CONFORMED COPY


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                                KIRBY CORPORATION





                                  $200,000,000
        Floating Rate Senior Notes, Series 2005-A, due February 28, 2013





                                    _________

                   FIRST SUPPLEMENT TO NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT
                                    _________





                            Dated as of May 31, 2005





================================================================================



                   FIRST SUPPLEMENT TO NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


     THIS  FIRST  SUPPLEMENT  is  entered  into  as  of  May  31,  2005  (this
"Supplement")  between  KIRBY CORPORATION, a Nevada corporation (the "Company"),
and  the  Purchasers  listed  in  the  attached  Schedule  A (the "Purchasers").

                                 R E C I T A L S
                                 ---------------

     A.     The  Company  has entered into a Note Purchase Agreement dated as of
February  15,  2003  with  the  purchasers  listed  in  Schedule  A  thereto (as
heretofore  supplemented,  the  "Note  Purchase  Agreement");  and

     B.     The  Company desires to issue and sell, and the Purchasers desire to
purchase,  an  additional  series  of  Notes  (as  defined  in the Note Purchase
Agreement)  pursuant  to  the Note Purchase Agreement and in accordance with the
terms  set  forth  below;

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  the  Company  and  the  Purchasers  agree  as  follows:

     1.     Authorization  of  the  New  Series  of  Notes.
            ----------------------------------------------

          (a)     Amount; Designation.  The Company has authorized the issue and
                  -------------------
     sale  of  $200,000,000  aggregate  principal  amount  of  Notes  to  be
     designated  as  its Floating Rate Senior Notes, Series 2005-A, due February
     28,  2013  (the  "Series 2005-A Notes", such term to include any such Notes
     issued in substitution therefor pursuant to Section 13 of the Note Purchase
     Agreement).  The Series 2005-A Notes shall be substantially in the form set
     out  in  Exhibit 1 to this Supplement, with such changes therefrom, if any,
     as may be approved by the Purchasers and the Company.

          (b)     Adjusted  Libor  Rate.     Section 1.2(b) of the Note Purchase
                  ---------------------
     Agreement  shall  apply  to  the  Series  2005-A  Notes  in  its  entirety,
     except  the  reference in the definition of "Adjusted LIBOR Rate" to "1.2%"
     shall be deemed to be a reference to 0.50%.

          (c)     Determination  of  the  Adjusted LIBOR Rate.  The reference in
                  -------------------------------------------
     Section  1.2(c)  of  the  Note  Purchase Agreement to "Series 2003-A Notes"
     shall be deemed to be reference to the Series 2005-A Notes.

          (d)     Interest  Period.  "INTEREST  PERIOD" means for any period for
                  ----------------
     which  interest  is  to  be  calculated or paid on the Series 2005-A Notes,
     the period commencing on the date of an interest payment, or on the date of
     Closing  in  the  case  of the first such period, continuing up to, but not
     including,  the  next February 28, May 28, August 28 or November 28, as the
     case  may  be,  or  if such date is not a Business Day, the next succeeding
     Business Day.


                                      -1-

     2.     Sale  and Purchase of Series 2005-A Notes.  Subject to the terms and
            -----------------------------------------
conditions  of this Supplement and the Note Purchase Agreement, the Company will
issue  and sell to each of the Purchasers, and the Purchasers will purchase from
the  Company,  at  the Closing provided for in Section 3, Series 2005-A Notes in
the  principal  amount specified opposite their respective names in the attached
Schedule  A  at the purchase price of 100% of the principal amount thereof.  The
obligations  of  the  Purchasers hereunder are several and not joint obligations
and  no  Purchaser shall have any liability to any Person for the performance or
non-performance  by  any  other  Purchaser  hereunder.

