Independent Pier Company
| Company type | Towing and Lightering Company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Ship assistance, Lighterage, Transportation (1909–1994) |
| Headquarters | Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Area served | Delaware River, Chesapeake Bay |
Key people | Emil Meyle (Founder), William Harrison Meyle (CEO), William Harrison Meyle II (CEO), Ken Meyle (CEO), William Harrison Meyle III (CEO) |
The Independent Pier Company originated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1895, established by Emil Meyle and formally incorporated in 1909. Emil initially offered stevedoring and storage solutions along the Philadelphia waterfront, operating out of "Pier 34" on the South Wharves near Kenilworth Street.
By 1911, the company ventured into tugboat services with the acquisition of the steam tugs Active and Neptune. This fleet expanded with the addition of Triton in 1913 and Pilot Boy in 1917. The purchase of Chas. Killam and Company in 1915 contributed five lighters to their assets. Their comprehensive offerings encompassed wharfage, towing, lightering, stevedoring, and terminal management, catering to Delaware Valley shippers using deck and covered lighters, stick lighters, steam cranes, and heavy-lift crane barges. Further tugboats added included Lookout (1920) and F.A. Churchman (1926).
Following Emil Meyle’s passing in 1917, leadership transitioned to William Harrison Meyle who continued expanding the tug fleet with vessels such as the Lookout and F.A. Churchman. Tug operations were later centralized under the Independent Towing Company in 1976; this segment was eventually sold to McAllister Towing in 1980.
The Independent Pier Company was responsible for managing the Tioga Marine Terminal on behalf of the Philadelphia Port Corporation, which is currently known as the Delaware River Port Authority.
In December 1994, ownership transferred to Thomas Holt. Among its notable historic vessels, the tug Jupiter is preserved by the Philadelphia Ship Preservation Guild at Penn's Landing; however, other ships like the Saturn were dismantled.
External links
- American companies established in 1876
- Transport companies established in 1876
- American companies disestablished in 1994
- Transport companies disestablished in 1994
- Defunct shipping companies of the United States
- Shipping companies of the United States
- 1876 establishments in Pennsylvania
- 1994 disestablishments in Pennsylvania