UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

       DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED): OCTOBER 23, 2003


                                KIRBY CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                     NEVADA                           74-1884980
        (State or other jurisdiction of            (I.R.S. Employer
         incorporation or organization)           Identification No.)

              55 WAUGH DRIVE, SUITE 1000                77007
                    HOUSTON, TEXAS                    (Zip Code)
      (Address of principal executive offices)

               REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE:
                                 (713) 435-1000

Item 7.   Financial Statements and Exhibits
          (c)  Exhibits:
               99.1  Press release dated October 23, 2003

Item 12.  Results of Operations and Financial Condition

     On  October  23,  2003,  Kirby Corporation ("Kirby") issued a press release
announcing  earnings  for  the  quarter ended September 30, 2003.  A copy of the
press  release  is  attached  as  Exhibit  99.1  to  this  report.

     EBITDA,  a non-GAAP financial measure, is used in the press release.  Kirby
defines  EBITDA  as  net  earnings  before  interest  expense,  taxes on income,
depreciation  and  amortization.  Kirby has historically evaluated its operating
performance  using  numerous  measures,  one  of which is EBITDA, a measure that
excludes  certain  non-operating  expenses  and  non-cash  charges.  EBITDA  is
presented  for  that  reason  and  because of its wide acceptance as a financial
indicator.  EBITDA  is  used  by  Kirby's  lenders  in loan covenants, by rating
agencies  in  determining  Kirby's  credit  rating  and  by  analysts publishing
research  reports  on  Kirby,  as  well  as  by investors and investment bankers
generally in valuing companies.  A quantitative reconciliation of EBITDA to GAAP
net  earnings  for  the  2003  and  2002 third quarters and first nine months is
included  in  the  press  release.



                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant  to  the  requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has  duly  caused  this  report  to  be  signed on its behalf by the
undersigned  thereunto  duly  authorized.

                                        KIRBY CORPORATION
                                        (Registrant)

                                        By:  /s/  NORMAN W. NOLEN
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Norman W. Nolen
                                             Executive Vice President, Treasurer
                                               and Chief Financial Officer

Dated:  October 23, 2003




                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit 99.1   Press release dated October 23, 2003