Our History
In 1969, our President and Founder, Jim Johnson, enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was trained as a shipfitter. He served on a shore base in Vietnam and completed his four year tour on the USS Ajax, a repair ship, with its homeport in Sasebo, Japan. During his time in the Navy, Jim didn't waste any time. He got married, became a father, and was involved in diverse and complex hull and machinery repairs.
Following his service in the U.S. Navy, in an effort to continue down the same career path, Jim went to work at Missouri Dry Dock and Repair in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Jim worked as a welder at a local shipyard while he pursued a B.S. degree in education. By the time he graduated in 1975, he had two children and came to the realization that it would be difficult to support a family on a beginning teachers' salary.
Taking advantage of the many contacts he made while working in the shipyard, Jim started working as a Marine Surveyor and has held a variety of positions in the industry over the years to include working for a major barge line, managing marine repair yards and terminals, and working in the salvage industry.
After gaining 30 years of experience on the water, Jim Johnson decided to begin his own business. He wanted to create a marine surveying company that provided the highest quality of service on the inland rivers and throughout the Gulf Coast Region.
On November 29, 1999, Jim Johnson became a grandfather to his first two grandchildren and a business owner. Johnson Marine Services was established, and with the help of his family, Jim continues to serve the maritime industry 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
““It’s not just a job, it’s a way of life” ”
Johnson Marine Services is a family business through and through. Both of Jim’s children and two out of his four grandchildren help to operate the business every day. Today, we provide our clients with the experience, prospective, and optimism of three generations, actively involved in the day to day operation of a family business with one goal: