decemberAugust 2013 2006 / / volume volume 25 19 issue issue 4 4
David Dumont HEADED FOR THE ARCTIC The shallow-draft tug Emmett Foss tended a barge in mid-June in Anacortes, Wash., after it was loaded with fuel-tank modules destined for an oil field development project near Point Thomson, Alaska. Foss ocean-going tugs towed the barge and another, also with tank modules, north while the Emmett and a second shallow-draft tug accompanied themMore to thanland the any barges 12 months on the North in theSlope. recent Story onhistory page 12. of our com- a holiday greeting: pany, 2006 was a year in which Foss Maritime moved forward strategically in all areas of our business. FIVE TUG-BARGEStrategic Moves in 2006Foss Marine Holdings, the tug- AMNAV, Young Brothers, Hawaiian barge holding company owned by Tug & Barge, and Cook Inlet Tug & We believe that new courses charted in our harbor services, COMPANIESAlign MERGEUs with This Mission:Seattle-based Saltchuk, has merged its Barge—operate the country’s largest marine transportation/logistics and shipyard lines of business, Provide Customers withfive Servicesoperations into one firm under coastal tug and barge fleet. INTO FOSS MARITIME while not without risk, will further the growth and success of that are Without Equalits most recognizable brand, Foss Effective on July 1, Foss Marine Maritime Company. the company for decadesHoldings to come. merged Continued with Foss inside Maritime, Foss Marine Holdings’ wholly whose lines of business include two owned subsidiaries—Foss Maritime, shipyards, harbor services, ocean (Continued on page 5.)
always readyready Merger Completes an Evolutionary Process that Started when Saltchuk Bought Foss Consolidating Under the Foss Brand The five tug-barge companies owned by By Paul Stevens Saltchuk first purchased Foss Maritime Saltchuk have been consolidated under the Foss Maritime brand, a move that is President and CEO and then added other companies to the expected to enhance the company’s position It has been 10 years since I took tug and barge portfolio over the in a rapidly changing marketplace. Tow Bitts the helm of Saltchuk’s tug-barge past years. coverage includes a cover story, articles group. Upon arrival, this group was Today, I believe we have the right about the company’s four divisions, and made up of seven separate branded commitment to safety, the right people biographies of the executives who will companies, each and some of the lead them. Cover and Pages 5 - 9 with its own unique best equipment in Prestigious Safety Awards culture. Although the industry. The Eighty-one Foss vessels recently received parts of this structure challenge for each of Jones F. Devlin Awards from the Chamber had advantages, it us is to stay focused of Shipping of America. The awards go to vessels that have achieved a minimum of was not always the as we continue to two years without a crewmember losing most efficient. As build this great a turn at the watch because of an a result we began a company. We need occupational injury. process of shedding to remain committed Page 3 some businesses and to the principles First Arctic Sealift Underway expanding others. established by Four Foss tugs and two barges are helping to pull Foss further into the oil Since 2004 we have, our owners of development business this summer, with Saltchuk’s full safety, integrity towing oil tank modules to a project near support, invested and exceptional Point Thomson in the Alaskan Arctic. The over $400 million performance. company will conduct a second sealift to in our businesses, In order to the project in 2015. Cover and Page 12 replacing our justify continued A Day in the Life of a Hybrid Tug equipment, updating investment we Tow Bitts tagged along as the Carolyn our systems and will remain an Dorothy, the world’s first hybrid-powered adding to our effective competitor tugboat, assisted a containership into its portfolio of services. and continue to berth at the Port of Long Beach. Pages 10 -11 Today our market drive improved is facing many shareholder value.
The Most Productive Welder in Seattle Maeng Kang, who emigrated from South changes, which These recent changes Korea to Seattle in 1988, says the secrets to requires a renewed will help us meet his productivity at the Foss Seattle Shipyard focus and cohesive these objectives. are that he has lots of experience and is culture. Saltchuk In 2014 Foss “always thinking which way is better and leadership and I believe the benefits Maritime will celebrate its 125th year which way is faster.” Page 14 of marketing our business under in the maritime service business. Reunion on the Arthur Foss one brand is our best long term I am confident next year will be the Foss historian Mike Skalley takes a look back strategy. By merging under the Foss beginning of the next successful at the history of the retired Tug Arthur Foss Maritime brand we have completed an 125 years. on the occasion of a reunion of Foss family evolutionary process that began when members on the vessel, now part of a m u s e u m c o l l e c t i o n o n S e a t t l e ’ s L a k e U n i o n . Pages 18-19
To submit articles for Tow Bitts, please contact Bruce Sherman, editor, [email protected], or Tina Wissmar, coordinator of production, [email protected]. The Tow Bitts graphic designer is Barbara Hoberecht. Tow Bitts is published six times a year by Foss Maritime for employees, customers and friends. Changes to the Tow Bitts mailing list should be referred to Colleen Liman, (206) 281-3988 or [email protected].
