of financial planning services provided to one of the named executive officers during 2012. The Compensation Committee believes the personal benefits are reasonable in amount and help the Company attract and retain key employees.

Employment/Severance Agreements

Except for accelerated vesting of outstanding stock options, restricted stock and performance awards upon a change in control of the Company, there are no special compensation arrangements related to severance or change-in-control events. The Company has no employment agreements with any of its executive officers.

Benchmarking

Information used by the Compensation Committee to benchmark against comparable companies in determining particular elements of executive compensation has been provided by the Consultant. Marketplace analysis developed by the Consultant has been based in part on a reference group of companies selected because they are of a similar size to the Company by various measures including revenue and market capitalization, generate comparable returns on assets, equity and capital and have primary operations in at least one of the same business segments as the Company. In determining competitive market levels for the elements of executive compensation, the Consultant used a combination of data on the companies in the reference group and data from published compensation surveys.

The Consultant reevaluated the reference group used for Kirby in 2011 in light of the Company’s increased size after its significant acquisitions in 2011, as well as developments affecting some of the companies in the group. As a result, the Consultant proposed and the Committee approved changes in the composition of the reference group used by the Consultant for the information provided to the Committee in connection with its compensation decisions for 2012 to include the following companies:


ABM Industries Incorporated		Oceaneering International, Inc.

Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.		Oil States International, Inc.

Bristow Group Inc.		Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc.

Cameron International Corporation		SEACOR Holdings Inc.

Exterran Holdings, Inc.		Superior Energy Services, Inc.

FMC Technologies, Inc.		Tidewater Inc.

Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc.		UTi Worldwide Inc.

Key Energy Services, Inc.		Waste Connections, Inc.

McDermott International, Inc.		Werner Enterprises, Inc.

Based on the most recent executive compensation review prepared by the Consultant for the Compensation Committee (for which the Consultant removed from the original reference group one company that separated its shipping business from its other business during the year and another company that filed for bankruptcy during the year):

•

the base salaries of the five named executive officers ranged from 85% to 97% of the median for the reference group;

•

total cash compensation (salary plus annual incentive compensation) fell between the median and the 75th percentile (except for Mr. Farley);

•

long-term incentive compensation ranged from 73% to 92% of the median; and

•

total direct compensation for Mr. Pyne and Mr. Grzebinski was between the median and the 75th percentile and for the other three named executive officers ranged from 86% to 99% of the median.

Mr. Farley was promoted from Executive Vice President of the Company’s principal inland marine transportation subsidiary to President of the Company’s principal offshore marine transportation subsidiary during the year and was also included in the Company’s long-term incentive compensation program for the first time after the beginning of the year. As a result of those circumstances and related compensation adjustments during the year, his total cash compensation was slightly above the 75th percentile for the year and his long-term incentive compensation was below the median for the year.

The Consultant also gathered data on the Company’s financial performance relative to the reference group of comparable companies based on public information. The Company, which is slightly below the median size of the companies in the reference group, ranked above the median for the reference group, and in most cases above the 80th percentile, for both one-year (2011) and three-year (2009-2011) periods on a broad range of financial performance measures, including return on equity, return on assets, return on total capital and growth in revenues and in earnings per share. The only exception was the one-year total shareholder return which was below the median, although the three-year total shareholder return was near the 90th percentile.

Other Compensation Matters

Compensation Related Risk

With the assistance of the Consultant, the Compensation Committee undertook a review of the Company’s compensation policies and practices and concluded that the Company’s compensation programs do not encourage excessive risk taking and do not present risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Tax Considerations

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally disallows a tax deduction to public companies for compensation over $1 million paid to the Chief Executive Officer and the three other most highly compensated executive officers other than the Chief Financial Officer. Certain performance-based compensation, however, is specifically exempt from the deduction limit. The Committee does take steps to qualify compensation for deductibility to the extent practical, but may award compensation that is not deductible when such an award would be in the Company’s best interests.

Timing of Compensation Decisions

The Compensation Committee generally makes executive compensation decisions in January of each year. Options have always been granted at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company’s stock on the date of grant. Options granted at the regular January meeting of the Committee, which takes place several days before the Company’s public release of earnings information for the previous year, are granted at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company’s stock on a specified date shortly after the earnings release, in which case the later date is considered the date of grant.

