(7) Leases

The Company and its subsidiaries currently lease various facilities and equipment under a number of cancelable and noncancelable operating leases. Lease agreements for barges have terms from one to 12 years expiring at various dates through 2023. Lease agreements for towing vessels chartered by the Company have terms from 30 days to five years expiring at various dates through 2019; however, approximately half of the towing vessel charter agreements are for terms of one year or less. Total rental expense for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 was as follows (in thousands):

	2016		2015		2014
Rental expense:
Marine equipment — barges	$	13,791	$	14,092	$	19,780
Marine equipment — towing vessels		137,609		143,067		136,331
Other buildings and equipment		11,182		9,383		9,146
Rental expense	$	162,582	$	166,542	$	165,257

Future minimum lease payments under operating leases that have initial or remaining noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year at December 31, 2016 were as follows (in thousands):

	Land, Buildings		Marine Equipment
	And Equipment		Barges		Towing Vessels		Total
2017	$	12,027	$	10,419	$	83,949	$	106,395
2018		11,049		8,718		20,532		40,299
2019		8,829		4,581		314		13,724
2020		7,508		3,813		—		11,321
2021		7,007		1,574		—		8,581
Thereafter		74,390		2,474		—		76,864
	$	120,810	$	31,579	$	104,795	$	257,184