     3.     Closing.  The  sale  and  purchase  of the Series 2005-A Notes to be
            -------
purchased  by  the  Purchasers  shall  occur  at the offices of Gardner Carton &
Douglas LLP, 191 North Wacker Drive, Suite 3700, Chicago, Illinois 60606-1698 at
9:00 a.m., Chicago time, at a closing (the "Closing") on May 31, 2005 or on such
other Business Day thereafter on or prior to June 15, 2005 as may be agreed upon
by  the Company and the Purchasers.  At the Closing, the Company will deliver to
each  Purchaser  the  Series 2005-A Notes to be purchased by it in the form of a
single  Note  (or such greater number of Series 2005-A Notes in denominations of
at  least  $500,000 as such Purchaser may request) dated the date of the Closing
and  registered in its name (or in the name of its nominee), against delivery by
such Purchaser to the Company or its order of immediately available funds in the
amount  of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of immediately available
funds  for  the account of the Company to account number 00100359554 at JPMorgan
Chase  Bank,  712  Main Street, Houston, Texas  77002, ABA No. 113000609.  If at
the  Closing  the  Company  shall  fail  to tender such Series 2005-A Notes to a
Purchaser  as  provided  above  in  this  Section  3,  or  any of the conditions
specified  in  Section 4 of the Note Purchase Agreement, as modified or expanded
by  Section  4  hereof,  shall  not  have  been  fulfilled  to  such Purchaser's
satisfaction,  such Purchaser shall, at its election, be relieved of all further
obligations under this Agreement, without thereby waiving any rights it may have
by  reason  of  such  failure  or  such  nonfulfillment.

     4.     Conditions  to Closing.  Each Purchaser's obligation to purchase and
            ----------------------
pay  for  the  Series 2005-A Notes to be sold to it at the Closing is subject to
the  fulfillment  to  its  satisfaction,  prior  to  or  at  the Closing, of the
conditions  set  forth in Section 4 of the Note Purchase Agreement, as hereafter
modified,  and  to  the  following  additional  conditions:

          (a)     References  in  Section  4  of  the Note Purchase Agreement to
     "Series  2003-A  Notes"  shall  be  deemed  to  be references to the Series
     2005-A  Notes  and  references to the "Closing" shall be deemed to refer to
     the Closing as such term is defined in this Supplement;

          (b)     The  reference  in  Section  4.2  to the "Memorandum" shall be
     deemed  to  be  a  reference  to  the  term  "Memorandum"  as  such term is
     defined  in  Schedule  5  to this Supplement and the reference to "Schedule
     5.14" shall be deemed to be a reference to Schedule 5.14 hereto;

          (c)     The  legal  opinions, and forms thereof, called for by Section
     4.4  of  the  Note  Purchase  Agreement  shall be appropriately modified to
     reflect this Supplement and


                                      -2-

     the  transactions  contemplated  herein  and  the  rendering  of  the legal
     opinion  by  Fulbright  & Jaworski L.L.P. in substitution of the opinion by
     Jenkens & Gilchrist;

          (d)     References  in  the  Note  Purchase  Agreement  to  "Other
     Purchasers" shall be deemed to refer to the Purchasers hereunder; and

          (e)     At least three Business Days prior to the date of the Closing,
     each  Purchaser  shall  have  received  a  copy  of  written  instructions
     signed by a Responsible Officer on letterhead of the Company confirming the
     information  specified  in  Section 3 including (i) the name and address of
     the  transferee  bank, (ii) such transferee bank's ABA number and (iii) the
     account  name  and number into which the purchase price for the Notes is to
     be deposited.

     5.     Representations  and  Warranties  of  the  Company.  The  Company
            --------------------------------------------------
represents  and  warrants to the Purchasers that each of the representations and
warranties  contained  in  Section  5 of the Note Purchase Agreement is true and
correct  as of the date hereof (i) except that all references to "Purchaser" and
"you"  therein  shall  be  deemed  to  refer  to  the  Purchasers hereunder, all
references  to  "this  Agreement"  shall be deemed to refer to the Note Purchase
Agreement  as  supplemented  by  this  Supplement, and all references to "Series
2003-A  Notes"  therein shall be deemed to refer to the Series 2005-A Notes, and
(ii)  except for changes to such representations and warranties or the Schedules
referred  to  therein,  which  changes are set forth in the attached Schedule 5.

     6.     Representations  of  the Purchasers.  Each Purchaser confirms to the
            -----------------------------------
Company  that  the  representations  set forth in Section 6 of the Note Purchase
Agreement  are  true  and  correct  as  to  such  Purchaser.

     7.     Mandatory  Prepayment of the Series 2005-A Notes.  The Series 2005-A
            ------------------------------------------------
Notes  are  not  subject  to  mandatory  prepayment  by  the  Company.

     8.     Optional  Prepayments  of the Series 2005-A Notes.  The Company may,
            -------------------------------------------------
at  its  option,  upon notice as provided below, prepay at any time all, or from
time  to  time  any  part of, the Series 2005-A Notes in an amount not less than
$1,000,000  in the aggregate in the case of a partial prepayment, at 100% of the
principal  amount  so prepaid, plus interest on such principal amount accrued to
such  prepayment  date, plus the prepayment premium set forth below and, if such
prepayment  is  to  occur  on  any date other than an Interest Payment Date, the
LIBOR  Breakage  Amount,  if  any.



