Our History

O’Donnell Park Barging was started in August 1996 by Willie and Robyn O’Donnell and Robert and Sharon Parkes, along with the wider Parkes family from Marlborough. 

The initial vision of the business was to barge logs and servicing the logging industry in and around the Marlborough Sounds. During the initial investigations of logs, the team worked with Regal salmon for servicing of their salmon farm sites in the Queen Charlotte Sounds. This was a far cry from servicing the logging industry, this view was still apparent, however the ability to adapt and work within the aquaculture industry.

The team sourced a vessel from Australia called ‘Lana’ and started operations servicing the salmon farms on the 15th of September 1996. The crew was small, but the drive to succeed was there from the start. Throughout the operation saw the business purchase vessels to assist with the operation, this included vessels such as ‘Sirrocco’, and dumb-barges ‘Pataki’ and ‘Onewaka’. In 2002 the business added the barge ‘Ngapuhi’ to the fleet. Vessels came and went as required, however Lana and Ngapuhi remained with the business and still do currently.

In 2012 Willie & Robyn O’Donnell decided it was time to retire. The Directors appointed Kim O’Donnell and James Galloway to manage the business going forward with the current staffing team. Kim and James took on the management of the company on the 1st March 2013. 

From 2016 onward the staff team increased slowly as required. The encouragement of younger staff to obtain their skippers tickets was taken up. 

In 2018 investigations were then undertaken to look for a new vessel to join the fleet, we searched for a vessel to suit requirements but nothing was available. After much consideration we decided to build a new purpose built catamaran to assist Ngapuhi and the overall operation, the goal and aim on this build was to use local contractors and products in order to sew back into the local community for as much of the build as possible, the task to build Willie ‘O’ was started. 

Only weeks after the agreement was signed to build Willie ‘O’, Gary and Valerie Kenny who owned Kenny Barging, (another local Marlborough barge business that has operated vessels in the Marlborough sounds since 1857) approached O’Donnell Park Barging to purchase their business and continue the operation, this was an exclusive opportunity and the decision was made to purchase the Kenny Barging company, in partnership with Liam Black (Gary and Valeries grandson). This saw the creation of a sister company Kenny Barging which operates two vessels Rongowai and Rongotia. 

February 2020 we launched Willie ‘O’ named as a tribute to Willie and Robyn O’Donnell, who worked through the years to operate the business. A fantastic day, and a celebration to the founders and those that had worked hard within the business in the early days of the business. 

In January 2021 O’Donnell Park Barging along side Kenny Barging Limited and Nautilus Pacific Maritime Contractors Limited (Another local Barge and Tug operator), formed a new company together and purchased Johnsons Barge Services Limited based in Havelock, from Peter and Jennie Johnson. The Name Johnsons Barge service Limited was retained due to its rich history that has been synonymous with the Marlborough sounds community since 1919. 

We are active in our community, sponsoring events and community groups and providing equipment for our community to use. In February 2020 we purchased a community van along with Kenny Barging, which all community groups are able to use free of charge. We have had a great response and uptake from schools and community groups using it since we purchased it.

What drives our business is the want to succeed, and to see people succeed, we would not be anywhere without the range of people that have worked with us to make O’Donnell Park Barging what it is today. Currently we employ 17 people within O’Donnell Park Barging & Kenny Barging, and 13 within Johnsons Barge Service. We are not focused on accolades, we are focused on people (our team family and our community), and doing the best that we can to ensure people and our community is made better.