Stock Ownership Guidelines; Hedging

Effective January 1, 2009, the Board established stock ownership guidelines for executive officers and directors of the Company and its subsidiaries. Executive officers must be in compliance within five years after the adoption of the guidelines or five years after becoming an executive officer, whichever is later, but are expected to accumulate the required number of shares ratably over the applicable five-year period. Under the guidelines, the Chief Executive Officer is required to own common stock of the Company having a value equal to four times his base salary. For the other named executive officers, the requirement is three times base salary. The guidelines do not address hedging the economic risk of stock ownership, but the Company’s insider trading policy prohibits employees and directors from engaging in short sales of the Company’s stock or in transactions involving options to buy or sell the Company’s stock (other than stock options granted by the Company). The Governance Committee of the Board will monitor compliance with the guidelines and may recommend modifications or exceptions to the Board.

Compensation Committee Report

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis in this Proxy Statement. Based on that review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

William M. Lamont, Jr., Chairman

C. Sean Day

Bob G. Gower

Monte J. Miller

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

The members of the Compensation Committee are, and during 2012 were, Mr. Lamont, Mr. Day, Mr. Gower and Mr. Miller. None of such persons is or has been an officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. In 2012, no executive officer of the Company served on the board of directors or compensation committee of another entity, any of whose executive officers served on the Board or Compensation Committee of the Company.

Compensation Tables

Summary Compensation Table


Name and Principal Position		Salary		Stock Awards(1)		Option Awards(1)		Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation(2)		Change in Pension Value and Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings(3)		All Other Compensation(4)		Total
Joseph H. Pyne	2012	$	772,500	$	1,204,920	$	648,252	$	2,334,224	$	46,210	$	43,354	$	5,049,460
Chairman of the Board	2011		710,000		1,212,600		486,792		2,817,297		77,839		162,465		5,466,993
and Chief Executive Officer	2010		680,000		1,202,940		497,448		2,446,392		59,596		150,943		5,037,319

Gregory R. Binion	2012		445,000		361,500		194,472		725,391		14,553		21,446		1,762,362
President and Chief Operating Officer	2011		410,000		329,400		132,228		942,001		19,257		90,506		1,923,392
	2010		338,750		326,820		135,144		397,659		11,468		80,897		1,290,738

David W. Grzebinski(5)	2012		395,000		321,300		172,872		585,103		—		18,626		1,492,901
Executive Vice President	2011		345,000		252,660		101,412		440,254		—		72,435		1,211,761
and Chief Financial Officer	2010		295,096		1,426,798		102,996		344,141		—		60,682		2,229,713

William G. Ivey	2012		342,500		271,140		145,872		232,797		—		26,678		1,018,987
President of Kirby Inland Marine, LP	2011		326,800		240,720		182,880		406,277		—		77,039		1,233,716
	2010		305,625		221,340		267,571		361,644		—		71,769		1,227,949

James F. Farley	2012		326,375		234,720		143,172		233,717		—		22,261		960,245
President of Kirby Offshore Marine,	2011		315,500		240,720		170,460		379,341		—		70,431		1,176,452
LLC	2010		307,500		221,340		144,972		361,127		—		65,974		1,100,913

(1)

The amounts included in the “Stock Awards” and “Option Awards” columns represent the grant date fair value related to restricted stock awards and option grants to the named executive officers, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For a discussion of valuation assumptions, see Note 9, Stock Award Plans, in the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012. The actual number of stock awards and options granted in 2012 is shown in the “Grants of Plan Based Awards During 2012” table.

(2)	Amounts include payments under the Company’s annual incentive plan and payments pursuant to three-year performance awards. Both the annual incentive plan and the performance awards are described in more detail in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” above.

(3)

The amounts for Mr. Pyne reflect the aggregate change during 2012, 2011 and 2010 in the present value of his accumulated benefit under a Deferred Compensation Agreement with Kirby Inland Marine, LP. The amounts for Mr. Binion reflect the change in the present value of his accumulated benefits during 2012, 2011 and 2010 under the Kirby Pension Plan. Since Mr. Binion’s benefits in the Kirby Pension Plan were frozen as of December 31, 1999, the changes in present value are due only to changes in assumptions and the passage of time.