2 • Foss Tow Bitts • ALWAYS READY • August, 2013 Eighty-One Vessels Recognized for Safe Operations Merger Completes an Evolutionary Process The Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) has recognized the that Started when Saltchuk Bought Foss Foss family of companies for its commitment to safety by granting Jones F. Devlin Awards to 81 tugs and manned barges. Eight-one Foss vessels were recognized at the CSA’s Annual Safety Awards Luncheon held in New Orleans, Louisiana in late spring. Altogether, the Foss vessels achieved the equivalent of 463 years without a lost-time injury. Three levels of achievement are recognized by CSA: A basic two-year award; a three-year award; and a four- year award. Of Foss’ 81-awarded vessels, 47 received a special award that is given annually to vessels with five or more years of accident-free operation. Susan Hayman, vice president for environmental and regulatory affairs, accepted the Devlin Awards for Foss. “We stress the importance of With her is Bruce Fernie chairman of the Chamber of Shipping of America. safety in everything we do,” said Foss’ President and CEO Paul Stevens. “We for two full years or more without attributable to the professionalism of strive to continually improve the safety a crewmember losing a full turn at our seafarers and the dedication of of our operations. We’re proud of watch because of an occupational shore-based company personnel to the men and women who work injury. safe operation.” hard to earn Foss this prestigious “This year, we gave awards to recognition.” 1,438 vessels that operated 8,394 years The coveted Jones F. Devlin Safety without a lost-time incident,” said Awards are given to self-propelled Joseph J. Cox, CSA President. “This merchant vessels that have operated extraordinary record is directly
SALTCHUK CO-FOUNDER RECEIVES ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD
Saltchuk co-founder and retired with about 6,000 decades on numerous Chairman Mike Garvey recently employees and more than local charities and received the Earnst & Young LLP $2 billion in revenue. corporate boards.” Entrepreneur of the Year 2013 Lifetime “He has demonstrated The Entrepreneur of Achievement award for the Pacific his innovative the Year program, now in Northwest. leadership and ability its 27th year, celebrates Saltchuck is the parent company of to be an industry entrepreneurs who have Foss Maritime. pioneer,” Smith said. demonstrated excellence In announcing the award, Earnst & He is an extraordinary and extraordinary Young Seattle Managing Partner businessman, family man success in areas such Dan Smith noted that Garvey had and local philanthropist as innovation, financial grown the Seattle-based transportation who is deeply passionate performance and personal company into a portfolio of 22 about his community, commitment to their businesses from air cargo to trucking, having served for more than four businesses and communities.
August, 2013 • ALWAYS SAFE • Foss Tow Bitts • 3 SoCal Ports Honor Foss for Hybrid Technology
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Foss developed the innovative Beach and Los Angeles ports began Beach have given Foss Maritime a XeroPoint hybrid retrofit system in prior to 2009. The company devel- high environmental honor for advanc- partnership with Aspin Kemp and oped, built and operates the world’s ing hybrid tug technology that reduces Associates of Owen Bay, Ont. first hybrid tug, Carolyn Dorothy. It has greenhouse gasses, airborne particu- Said Stevens, “The San Pedro been home-ported in San Pedro Bay lates and pollution in all its forms. ports’ recognition of Foss’ work is for four years. “Foss is committed to hybrid really an honor, especially following Following the success of the first technology,” said Paul Stevens, the the EPA’s decision. Federal regulators hybrid, Foss retrofitted a second tug, company’s president and CEO. “The are saying that the hybrid retrofit Campbell Foss, to hybrid technology. partnership we have with the ports system is an effective choice for any It has been in service in southern of Long Beach and Los Angeles is U.S. harbor tug wanting to meet California since 2012 and was used in bringing demonstrably cleaner America’s highest environmental University of California-Riverside air to communities throughout standards. Our proving ground was testing that is the basis for EPA’s San Pedro Bay. Our company’s goal is here, in Long Beach and Los Angeles, hybrid retrofit system verification. constant improvement of our hybrid in partnership with the California Air The UC-Riverside test found technology; we want to retrofit more Resources Board (CARB) and the ports significant economic and tugs going forward.” that have the country’s most stringent environmental savings: Foss was chosen for a San Pedro clean air standards.” • A fuel savings of roughly Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan Air “What stands out about Foss’ com- 30 percent; Quality Award (CAAP) in late July. mitment to clean hybrid technology is • A 25 percent particulate