- ------------------------------------------------------
IF PREPAID DURING THE PERIOD       PREPAYMENT PREMIUM
- ---------------------------------  -------------------
                                
May 31, 2005 through May 28, 2006          2.0%
- ---------------------------------  -------------------
May 29, 2006 through May 28, 2007          1.0%
- ---------------------------------  -------------------
May 29, 2007 and thereafter                0.0%
- ------------------------------------------------------


The  Company will give each holder of Series 2005-A Notes written notice of each
optional prepayment under this Section 8 not less than 30 days and not more than
60  days  prior  to  the date fixed for such prepayment.  Each such notice shall
specify  such date, the aggregate principal amount of the Series 2005-A Notes to
be  prepaid  on  such  date,  the  principal  amount  of  each


                                      -3-

Series  2005-A  Note held by such holder to be prepaid (determined in accordance
with Section 8.3 of the Note Purchase Agreement), and the interest to be paid on
the  prepayment  date  with  respect  to  such  principal  amount being prepaid.

     9.     Applicability  of  Note  Purchase  Agreement.  Except  as  otherwise
            --------------------------------------------
expressly  provided  herein  (and  expressly  permitted  by  the  Note  Purchase
Agreement),  all  of  the  provisions  of  the  Note  Purchase  Agreement  are
incorporated  by  reference herein and shall apply to the Series 2005-A Notes as
if  expressly  set  forth in this Supplement.  For purposes of the Series 2005-A
Notes  and any future series or tranche of Notes issued pursuant to a supplement
to  the  Note  Purchase  Agreement:

     (a)      Section  22.2  of  the  Note  Purchase Agreement shall read in its
entirety  as  follows:

     "22.2     PAYMENTS  DUE  ON  NON-BUSINESS  DAYS.

               Anything  in  this  Agreement  or  the Series 2005-A Notes to the
contrary  notwithstanding,  any payment of principal of or LIBOR Breakage Amount
or interest on any Note that is due on a date other than a Business Day shall be
made  on  the next succeeding Business Day and shall include the additional days
elapsed  in  the  computation  of  the  interest payable on such next succeeding
Business  Day."

     (b)     The  definition  of Business Day in Schedule B of the Note Purchase
Agreement  shall  read  in  its  entirety  as  follows:

     "BUSINESS  DAY"  means  (a)  for  the  purposes  of  Section  8.6  and  the
determination of LIBOR only, any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on
which  commercial  banks  in  London,  England  are required or authorized to be
closed,  and  (b) for the purposes of any other provision of this Agreement, any
day  other  than  a  Saturday,  a  Sunday  or a day on which commercial banks in
Chicago,  Illinois  or  New  York City are required or authorized to be closed."


                                      -4-

     IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  Company  and  the  Purchasers  have caused this
Supplement  to  be  executed  and  delivered  as  of  the  date set forth above.

                              KIRBY  CORPORATION


                              By: /s/ Norman W. Nolen
                              Name:   Norman W. Nolen
                              Title: Executive Vice President and
                                     Chief Financial Officer


                                      S-1

MONUMENTAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY


By: /s/ Bill Henricksen
Name:   Bill Henricksen
Title: Vice President


                                      S-2

By:  PPM  AMERICA,  INC.,  as  attorney  in  fact, on behalf of Jackson National
     Life Insurance Company


By: /s/ Mark Staub
Name:   Mark Staub
Title: Vice President

By:  PPM  AMERICA,  INC.,  as  attorney  in  fact, on behalf of Jackson National
     Life Insurance Company of New York


By: /s/ Mark Staub
Name:   Mark Staub
Title: Vice President


                                      S-3

GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL ASSURANCE COMPANY


By: /s/ Stephen R. De Motto
Name:   Stephen R. De Motto
Title: Investment  Officer


                                      S-4

ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY


By: /s/ Robert B. Bodett
Name:   Robert B. Bodett


By: /s/ Jerry D. Zinkula
Name:   Jerry D. Zinkula

        Authorized  Signatories


ALLSTATE  INSURANCE  COMPANY


By: /s/ Robert B. Bodett
Name:   Robert B. Bodett


By: /s/ Jerry  D. Zinkula
Name:   Jerry D. Zinkula

       Authorized  Signatories


                                      S-5

CONNECTICUT GENERAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

By:  CIGNA Investments, Inc. (authorized agent)