(4)

Amounts for 2012 include an automobile allowance, club memberships, group life insurance, personal travel and personal financial planning services for Mr. Pyne, an automobile allowance, club memberships and group life insurance services for Mr. Binion and Mr. Ivey and an automobile allowance and group life insurance for Mr. Grzebinski and Mr. Farley. Amounts for 2011 include an automobile allowance, club memberships, group life insurance and personal financial planning services for Mr. Pyne, an automobile allowance, group life insurance and club memberships for Mr. Binion, Mr. Grzebinski and Mr. Ivey and an automobile allowance and group life insurance for Mr. Farley. Amounts for 2010 include an automobile allowance, club memberships, group life insurance and personal financial planning services for Mr. Pyne, an automobile allowance, group life insurance and club memberships for Mr. Binion, Mr. Grzebinski and Mr. Ivey and an automobile allowance and group life insurance for Mr. Farley. The Company’s contributions under the Company’s Profit Sharing Plan and Deferred Compensation Plan for Key Employees for 2012, which would otherwise be included in this column, have not been determined as of the date of this Proxy Statement. For 2011, the Company’s contributions under the Profit Sharing Plan were as follows: $17,792 to Mr. Pyne, $26,405 to Mr. Binion, $27,730 to Mr. Grzebinski, $17,793 to Mr. Ivey and $22,556 to Mr. Farley. Also, cash distributions were made in 2012 for excess benefit contributions in 2011 under the Profit Sharing Plan as

follows: $18,387 to Mr. Pyne, $9,826 to Mr. Binion, $8,501 to Mr. Grzebinski, $18,438 to Mr. Ivey and $13,675 to Mr. Farley. For 2011, the Company’s contributions under the Deferred Compensation Plan for Key Employees were as follows: $82,724 to Mr. Pyne, $29,354 to Mr. Binion, $17,790 to Mr. Grzebinski, $14,552 to Mr. Ivey and $12,186 to Mr. Farley.

(5)	Mr. Grzebinski became an employee of the Company in February 2010. He has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since March 2010.

Grants of Plan Based Awards During 2012


	Grant Date		Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards(1)						All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units(2)		All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options(3)		Exercise Price of Option Awards ($/sh)(4)		Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards(5)
Name	Grant Date		Threshold		Target		Maximum						Exercise Price of Option Awards ($/sh)(4)		Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards(5)
Joseph H. Pyne		02/15/12	$	240,000	$	1,200,000	$	2,400,000
		02/15/12								18,382					$	1,204,920
		02/15/12										30,193	$	65.28		648,252

Gregory R. Binion		02/15/12		72,000		360,000		720,000
		02/15/12								5,515						361,500
		02/15/12										9,058		65.28		194,472

David W. Grzebinski		02/15/12		64,000		320,000		640,000
		02/15/12								4,902						321,300
		02/15/12										8,052		65.28		172,872

William G. Ivey		02/15/12		54,000		270,000		540,000
		02/15/12								4,136						271,140
		02/15/12										6,794		65.28		145,872

James F. Farley		02/15/12		44,800		224,000		448,000
		01/23/12								3,400						234,720
		02/06/12										6,540		66.72		143,172

(1)

Amounts shown represent long-term performance awards made to the named executive officers in 2012 for the 2012-2014 performance period under the Company’s long-term incentive compensation program. The performance awards are based on a three-year performance period beginning January 1, 2012. The percentage of the target award paid at the end of the performance period will be based on the achievement by the Company (in the case of Mr. Pyne, Mr. Binion and Mr. Grzebinski) or by the Company and its business groups (in the case of Mr. Ivey and Mr. Farley) on a cumulative basis for the three-year performance period of the objective levels of EBITDA, return on total capital and earnings per share established under the Company’s annual incentive plan. The threshold amount is payable if 80% of the performance target is achieved and the maximum amount is payable if 130% or more of the performance target is achieved; if less than 80% is achieved, there is no payment. For 2012, the first year of the performance period, the Company and its business groups achieved approximately 66-121%, of the target performance measures (depending on the weighting for the different participants), but any payout to the participating executive officers cannot be determined until the remaining two years of the performance period are completed.

(2)	Represents the number of shares of restricted stock awarded in 2012 under the Company’s 2005 Stock and Incentive Plan. The restricted stock vests 20% on January 24th of each year following the original award dates.

(3)

Represents the number of stock options awarded in 2012 under the Company’s 2005 Stock and Incentive Plan. These options become exercisable one-third after one year, two-thirds after two years, and are fully exercisable after three years from the date of grant. The exercise price for the options may be paid with shares of common stock owned for at least six months. No stock appreciation rights were granted with the stock options.

(4)	The exercise price per share is equal to the closing price per share of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant.

(5)

The grant date fair values are calculated based in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Restricted shares are valued at the average of the high and low prices of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant, resulting in a fair value of $69.03 and $65.55 per share on January 23, 2012 and February 15, 2012, respectively. The Black-Scholes option pricing model is used to determine the fair value of stock options, resulting in a value of $21.89 and $21.47 per share on February 6, 2012 and February 15, 2012, respectively.

Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2012


	Option Awards								Stock Awards
Name	Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Exercisable		Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Unexercisable(1)		Option Exercise Price		Option Expiration Date		Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested(2)		Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested(3)
Joseph H. Pyne		27,452		13,726	$	32.56		02/01/17		83,702	$	5,180,317
		9,804		19,609	$	46.74		01/31/18
		—		30,193	$	65.28		02/15/19

Gregory R. Binion		20,000		—	$	34.40		11/03/13		24,321	$	1,505,227
		7,458		3,729	$	32.56		02/01/17
		2,663		5,327	$	46.74		01/31/18
		—		9,058	$	65.28		02/15/19

David W. Grzebinski		5,940		2,970	$	31.35		02/08/17		13,967	$	864,418
		2,042		4,086	$	46.74		01/31/18
		—		8,052	$	65.28		02/15/19

William G. Ivey		6,400		—	$	23.98		01/30/14		17,496		1,082,827
		8,533		4,267	$	32.56		02/01/17
		3,683		7,367	$	46.74		01/31/18
		—		6,794	$	65.28		02/15/19

James F. Farley		8,000		4,000	$	32.56		02/01/17		16,760		1,037,276
		3,433		6,867	$	46.74		01/31/18
		—		6,540	$	66.72		02/06/19

(1)	The unexercisable options held by the named executive officers are exercisable or become exercisable, as follows:


Grant Date	Vesting Date		Joseph H. Pyne		Gregory R. Binion		David W. Grzebinski		William G. Ivey		James F. Farley
02/01/10		02/01/13		13,726		3,729		—		4,267		4,000

02/08/10		02/08/13		—		—		2,970		—		—

01/31/11		01/31/13 01/31/14		9,804 9,805		2,663 2,664		2,043 2,043		3,683 3,684		3,433 3,434

02/06/12		02/06/13 02/06/14 02/06/15		— — —		— — —		— — —		— — —		2,180 2,180 2,180

02/15/12		02/15/13 02/15/14 02/15/15		10,064 10,064 10,065		3,019 3,019 3,020		2,684 2,684 2,684		2,264 2,265 2,265		— — —

(2)	The vesting dates of the restricted stock awards for the named executive officers are as follows:


Name	Vesting Dates		01/28/08		02/08/08		10/27/08		01/26/09		01/25/10		02/01/10		02/08/10		01/24/11		01/31/11		01/23/12		02/15/12		TOTAL
Joseph H. Pyne		01/24/13		—		5,000		—		8,833		—		7,371		—		—		5,135		—		3,676		30,015
		01/24/14		—		—		—		8,834		—		7,371		—		—		5,135		—		3,676		25,016
		01/24/15		—		—		—		—		—		7,371		—		—		5,135		—		3,676		16,182
		01/24/16		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		5,135		—		3,677		8,812
		01/24/17		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		3,677		3,677

Gregory R. Binion		01/24/13		1,000		—		—		2,209		—		2,002		—		—		1,395		—		—		6,606
		10/24/13		—		—		1,800		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		1,103		2,903
		01/24/14		—		—		—		2,209		—		2,003		—		—		1,395		—		1,103		6,710
		01/24/15		—		—		—		—		—		2,003		—		—		1,395		—		1,103		4,501
		01/24/16		—		—		—		—		—				—		—		1,395		—		1,103		2,498
		01/24/17		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		1,103		1,103

David W. Grzebinski		01/24/13		—		—		—		—		—		—		1,595		—		1,070		—		980		3,645
		01/24/14		—		—		—		—		—		—		1,595		—		1,070		—		980		3,645
		01/24/15		—		—		—		—		—		—		1,595		—		1,070		—		980		3,645
		01/24/16		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		1,070		—		981		2,051
		01/24/17		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		981		981

William G. Ivey		01/24/13		1,280		—		—		1,920		1,280		—		—		1,100		—		—		827		6,407
		01/24/14		—		—		—		1,920		1,280		—		—		1,100		—		—		827		5,127
		01/24/15		—		—		—		—		1,280		—		—		1,100		—		—		827		3,207
		01/24/16		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		1,100		—		—		827		1,927
		01/24/17								—		—		—		—		—		—		—		828		828

James F. Farley		01/24/13		1,280		—		—		1,920		1,280		—		—		1,100		—		680		—		6,260
		01/24/14		—		—		—		1,920		1,280		—		—		1,100		—		680		—		4,980
		01/24/15		—		—		—		—		1,280		—		—		1,100		—		680		—		3,060
		01/24/16		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		1,100		—		680		—		1,780
		01/24/17		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		680		—		680

(3)	The market value of the shares of restricted stock that had not vested as of December 31, 2012 is calculated using the closing price of the Company’s common stock on December 31, 2012, which was $61.89 per share.