matter The honor follows closely on another that it was never driven by regulatory reduction; important hybrid milestone. The U.S. requirement,” said Richard Cameron, • A 30 percent reduction in Environmental Protection Agency acting managing director of environ- nitrogen oxides produced during (EPA) earlier this month verified mental affairs and planning, Port of combustion; the environmental benefits of a Long Beach. “It developed its hybrid • A 30 percent reduction in one of hybrid retrofit system that under- technology as part of a corporate the prime greenhouse gases, went rigorous testing in Southern commitment to environmental stew- carbon dioxide; California. ardship. Foss is now the clear leader.” • A 35 percent reduction in carbon. Foss’ partnership with the Long FOSS TEAM SHARES ANCHORING EXPERTISE IN ALBERTA
Foss crews were recently dispatched needed two to three days of training to provide advisory services for an and orientation to gain access to the anchor placement project at the oil job site. sands mining area in Alberta, Canada. In addition, the anchors were set The project involved placement of up to 150 feet in depth. But there was four anchor systems, each consisting so much silt in the pond that the team of two 5,000-pound anchors with five needed to wait for 48 hours before 90-foot shots of chain to moor a pull-testing to make sure the anchors processing barge in a retaining pond reached the true bottom. of mine tailings. Foss coordinated the rigging, boat The Foss group was led by site operations, construction of a flexi-float supervisor Capt. Toby Jacobsen, barge system, and overall manage- with team members Capt. Doug ment of subcontracted personnel Hajek, Capt. Marcel Ion, Capt. Mark from Canada’s SeaSpan and Northern Grosshans, retired Capt. Ed Haglund, Underwater Services. and Quality Manager Jim Peschel. Foss worked closely with its client Peschel said the job site’s remote WorleyParsons to establish the scope location made it a challenge. Also, the of work, set safety standards and customer’s high degree of safety and define project objectives. The manage-
compliance meant that the Foss team ment team was lead by Tim Beyer, Jim Peschel Mike Walker, and Drew Arenth. Capt. Doug Hajek spots the location of an anchor system. 4 • Foss Tow Bitts • ALWAYS READY • August, 2013 CONSOLIDATING UNDER THE FOSS BRAND
FIVE TUG-BARGE COMPANIES MERGE INTO FOSS MARITIME (Continued from the cover)
towing, marine engineering and encompasses the company’s simply business as usual,” Stevens others. Paul Stevens is president and Global Services lines of business, said. “But by unifying our company CEO of the unified Foss Maritime. including International Project we are able to take greater advantage “The Foss name is the oldest and Transport, Domestic Project of industry leaders such as Gary Faber, most globally recognized name within Transport and Oilfield Services. whose tenure as Foss’ chief operat- our family of companies,” Stevens • Technical & Engineering Services— ing officer was marked by our strong said. “It celebrates a rich maritime Also headed by Faber, this division emphasis on safety, a focus on tradition that includes century-long will include marine engineering customer needs, and the development service and a record of safety, innova- and naval architecture as well as of hybrid tug technology.” tion and quality for our customers.” the company’s shipyard operations Stevens characterized the decision The move to consolidate all subsid- in Rainier, Ore., and Seattle, Wash. to unify Foss’ operations under a iaries under Foss Maritime Company • Harbor Services—Headed by Scott single name as an opportunity to signals a move to a simplified operat- Merritt, this division will include all consolidate assets and better focus ing structure that reduces layers harbor services such as ship assist resources. of management and streamlines and tanker escort activities. “The unification is the next step to decision-making, Stevens said. • Liner Barge Services—Headed enable Foss to focus on new and The new structure’s aim is to by Glenn Hong, this division growing markets, including potential enhance Foss’ competitive position will include the services of business opportunities in Alaska, in a quickly changing marketplace, Young Brothers, an intra-island where oil and gas activity is gaining improve overall efficiencies and more freight and transportation company strength,” he said. closely align the company with based in Honolulu, Hawaii. Foss has announced it will build customers’ requirements. Stevens said the restructuring will three new deep-sea Arctic Class tugs Foss Maritime will reorganize into take advantage of top-notch to compete for additional Alaska busi- four divisions: executives already in place at ness. Work on the first tug is now • Marine Transportation Services — the company. underway at the company’s Rainier Headed by Gary Faber, this division “For the vast majority of Foss shipyard. (See division profiles employees, the reorganization is on the next four pages.)
