Through out its 108 year history Norfolk Barge Company has morphed and changed to meet the needs of the industry.   

    Norfolk Lighterage Company was incorporated in 1917 with its purpose being owning and operating vessels for lighterage, wrecking and dredging and to engage in general stevedoring business. B.O. Colonna was President, W.W. Colonna was Secretary  and Treasurer and J.B. Ranson was Vice President.

   By 1948 Captain Ben and Will Colonna called the company Norfolk Ship Salvage Company and they were scrapping obsolete steam tugs and various small barges and cargo vessels that were de-commissioned following the end of World War II.   

     Eventually the Company evolved into a tug and barge company when the scrapping became less and the tug and barge business grew.   A business decision was made to sell the tugs and charter the barges using the trade name NORFOLK BARGE COMPANY.​