Option Exercises and Stock Vested During 2012


	Option Awards				Stock Awards
Name	Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise		Value Realized on Exercise(1)		Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting		Value Realized on Vesting(2)
Joseph H. Pyne		112,424	$	2,624,288		32,917	$	2,221,898
Gregory R. Binion		26,350		702,642		9,045		592,502
David W. Grzebinski		—		—		26,113		1,702,364
William G. Ivey		12,800		119,168		6,860		463,050
James F. Farley		30,000		707,880		6,860		463,050

(1)	Based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of exercise.

(2)	Based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of vesting.

Pension Benefits


Name	Plan Name	Years of Credited Service		Present Value of Accumulated Benefit
Joseph H. Pyne	Kirby Inland Marine LP — Deferred Compensation Plan(1)		—	$	659,430
Gregory R. Binion	Kirby Pension Plan(2)		11		93,589

(1)

Kirby Inland Marine, LP has an unfunded Deferred Compensation Agreement with Mr. Pyne in connection with his previous employment as its President. Mr. Pyne has enough years of service to qualify for the maximum payment of $4,175 per month under the agreement. The agreement provides for benefits to Mr. Pyne of $4,175 per month commencing upon the later of his severance from the employment of the Company or his 65th birthday and continuing until the month of his death. If Mr. Pyne should die prior to receiving such deferred compensation, the agreement provides for monthly payments to his beneficiary for a period of not less than 60 nor more than 120 months, depending on the circumstances. The agreement also provides that no benefits will be paid if Mr. Pyne is terminated for a “wrongful action” (as defined in the agreement).

(2)

The Company sponsors a defined benefit plan, the Kirby Pension Plan, for vessel personnel and shore based tankermen employed by certain subsidiaries of the Company. Shoreside personnel employed by Hollywood prior to its merger with a subsidiary of the Company in 1999, including Mr. Binion, also are participants in the Kirby Pension Plan, but ceased to accrue additional benefits effective December 31, 1999. The Company contributes such amounts as are necessary on an actuarial basis to provide the Kirby Pension Plan with assets sufficient to meet the benefits paid to participants.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation


Name	Registrant Contributions in Last Fiscal Year(1)		Aggregate Earnings in Last Fiscal Year(2)		Aggregate Balance at Last Fiscal Year End
Joseph H. Pyne	$	—	$	202,321	$	2,081,369
Gregory R. Binion		—		6,447		71,715
David W. Grzebinski		—		2,188		28,259
William G. Ivey		—		18,450		170,445
James F. Farley		—		6,794		66,187

(1)

The Company has an unfunded, nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan for Key Employees which was adopted in October 1994, effective January 1, 1992. The Plan is designed primarily to provide additional benefits to eligible employees to restore benefits to which they would be entitled under the Company’s Profit Sharing Plan and 401(k) Plan were it not for certain limits imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. The benefits under the Deferred Compensation Plan are designed to restore benefits for employees with base salary in excess of a certain level ($250,000 for 2012). Contributions for 2012, which would otherwise be included in this column, have not been determined as of the date of this Proxy Statement. For 2011, the Company’s contributions under the Deferred Compensation Plan for Key Employees were as follows: $82,724 to Mr. Pyne, $29,354 to Mr. Binion, $17,790 to Mr. Grzebinski, $14,552 to Mr. Ivey and $12,186 to Mr. Farley.

(2)	Earnings on deferred compensation under the Deferred Compensation Plan for Key Employees are calculated in the same manner and at the same rate as earnings on externally managed investments of salaried employees participating in the Company’s Profit Sharing Plan.

Equity Compensation Plan Information as of December 31, 2012


Plan Category	Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options		Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options		Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (Excluding Securities Reflected in First Column)(1)
Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders		351,173	$	45.54		2,909,458
Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders(2)		345,938	$	45.84		675,535
Total		697,111	$	45.69		3,584,993

(1)	On April 24, 2012, the stockholders approved a 2,000,000 share increase in the number of shares that may be issued under the 2005 Stock and Incentive Plan and a 500,000 share increase in the number of shares that may be issued under the 2000 Nonemployee Director Stock Plan.