The AMNAV tug Revolution assists a Mediterranean Shipping Company containership at the Port of Oakland. AMNAV becomes part of Foss Maritime under the new FOSS TEAM SHARES ANCHORING EXPERTISE IN ALBERTA organizational structure but will retain its brand identity.
Capt. Doug Hajek spots the location of an anchor system. August, 2013 • ALWAYS SAFE • Foss Tow Bitts • 5 CONSOLIDATING UNDER THE FOSS BRAND
Harbor Services Division Performs Port and Regional Work on Coast and in Alaska and Hawaii
The Carolyn Dorothy, left, and Campbell Foss are hybrid powered tugs stationed in Long Beach.
The Foss Maritime Harbor Services miles off the coast. On San Francisco electrical and diesel power. and Regional Towing Division provides Bay the division operates sand dredges Also in the fleet are a number of ship assists, tanker escorts, waterfront that produce marine sand for the high horsepower enhanced—ASD construction support, regional towing commercial construction industry. and Voith-Schneider Propulsion (VSP) and other locally-oriented work in and The harbor services fleet includes powered tractor tugs designed specifi- around Cook Inlet, Puget Sound, the pilot launches, crew boats, line tugs, cally for tanker escort and response. Columbia River/Snake River system, an offshore supply vessel, conventional Foss also developed and operates three San Francisco Bay, Southern California tugs, ocean towing tugs, barges and a Tractor Plus tugs, which incorporate and Hawaii. variety of modern tractor tugs to a single ASD unit with a traditional In Southern California and San service all our customers’ needs. VSP-configured tug, allowing for Francisco Bay the division also offers Included in our tractor fleet are higher static bollard pull and ship bunkering and petroleum nine Dolphin-Class tractor tugs built unmatched maneuverability. transportation services, with seven beginning in 2004 at Foss Rainier The Harbor Service Division will double-hulled barges all built and Shipyard on the Columbia River. include AmNav Maritime Services and delivered in the last 10 years. These 5,000 horsepower, Azimuthing Cook Inlet Tug & Barge. Both Other services include operating Stern Drive (ASD) tugs provide over companies operate independently and line tugs and launches in support 60 tons of bollard pull in a tight, have rich histories of providing of Chevron’s El Segundo Marine 78-foot Z-drive configuration. excellent service to their customers. Terminal on Santa Monica Bay and Two of these vessels, the Carolyn In the new structure they will continue offshore support vessels in support Dorothy and Campbell Foss, have hybrid to maintain their independence and of their operations at the Pacific Area propulsion systems employing a individual brands. Lightering zone, approximately 50 highly efficient combination of
MERRITT LEADS HARBOR SERVICES
Scott Merritt will lead the Harbor regional towing, senior vice president of Development Council of Services and Regional Towing Division domestic services, and senior vice presi- King County Maritime under the new organizational structure. dent of operations. Panel, Marine Exchange Merritt joined Foss Maritime Company In his new role as senior vice president Board of Directors, and the in 1983 and has served in a variety of harbor services and regional towing, he is API Marine Committee. positions throughout his career, including: responsible for the oversight of all Foss Scott is a graduate of San Francisco Bay Regional Director, vice Maritime harbor service activities. the California Maritime president of engineering and shipyards, He has served as a member of a Academy and holds an senior vice president of harbor services and number of industry and community based MBA from the University organizations including: Workforce of Washington. 6 • Foss Tow Bitts • ALWAYS READY • August, 2013 Marine Transportation Division has been Focusing On Project Work in the Arctic, Particularly in Alaska
The Marine Transportation Services Division encompasses the company’s Global Services lines of business, including International Project Transport, Domestic Project Transport and Oilfield Services. In recent years, Foss has increased Harbor Services Division Performs Port and its focus on project work in the Arctic oilfield services arena, particularly in Regional Work on Coast and in Alaska and Hawaii Alaska. This summer, the company The tugs Drew Foss, right, and Wedell Foss guided the the oil rig Noble Discoverer out of Seattle’s Elliott Bay has dedicated four tugs and two in June of 2012. The rig was destined for a Shell Oil exploratory project in the Alaskan Arctic. barges to the delivery of oilfield modules to a development project to Africa and Central America to Arctic to bulk carriers anchored in in the Arctic near Point Thomson, military equipment carried between deep water. Foss dedicates four tugs Alaska. (See article on page 12.) ports in Asia. and two specialized ore barges to Red The Marine Transportation Division Last year, Foss barged two container Dog each season. has also been assisting a second com- cranes from Massan, South Korea, Key equipment in the Foss ocean pany, Shell Oil, in an exploratory to the U.S. East Coast. Also last year, fleet includes the twin 8,200 horse- drilling project in the Arctic. In addi- a Foss tug and barge made a rare power tugs Corbin Foss and Lauren tion, Foss vessels have been working visit by a U.S. vessel to North Korea, Foss. These 150-foot tugs generate in with Spartan Offshore, which has delivering supplies that would be used excess of 110 metric tons of bollard