CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 11,059	$ 16,249
Accounts receivable:
Trade - less allowance for doubtful accounts of $4,720 ($5,007 in 2011)	313,182	303,087
Other	43,074	32,060
Inventories - net, at lower of average cost or market	177,397	130,130
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	39,248	33,617
Deferred income taxes	12,296	14,186
Total current assets	596,256	529,329
Property and equipment:
Marine transportation equipment	3,029,219	2,466,506
Land, buildings and equipment	189,894	151,762
Property and equipment	3,219,113	2,618,268
Accumulated depreciation	903,948	796,095
Property and equipment - net	2,315,165	1,822,173
Investment in affiliates	1,808	3,682
Goodwill - net	596,030	483,468
Other assets	143,869	121,759
Total assets	3,653,128	2,960,411
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	65,000	39,005
Income taxes payable	2,369	4,124
Accounts payable	156,763	158,855
Accrued liabilities:
Interest	1,628	1,168
Insurance premiums and claims	44,589	45,817
Employee compensation	39,561	42,706
Taxes - other than on income	10,760	9,972
Other	17,493	17,599
Deferred revenues	16,857	39,554
Total current liabilities	355,020	358,800
Long-term debt - less current portion	1,070,110	763,000
Deferred income taxes	426,096	292,355
Other long-term liabilities	94,848	92,098
Total long-term liabilities	1,591,054	1,147,453
Contingencies and commitments
Kirby stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $.10 par value per share. Authorized 120,000,000 shares, issued 59,776,000 shares in 2012 and 59,276,000 in 2011	5,978	5,928
Additional paid-in capital	397,785	357,294
Accumulated other comprehensive income - net	(61,127)	(56,176)
Retained earnings	1,439,079	1,229,641
Treasury stock - at cost, 3,191,000 shares in 2012 and 3,532,000 in 2011	(86,747)	(94,162)
Total Kirby stockholders' equity	1,694,968	1,442,525
Noncontrolling interests	12,086	11,633
Total equity	1,707,054	1,454,158
Total liabilities and equity	$ 3,653,128	$ 2,960,411