(2)

The only plan included in the table that was adopted without stockholder approval was the 2000 Nonemployee Director Stock Plan, the material features of which are summarized under “BOARD OF DIRECTORS — Director Compensation.” Subsequent increases in the number of shares that may be issued under that plan were approved by the stockholders in 2008 and 2012.

Potential Payments Upon Change in Control

If a change in control were to have occurred on December 31, 2012, all of the named executive officers’ outstanding options to acquire Company common stock would have become immediately exercisable. The options were granted at a price equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant, vest in equal increments over three years and have a term of seven years. Restricted stock awards granted to the named executive officers would have immediately vested. The restricted stock awards vest in equal increments over five years. Performance awards would have been considered earned so that holders of the awards would have been entitled to receive the target performance award the holder could have earned for the proportionate part of the performance period prior to the change in control. The outstanding options would have become immediately exercisable and the restricted stock award and performance awards would have become immediately vested regardless of whether the named executive officer was terminated or voluntarily terminated employment following the change of control. The value of the stock options and restricted stock awards is based on the Company’s closing market price of $61.89 per share on December 31, 2012.

Joseph H. Pyne

Mr. Pyne’s options to purchase an aggregate of 33,335 shares of common stock would have become fully exercisable on December 31, 2012, if a change in control had occurred on that date. Under the terms of Mr. Pyne’s stock options, he would have to pay $1,363,443 to purchase the shares. Accordingly, the maximum value of the accelerated vesting of the 33,335 options would have been $699,660 ($61.89 per share value on December 31, 2012, multiplied by 33,335 shares minus $1,363,443, the aggregate exercise price of the options). All other options held by Mr. Pyne on December 31, 2012 have an exercise price higher than the year end stock price of $61.89.

Mr. Pyne had 83,702 shares of restricted stock that were not vested as of December 31, 2012. If a change of control had occurred on that date, the 83,702 shares would have become fully vested. The maximum value of the accelerated vesting of Mr. Pyne’s restricted stock would have been $5,180,317 ($61.89 per share value on December 31, 2012, multiplied by 83,702 restricted shares).

On December 31, 2012, Mr. Pyne would have become entitled to payments under previously granted performance awards totaling $1,324,800 if a change in control had occurred on that date.

Gregory R. Binion

Mr. Binion’s options to purchase an aggregate of 9,056 shares of common stock would have become fully exercisable on December 31, 2012, if a change in control had occurred on that date. Under the terms of Mr. Binion’s stock options, he would have to pay $370,400 to purchase the shares. Accordingly, the maximum value of the accelerated vesting of the 9,056 options would have been $190,076 ($61.89 per share value on December 31, 2012, multiplied by 9,056 shares minus $370,400, the aggregate exercise price of the options). All other options held by Mr. Binion on December 31, 2012 have an exercise price higher than the year end stock price of $61.89.

Mr. Binion had 24,321 shares of restricted stock that were not vested as of December 31, 2012. If a change of control had occurred on that date, the 24,321 shares would have become fully vested. The maximum value of the accelerated vesting of Mr. Binion’s restricted stock would have been $1,505,227 ($61.89 per share value on December 31, 2012, multiplied by 24,321 restricted shares).

On December 31, 2012, Mr. Binion would have become entitled to payments under previously granted performance awards totaling $370,739 if a change in control had occurred on that date.

David W. Grzebinski

Mr. Grzebinski’s options to purchase an aggregate of 7,056 shares of common stock would have become fully exercisable on December 31, 2012, if a change in control had occurred on that date. Under the terms of Mr. Grzebinski’s stock options, he would have to pay $284,089 to purchase the shares. Accordingly, the maximum value of the accelerated vesting of the 7,056 options would have been $152,607 ($61.89 per share value on December 31, 2012, multiplied by 7,056 shares minus $284,089, the aggregate exercise price of the options). All other options held by Mr. Grzebinski on December 31, 2012 have an exercise price higher than the year end stock price of $61.89.

Mr. Grzebinski had 13,967 shares of restricted stock that were not vested as of December 31, 2012. If a change of control had occurred on that date, the 13,967 shares would have become fully vested. The maximum value of the accelerated vesting of Mr. Grzebinski’s restricted stock would have been $864,418 ($61.89 per share value on December 31, 2012, multiplied by 13,967 restricted shares).

On December 31, 2012, Mr. Grzebinski would have become entitled to payments under previously granted performance awards totaling $298,306 if a change in control had occurred on that date.