By: /s/ Deborah B. Wiacek
Name:   Deborah B. Wiacek
Title: Managing Director


                                      S-6

PHOENIX LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY


By: /s/ Carole A. Masters
Name:   /s/ Carole A. Masters
Title: Vice President


                                      S-7

HARTFORD  LIFE  INSURANCE  COMPANY

By:  HARTFORD INVESTMENT SERVICES, INC.
      Its Agent and Attorney-in-Fact

By: /s/ Daniel C. Leimbach
Name:   Daniel C. Leimbach
Title: Senior Vice President


                                      S-8

THE TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY


By: /s/ Allen Cantrell
Name:   Allen Cantrell
Title: Investment Officer


                                      S-9

                                                                      Schedule 5
                                                                   to Supplement
                                                                   -------------

                          EXCEPTIONS TO REPRESENTATIONS
                                 AND WARRANTIES



      
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION
- -------  --------------------------------------------------------------------
 5.3     In the first sentence, change the date of the Private Placement
         Memorandum from January 2003 to April 2005.

- -------  --------------------------------------------------------------------
         In the fourth sentence, change September 30, 2002 to March 31, 2005.

- -------  --------------------------------------------------------------------
 5.4     Replace Schedule 5.4 with the attached Schedule 5.4.

- -------  --------------------------------------------------------------------
 5.5     Replace Schedule 5.5 with the attached Schedule 5.5.

- -------  --------------------------------------------------------------------
 5.8     Replace Schedule 5.8 with the attached Schedule 5.8.

- -------  --------------------------------------------------------------------
 5.9     Change the date in the last sentence from December 31, 1998 to
         December 31, 2000.

- -------  --------------------------------------------------------------------
 5.14    Replace Schedule 5.14 with the attached Schedule 5.14.

- -------  --------------------------------------------------------------------
 5.15    In the first sentence, change December 31, 2002 to April 30, 2005.

- -------  --------------------------------------------------------------------
         Replace Schedule 5.15 with the attached Schedule 5.15.

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------



                            Schedule 5 to Supplement



                          SUBSIDIARIES AND AFFILIATES


SUBSIDIARIES                                 ORGANIZED       OWNERSHIP
                                                       

AFRAM Carriers, Inc.                         Delaware              100%
Dixie Offshore Transportation Company        Delaware              100%
Engine Systems, Inc.(1)                      Delaware              100%
KIM Holdings, Inc.                           Delaware              100%
KIM Partners, LLC(2)                         Louisiana             100%
Kirby Corporate Services, LLC                Delaware              100%
Kirby Inland Marine, LP(3)                   Delaware              100%
Kirby Engine Systems, Inc.                   Delaware              100%
Kirby Tankships, Inc.                        Delaware              100%
Kirby Terminals, Inc.                        Texas                 100%
Marine Systems, Inc.(1)                      Louisiana             100%
Rail Systems, Inc.(1)                        Delaware              100%
Sabine Transportation Company                Delaware              100%
Dixie Carriers, Inc.(4)                      Texas                 100%
Mariner Reinsurance Company Limited          Bermuda               100%
Matagorda Terminal, Ltd.(5)                  Texas                 100%
Hollywood Marine, No. 3., Ltd.(4)            Texas                  75%
Hollywood Chem 107, Ltd.(4)                  Texas                83.4%
Hollywood Chem 108, Ltd.(4)                  Texas                87.5%
Hollywood Marine 1004-7, Ltd.(4)             Texas                83.4%
Hollywood Marine 1008-14, Ltd.(4)            Texas                87.5%
Hollywood Marine 3009-14, Ltd.(4)            Texas                87.5%
Hollywood Marine 3015, Ltd.(4)               Texas                83.4%
Hollywood/Texas Olefins, Ltd.(4)             Texas                  50%
Marine Highways, LLC                         Delaware          Variable

AFFILIATES                                   ORGANIZED       OWNERSHIP


BargeNet, LLC(4)                             Delaware           33 1/3%
Bolivar Terminal Co., Inc.(4)                Texas                  50%
Dixie Fuels Limited(6)                       Texas                  35%
The Hollywood Camp, L.L.C.(4)                Texas                  50%
Osprey Line, L.L.C.                          Texas              33 1/3%