been using a jack-up rig to search for to recover the remains of U.S. soldiers pull, have accommodations for 12 oil in Cook Inlet. killed in the Korean War. and an endurance of 40 days. Among In recent years Foss also has In the domestic sector, Foss other vessels, Foss operates one assigned tugs to oil development operates a rail-car barge service, called articulated tug-barge (ATB) and one projects off the east coast of Mexico Aquatrain, between Prince Rupert, integrated tug-barge (ITB) that carry and has delivered oilfield cargo to British Columbia, and Whittier, cargo worldwide. West Africa. Company tugs also made Alaska, the southernmost stop on the The division also operates the Delta 14 trips from the U.S. East Coast Alaska Railroad. Mariner, a 312-foot vessel known as the to Texas, carrying modules for an Foss tugs and barges have carried “Rocket Ship” that delivers common expansion of the Motiva Port Arthur all manner of cargoes up and down all booster cores to launch sites for the Refinery, the largest refinery in the three coasts and through the nation’s United Launch Aliance. United States river systems. To support its growing business in Aside from project work in the One of the company’s annual the Arctic, Foss is currently building energy sector, Foss International projects involves lightering ore from three ocean-going tugs at its Rainier deliveries range from food aid cargoes the Red Dog Mine in the Alaskan Shipyard on the Columbia River.
FABER TAKES OVER MARINE TRANSPORTATION AND TECH. SERVICES
Gary Faber, formerly president and chief project management. In 2005, he was Before joining operating officer of Foss Maritime, will lead named executive vice president for marine Foss, he was the Marine Transportation Services and transportation and global services where he president of Technical and Engineering Services oversaw the company’s successful Seacoast Towing, divisions. sealifts to Russia’s Sakhalin Island for now part of Kirby Faber has more than 40 years of experi- Exxon Neftegas. Corporation, and ence in the maritime industry. He became He has extensive experience in marine vice president president and COO in October of 2006. engineering, vessel operations, salvage for operations at He joined Foss in 2002 as senior vice and project management, particularly in Crowley Maritime. president of engineering, shipyards and extreme environments. August, 2013 • ALWAYS SAFE • Foss Tow Bitts • 7 CONSOLIDATING UNDER THE FOSS BRAND Technical Services Division Builds and Maintains Vessels; Performs Engineering and Naval Architecture Services
A pipefitter executes a weld at Foss Seattle Shipyard.
The Technical and Engineering at the yard. painters, electricians and laborers. Services Division, operates shipyards In addition to the Dolphins, But the Seattle yard, too, is moving in Seattle and Rainier, Ore., while the yard has completed a number of into new construction, beginning performing marine engineering and new-build projects for non-Foss with two fireboats for the Port of Long naval architecture services for both companies. Those include a Beach, a project it just started. in-house Foss projects and for San Francisco pilot launch, a shallow- The Engineering Department has outside customers. draft tug for Saltchuk’s Delta Western a full staff of naval architects and The Oregon shipyard on the (an Alaskan fuel supplier) and a engineers who, like the yards, work on Columbia River has been focusing on 20-car ferry for the Washington State both in-house and non-Foss projects. new construction since delivering the Department of Transportation. Recent outside projects included first of 10 Dolphin Class tugs to then The Seattle yard in recent years has design work on an Alaska state ferry Foss sister company Hawaiian Tug & focused on repair and maintenance refit, and support for a fish-collection Barge (now part of Foss) in 2004. of vessels operated by both Foss and station at a dam in central Oregon. Nine of the ten are still in the commercial customers, including In addition to producing designs Foss fleet. owners of fishing vessels, large yachts, for new construction, modification Probably the most famous Dolphin ferries and other craft. and repair, the department’s services is the Carolyn Dorothy, the world’s It operates three drydocks, the include stability analyses, structural first hybrid-powered tug, operated by largest able to handle vessels up to analyses, weight and moment Foss in Southern California. A second 220-feet long. And it offers customers calculations, docking calculations Dolphin, the Campbell Foss, was expert work by all crafts, including and surveys. retrofitted with hybrid power welders, carpenters, pipefitters,
ROSAS IS NEW VICE PRESIDENT FOR HUMAN RESOURCES
Colleen Rosas, former director of human resources executive, providing strategic In addition to resources at Seattle’s Swedish Medical leadership for the medical group, which Swedish, she has Group, has joined Foss Maritime as vice consists of more than 2,000 physicians and served in HR president human resources. She will be staff, more than 100 primary and specialty leadership roles in responsible for development and oversight care clinics and business support services. manufacturing, of human resources policy throughout the She earned a bachelor of arts degree service and retail company and will report directly to Paul in business administration from Western companies. Stevens, President and CEO. Washington University and is certified as a At Swedish, Rosas was the top human Senior Professional in Human Resources.