William G. Ivey

Mr. Ivey’s options to purchase an aggregate of 11,634 shares of common stock would have become fully exercisable on December 31, 2012, if a change in control had occurred on that date. Under the terms of Mr. Ivey’s stock options, he would have to pay $483,267 to purchase the shares. Accordingly, the maximum value of the accelerated vesting of the 11,634 options would have been $236,761 ($61.89 per share value on December 31, 2012, multiplied by 11,634 shares minus $483,267, the aggregate exercise price of the options). All other options held by Mr. Ivey on December 31, 2012 have an exercise price higher than the year end stock price of $61.89.

Mr. Ivey had 17,496 shares of restricted stock that were not vested as of December 31, 2012. If a change of control had occurred on that date, the 17,496 shares would have become fully vested. The maximum value of the accelerated vesting of Mr. Ivey’s restricted stock would have been $1,082,827 ($61.89 per share value on December 31, 2012, multiplied by 17,496 restricted shares).

On December 31, 2012, Mr. Ivey would have become entitled to payments under previously granted performance awards totaling $88,740 if a change in control had occurred on that date.

James F. Farley

Mr. Farley’s options to purchase an aggregate of 10,867 shares of common stock would have become fully exercisable on December 31, 2012, if a change in control had occurred on that date. Under the terms of Mr. Farley’s stock options, he would have to pay $451,204 to purchase the shares. Accordingly, the maximum value of the accelerated vesting of the 10,867 options would have been $221,355 ($61.89 per share value on December 31, 2012, multiplied by 10,867 shares minus $451,204, the aggregate exercise price of the options). All other options held by Mr. Farley on December 31, 2012 have an exercise price higher than the year end stock price of $61.89.

Mr. Farley had 16,760 shares of restricted stock that were not vested as of December 31, 2012. If a change of control had occurred on that date, the 16,760 shares would have become fully vested. The maximum value of the accelerated vesting of Mr. Farley’s restricted stock would have been $1,037,276 ($61.89 per share value on December 31, 2012, multiplied by 16,760 restricted shares).

On December 31, 2012, Mr. Farley would have become entitled to payments under previously granted performance awards totaling $56,075 if a change in control had occurred on that date.

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company is responsible for monitoring the integrity of the Company’s financial reporting, accounting procedures and internal controls. The Audit Committee is composed of four directors, all of whom are independent within the meaning of SEC and NYSE rules. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board.

Management is primarily responsible for the Company’s financial reporting process and internal controls. The Company’s independent auditors are responsible for performing an audit of the Company’s financial statements and issuing a report on the conformity of the financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles. The Company’s independent auditors are also responsible for performing an audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing those processes.

The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2012 with management and the independent auditors. The Audit Committee also (a) discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended and as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”) in Rule 3200T, (b) received the written disclosures and letter from the independent auditors required by the PCAOB regarding the independent auditors’ communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence and (c) discussed with the independent auditors their independence.

Based on the Audit Committee’s review of the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2012 and the Audit Committee’s discussions with management and the independent auditors, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors of the Company that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

AUDIT COMMITTEE

Bob G. Gower, Chairman

Richard J. Alario

David L. Lemmon

Richard R. Stewart

RATIFICATION OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE’S SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT

REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM (PROPOSAL 2)

The Audit Committee has selected KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013. KPMG served as the Company’s independent accounting firm for 2012. Although the Audit Committee has the sole authority and responsibility to select and evaluate the performance of the independent accounting firm for the Company, the Board is requesting, as a matter of good corporate governance, that the Company’s stockholders ratify the selection of KPMG for 2013.

The Board of Directors of the Company unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” the ratification of the selection of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2013.

Ratification of the selection of KPMG requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares represented at the meeting in person or by proxy. If the stockholders do not ratify the selection of KPMG, the Audit Committee will reconsider the selection. However, because of the difficulty and expense of changing independent auditors at this point in the year, the selection of KPMG will probably be continued for 2013 in the absence of extraordinary reasons for making an immediate change. If the stockholders do ratify the selection of KPMG, the Audit Committee will retain the authority to make a change if warranted in its judgment.

Representatives of KPMG are expected to be present at the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, with the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Fees Paid to the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The following table sets forth the fees billed by KPMG, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, during the last two fiscal years:


	2012		2011
Audit Fees	$	1,561,000	$	1,777,000
Audit-Related Fees		110,000		92,000
Tax Fees		96,000		32,000

TOTAL	$	1,767,000	$	1,901,000

Audit Fees are fees for professional services rendered by KPMG for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements, audit of internal control over financial reporting, review of the Company’s quarterly financial statements or services normally provided in connection with statutory or regulatory filings.

