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): JULY 24, 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 July 24, 2003

Item 9.    Regulation FD Disclosure

           Pursuant  to SEC Release  No. 33-8216, the following information
required by Item 12 of Form 8-K is furnished under Item 9 instead.

           On July 24, 2003, Kirby Corporation ("Kirby") issued a press release
announcing earnings for the quarter ended June 30, 2003. A copy of the press
release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this report.

           ETITDA, 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 second quarters and first six 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:  July 24, 2003





                                 EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit 99.1   Press release dated July 24, 2003