                                  Schedule 5.4

_________________________________
(1)     Owned  by  Kirby  Engine  Systems,  Inc.
(2)     Owned  by  KIM  Holdings,  Inc.
(3)     Owned  by  KIM  Holdings,  Inc.  and  KIM  Partners,  LLC
(4)     Owned  by  Kirby  Inland  Marine,  LP
(5)     Owned  by  Kirby  Inland  Marine,  LP  and  Kirby  Terminals,  Inc.
(6)     Owned  by  Dixie  Offshore  Transportation  Company

DIRECTORS  OF  KIRBY  CORPORATION


C. Sean Day
Bob G. Gower
Walter E. Johnson
William M. Lamont, Jr.
C. Berdon Lawrence
George A. Peterkin, Jr.
Joseph H. Pyne
Robert G. Stone, Jr.
Richard C. Webb

SENIOR OFFICERS OF KIRBY CORPORATION

C.  Berdon  Lawrence  -     Chairman  of  the  Board
Joseph  H.  Pyne      -     President  &  Chief  Executive  Officer
Norman  W.  Nolen     -     Executive  Vice  President & Chief Financial Officer
Mark  R.  Buese       -     Senior  Vice  President  -  Administration
G.  Stephen  Holcomb  -     Vice  President  -  Investor  Relations
Howard  G.  Runser    -     Vice  President  -  Information  Technology
Jack  M.  Sims        -     Vice  President  -  Human  Resources
Ronald  A.  Dragg     -     Controller


                                  Schedule 5.4

                                                                    SCHEDULE 5.5
                                                                    ------------

                              FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


Kirby  Corporation  Annual  Reports  on  Form 10-K for fiscal years 2000 through
2004.


Kirby  Corporation Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31,
2005.


                                  Schedule 5.5

                                                                    SCHEDULE 5.8
                                                                    ------------

                                   LITIGATION

     In  2000,  two  subsidiaries of the Company and a group of approximately 45
other  companies  were  notified  that  they are Potentially Responsible Parties
("PRPs)  under  the  Comprehensive  Environmental  Response,  Compensation  and
Liability  Act of 1981, as amended ("CERCLA"), with respect to a Superfund site,
the  Palmer Barge Line site ("Palmer"), located in Port Arthur, Texas.  In prior
years,  Palmer had provided tank barge cleaning services to various subsidiaries
of the Company.  The Company and three other PRPs have entered into an agreement
with  the  United  States  Environmental  Protection Agency ("EPA") to perform a
remedial  investigation  and  feasibility study.  Based on information currently
available,  the  Company  is  unable to ascertain the extent of its exposure, if
any,  in  this  matter.

     In  2003,  the  Company  and  certain  subsidiaries  received a Request For
Information  ("RFI") from the EPA under CERCLA with respect to a Superfund site,
the  Gulfco  site,  located  in  Freeport,  Texas.  In  prior  years,  a company
unrelated  to  Gulfco  operated  at  the  site  and provided tank barge cleaning
services to various subsidiaries of the Company.  Based on information currently
available,  the  Company  is  unable to ascertain the extent of its exposure, if
any,  in  this  matter.

     In  2004, the Company and certain subsidiaries received an RFI from the EPA
under CERCLA with respect to a Superfund site, the State Marine site, located in
Port  Arthur,  Texas.  Based  on information currently available, the Company is
unable  to  ascertain  the  extent  of  its  exposure,  if  any, in this matter.


                                  Schedule 5.8

                                                                   SCHEDULE 5.14
                                                                   -------------



                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Balance      Private Placement     Balance
                                     4/30/05         Proceeds        After Paydown
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            
250,000,000 Floating Rate Senior   $200,000,000  $      200,000,000  $          -0-
Notes, Series 2003-A, due
February 28, 2013
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                                  Schedule 5.14

                                                                   SCHEDULE 5.15
                                                                   -------------




                                         EXISTING DEBT


- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 Balance at
                                                                                   4/30/05
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------  -------------
                                                                             
$250,000,000 Floating Rate Senior Notes, Series 2003-A, due February 28, 2013   $200,000,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------  -------------
$150,000,000 Revolving Credit Facility, due December 9, 2007                             -0-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------  -------------
$10,000,000 Bank of America line of credit, due November 2, 2005                   2,500,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------  -------------
$5,000,000 BNP Paribas revolving credit note, due December 31, 2005                5,000,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------  -------------
Real estate lien note, $590.84 monthly installments (principal and interest)          39,000
through 10/01/12
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------  -------------
                                                                                $207,539,000
                                                                                ============
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                                  Schedule 5.15

