SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                     FORM 15

      Certification and Notice of Termination of Registration under Section
      12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Suspension of Duty to
           File Reports Under Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Securities
                              Exchange Act of 1934.

                         Commission File Number: 1-7615

          KIRBY CORPORATION (formerly Kirby Exploration Company, Inc.)
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

   1775 St. James Place, Suite 300, Houston, Texas 77056-3453; (713) 629-9370
 (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of 
                   registrant's principal executive offices)

              10-1/2% Convertible Subordinated Debentures Due 1992
            (Title of each class of securities covered by this Form)

                    Common Stock - $0.10 Par Value Per Share
          (Title of all other classes of securities for which a duty to
               file reports under section 13(a) or 15(d) remains)

         Please  place an X in the box(es) to  designate  the  appropriate  rule
provision(s) relied upon to terminate or suspend the duty to file reports:

             Rule 12g-4(a)(1)(i)       [X]    Rule 12h-3(b)(1)(ii)      [ ]
             Rule 12g-4(a)(1)(ii)      [ ]    Rule 12h-3(b)(2)(i)       [ ]
             Rule 12g-4(a)(2)(i)       [ ]    Rule 12h-3(b)(2)(ii)      [ ]
             Rule 12g-4(a)(2)(ii)      [ ]    Rule 15d-6                [ ]
             Rule 12h-3(b)(1)(i)       [ ]

         Approximate  number of  holders  of record as of the  certification  or
notice date:

         None

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934
KIRBY  CORPORATION  has  caused  this  certification/notice  to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned duly authorized person.

                                                KIRBY CORPORATION

DATE:   September 5, 1996                    By:      /s/ G. Stephen Holcomb
                                                      ----------------------
                                                      G. Stephen Holcomb
                                                      Vice President

CORPDAL:54885.1 13085-00001