Audit-Related Fees are fees for assurance and related services reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s financial statements. Services performed by KPMG in this category consisted of the audit of the Company’s benefit plans.

Tax Fees are fees for professional services rendered by KPMG for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. Services performed by KPMG in this category for 2012 included the review of the Company’s 2011 federal income tax return.

Each engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm to perform audit or non-audit services must be approved in advance by the Company’s Audit Committee or by its Chairman pursuant to delegated authority.

ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (PROPOSAL 3)

The Company is requesting your approval, on a non-binding advisory basis, of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed and discussed under “EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION” on pages 15-24 of this Proxy Statement. We believe that our executive compensation:

•

is competitive as necessary to attract and retain qualified executives;

•

is appropriately tied to Company and individual performance;

•

is designed with both short-term and long-term business objectives of the Company in mind;

•

does not encourage excessive risk-taking by the Company’s management; and

•

properly aligns the interests of management with those of the Company’s stockholders.

For those reasons, we are asking you to approve the following resolution:

RESOLVED that the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as described under “EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION” in the Company’s Proxy Statement for its 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is approved.

Although the vote on approval of executive compensation is not binding, the Compensation Committee and the Board will consider the result of the vote in making future compensation decisions.

The Board of Directors of the Company unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” Proposal 3 approving the compensation of the named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement.

OTHER BUSINESS (PROPOSAL 4)

The Board knows of no other business to be brought before the Annual Meeting. However, if any other matters are properly presented, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy to take such action as in their judgment is in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders.

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2014 ANNUAL MEETING

Stockholder proposals must be received by the Company at its principal executive offices no later than November 8, 2013 to be considered for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement and form of proxy for the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Under the Company’s Bylaws, written notice (containing the information required by the Bylaws) of any stockholder proposal for action at an annual meeting of stockholders (whether or not proposed for inclusion in the Company’s proxy materials) must be received by the Company at its principal executive offices not less than 90 nor more than 120 days prior to the anniversary date of the prior year’s annual meeting of stockholders and must be a proper subject for stockholder action.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

THOMAS G. ADLER

Secretary

March 8, 2013

Houston, Texas

LOGO

Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in

this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas.

LOGO

q PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. q

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Proposals — The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all the nominees listed and FOR Proposals 2 and 3.

Election of Directors:

For

Against

Abstain

For

Against

Abstain

For

Against

Abstain

01 - C. Sean Day

02 - William M. Lamont, Jr.

03 - William M. Waterman

For

Against

Abstain

For

Against

Abstain

Ratification of the selection of KPMG LLP as Kirby’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2013.

Advisory vote on the approval of the compensation of Kirby’s named executive officers.

The Proxies are authorized to vote in their discretion upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting.


B		Non-Voting Items

Change of Address — Please print new address below.


C		Authorized Signatures — This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. — Date and Sign Below

Please sign exactly as name(s) appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, corporate officer, trustee, guardian, or custodian, please give full title.


Date (mm/dd/yyyy) — Please print date below.	Signature 1 — Please keep signature within the box.	Signature 2 — Please keep signature within the box.
/ /

LOGO

q PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. q

LOGO

Proxy — Kirby Corporation

55 Waugh Drive, Suite 1000

P.O. Box 1745

Houston, Texas 77251-1745

This Proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of Kirby Corporation.

The undersigned hereby appoints Joseph H. Pyne, David W. Grzebinski, G. Stephen Holcomb and Thomas G. Adler, and each of them, as Proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes each to represent and to vote, as designated below, all the shares of common stock, par value $0.10 per share, of Kirby Corporation (the “Company”) held of record by the undersigned as of the close of business on March 1, 2013, at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 23, 2013, at 55 Waugh Drive, 9^th floor, Houston, Texas 77007 at 10:00 A.M. (CDT) and any adjournment(s) thereof.

THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER(S). IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE PERSONS LISTED IN PROPOSAL 1. SHOULD ANY OF THEM REFUSE OR BECOME UNABLE TO ACCEPT ELECTION AS A DIRECTOR OF THE COMPANY, THE PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF SUCH PERSON OR PERSONS AS MAY BE NOMINATED OR DESIGNATED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR PROPOSALS 2 AND 3. THE PROXIES WILL USE THEIR DISCRETION WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTER REFERRED TO IN ITEM 4.

PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

(Continued and to be signed on reverse side)