UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

         DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED):  MAY 12, 2005


                                KIRBY CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

            NEVADA                        1-7615                 74-1884980
(State or other jurisdiction of   (Commission File Number)    (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)                              Identification No.)

     55 WAUGH DRIVE, SUITE 1000                                   77007
          HOUSTON, TEXAS                                        (Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)

               REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE:
                                 (713) 435-1000


Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if  the  Form  8-K  filing  is  intended to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following  provisions:

[_] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)

[_]  Soliciting  material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)

[_] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
Act  (17  CFR  240.14d-2(b))

[_] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange
Act  (17  CFR  240.13e-4(c))



Item 7.01.  Regulation FD Disclosure.
            ------------------------

     On  May  19,  2005,  Kirby  Corporation's  senior  management  will  make a
presentation  to  investors  and  analysts  from  2:00 p.m. (Eastern time) until
approximately  5:20 p.m. (Eastern time) in New York City.  A live webcast of the
presentation  will  be  available  to  the  public and replays will be available
afterward.  The  webcast  can  be  accessed  by  visiting  Kirby's  Web  site at
http://www.kirbycorp.com/  or  by  following  the  link  below and selecting the
- ------------------------
streaming  audio  option:

     http://invite.mshow.com/findshow.aspx?usertype=0&cobrand=100&shownumber=235
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
506
- ---

     Reference:  Kirby  Corporation  Analyst  Day,  show  number  235506

     Copies  of  materials  prepared  by  Kirby  for  the  presentation  will be
available  on  May 19, 2005 on Kirby's Web site and in a Form 8-K to be filed by
Kirby  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  on  that  date.

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.
            ---------------------------------

     (c)  Exhibits

          99.1  Press Release dated May 12, 2005


                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant  to  the  requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has  duly  caused  this  report  to  be  signed on its behalf by the
undersigned  thereunto  duly  authorized.

                                    KIRBY CORPORATION
                                    (Registrant)

                                    By:       /s/ NORMAN W. NOLEN
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                                  Norman W. Nolen
                                       Executive Vice President, Treasurer
                                           and Chief Financial Officer

Dated:  May 12, 2005



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit 99.1   Press release dated May 12, 2005

                                      KIRBY


KIRBY CORPORATION                                      CONTACT:  STEVE HOLCOMB
                                                                 713-435-1135

FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE
- -----------------------


                 KIRBY CORPORATION TO HOST INVESTOR AND ANALYST
                        MEETING ON THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2005

HOUSTON, TEXAS (MAY 12, 2005) - Kirby Corporation ("Kirby") (NYSE:KEX) will host
an  Investor  and  Analyst  Meeting  in New York City on Thursday, May 19, 2005.
Kirby's  senior  management  will  make a presentation to investors and analysts
from  2:00  p.m. (Eastern time) until approximately 5:20 p.m. (Eastern time).  A
live  webcast  of  the  presentation will be available to the public and replays
will  be  available  after the meeting.  The webcast can be accessed by visiting
Kirby's Web site at http://www.kirbycorp.com/ or by following the link below and
                    -------------------------
selecting  the  streaming  audio  option:

http://invite.mshow.com/findshow.aspx?usertype=0&cobrand=100&shownumber=235506
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reference: Kirby Corporation Analyst Day, show number 235506

The meeting will also include presentations by the Waterway Council, Inc. on the
United  States  inland  waterway  system  infrastructure,  by  Chemical  Market
Associates,  Inc.  on the outlook for the petrochemical industry and by Purvin &
Gertz,  Inc.  on  the  refined  petroleum  products  market.

Kirby  Corporation,  based  in  Houston,  Texas, operates inland tank barges and
towing  vessels  transporting  petrochemicals,  black  oil  products,  refined
petroleum  products  and  agricultural  chemicals  throughout  the United States
inland  waterway  system.  Through  its  diesel  engine  services segment, Kirby
provides  after-market  service  for  large  medium-speed  and high-speed diesel
engines  and  reduction  gears  used  in  marine,  power generation and railroad
applications.


     55 Waugh Drive    Suite 1000    P.O. BOX 1745    Houston, Texas 77251
                         713/435-1000   Fax 713/435/1011