                                                                    Exhibit 1 to
                                                                      Supplement
                                                                      ----------


                          [FORM OF SERIES 2005-A NOTE]


                                KIRBY CORPORATION

                            FLOATING RATE SENIOR NOTE
                      SERIES 2005-A, DUE FEBRUARY 28, 2013


No. [_____]                                                               [Date]
$[_______]                                                     PPN: 497266 A @ 5

          FOR  VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, KIRBY CORPORATION (herein called
the "Company"), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State
of  Nevada, promises to pay to [         ], or registered assigns, the principal
sum  of  $[              ]  on February 28, 2013, with interest (computed on the
basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed) (a) on the unpaid
principal  thereof at a floating rate equal to the Adjusted LIBOR Rate from time
to  time,  payable quarterly on each February 28, May 28, August 28 and November
28,  commencing  with  the February, May, August or November next succeeding the
date  hereof  until  the principal shall have become due and payable, and (b) to
the  extent  permitted  by  law  on  any  overdue payment (including any overdue
prepayment)  of  principal,  any  overdue  payment  of  interest and any overdue
payment  of  any  LIBOR  Breakage  Amount  at  the  Default  Rate  until  paid.

          Payments  of  principal  of, interest on and any LIBOR Breakage Amount
with respect to this Note are to be made in lawful money of the United States of
America  at  the  principal office of Bank of America in Chicago, Illinois or at
such  other  place as the Company shall have designated by written notice to the
holder  of  this  Note  as  provided  in the Note Purchase Agreement referred to
below.

          This  Note  is  one  of  a  series  of Senior Notes (herein called the
"Notes")  issued  pursuant to a Note Purchase Agreement dated as of February 15,
2003,  as  supplemented  by  a  First  Supplement  dated  as of May 31, 2005 (as
supplemented,  the  "Note  Purchase  Agreement"),  between  the  Company and the
respective  Purchasers  named  therein  and is entitled to the benefits thereof.
Reference is made to the Note Purchase Agreement for the definitions used herein
and  the  method of calculating the interest and other payments to be made or in
respect  of  this  Note.  Each  holder  of  this  Note  will  be  deemed, by its
acceptance  hereof,  (i)  to  have  agreed to the confidentiality provisions set
forth  in  Section  20  of the Note Purchase Agreement and (ii) to have made the
representations  and  agreement  set  forth  in  Section  6 of the Note Purchase
Agreement.


                                      -1-
                                    Exhibit 1

          This  Note  is a registered Note and, as provided in the Note Purchase
Agreement,  upon  surrender  of  this  Note  for  registration of transfer, duly
endorsed,  or  accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed, by
the  registered  holder  hereof  or  such  holder's  attorney duly authorized in
writing,  a  new  Note  for  a  like  principal  amount  will  be issued to, and
registered  in  the  name  of,  the  transferee.  Prior  to  due presentment for
registration  of  transfer,  the Company may treat the person in whose name this
Note  is registered as the owner hereof for the purpose of receiving payment and
for  all  other  purposes, and the Company will not be affected by any notice to
the  contrary.

          This  Note is subject to optional prepayment, in whole or from time to
time  in  part,  at  the  times  and on the terms specified in the Note Purchase
Agreement  but  not  otherwise.

          If  an  Event  of  Default, as defined in the Note Purchase Agreement,
occurs  and  is  continuing,  the  principal  of  this  Note  may be declared or
otherwise  become  due  and  payable  in the manner, at the price (including any
applicable  LIBOR  Breakage  Amount)  and  with  the effect provided in the Note
Purchase  Agreement.

          Notwithstanding  any other provision of this Note or the Note Purchase
Agreement,  in  no  event  shall  the interest payable hereon, whether before or
after  maturity,  exceed  the  maximum interest that may be charged on this Note
under  applicable law, and this Note is expressly made subject to the provisions
of  the  Note Purchase Agreement which more fully set out the limitations on how
interest  may  be  accrued,  charged  or  paid  on  this  Note.

          This  Note shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the
rights  of  the  parties  shall be governed by, the law of the State of Illinois
excluding  choice-of-law  principles of the law of such State that would require
the  application  of  the  laws  of  a  jurisdiction  other  than  such  State.

                                 KIRBY  CORPORATION


                                 By:  _________________________________
                                 Name:  _______________________________
                                 Title:  ______________________________


                                      -2-
                                    Exhibit 1