8 • Foss Tow Bitts • ALWAYS READY • August, 2013 Barge Services Division is a Licensed Common Carrier Regulated by the State of Hawaii
A top-pick machine prepares to load a cargo container onto a Young Brothers barge in Honolulu.
The Liner Barge Services Division “We devote lots of resources to the container units, the barges are about encompasses Young Brothers, Ltd., regulatory process,” said Glenn Hong, twice the capacity of the ones they a licensed common carrier regulated who heads Liner Barge Services. replaced. by the state of Hawaii. The division “And there’s a huge industry built up In addition to carrying freight from carries all manner of cargo between around the regulatory process — Honolulu to the neighbor islands of Honolulu and the neighbor islands. lawyers, economists and others. In the Hawaii, Maui, Molokai, Lanai and The division operates six tugs and meantime we have a business to run. Kauai, the division has a nominal seven barges, four built since 2007. The four new barges from U.S. back-haul business, comprising As a common carrier, the division Barge in Portland have improved the agricultural products, rental car must maintain a schedule and charge division’s efficiency and sailing operators and smaller businesses on its customers according to its tariffs capacity. Carrying a maximum of the neighbor islands. approved by the state. about 600 20-foot equivalent
HONG TO HEAD LINER BARGE SERVICE IN HAWAIIAN ISLANDS
Glenn K.Y. Hong, formerly president of started in 1970, when he was a certified controller for Hawaiian Tug & Barge/Young Brothers Ltd., public accountant and then joined his Hawaiian Electric will head the Liner Barge Services Division family’s businesses and did independent Industries. Since under the new organizational structure. consulting. He later worked in auditing joining HTB/YB Hong Joined HTB/YB in 1991 as vice and accounting positions for Hawaiian he has served on president, finance and government affairs Telephone and its parent, GTE-Telephone numerous indus- before being named president in 1992. Operations, in Stamford, Connecticut. try and non-profit A native of Honolulu, his working career He returned to Honolulu in 1989 as boards of directors.
August, 2013 • ALWAYS SAFE • Foss Tow Bitts • 9 HYBRID-POWEREDNORTH KOREAN ADVENTURE TUG ASSIST A Day in the Life of the Carolyn Dorothy
The hybrid-powered tug Carolyn The Octavia, built in 2005. has a Shipyard, the Carolyn Dorothy is the Dorothy assisted the containership capacity of 5,117 twenty-foot container world’s first hybrid, diesel-electric Octavia into its berth at Terminal A units and is 965 feet in length. powered tug. It is one of nine at the Port of Long Beach recently. It is operated by Mediterranean Dolphin-Class tugs operated by Foss. The tug was under the command of Shipping Company. A second Dolphin, the Campbnell Foss, Capt. Bob Engel, with Chief Engineer Completed in 2009 at Foss Rainier was converted to hybrid power in 2011. Merle Norquist and Deckhand Steve Phifer.
1. Capt. Bob Engel is at the controls as the Carolyn Dorothy approaches the containership.
2. Deckhand Steve Phifer hails Octavia crewmembers as the tug nears the ship.
Phifer feeds a tagline to a crewmember on the ship’s transom. 10 • Foss Tow Bitts • ALWAYS READY • August, 2013 3.
4. Engel uses the tug’s power to turn the ship, preparing to back it into its berth at Terminal A.
5. The Octavia approaches its berth, behind another containership.
7. The Carolyn Dorothy heads for home.
6. With the ship safe at the terminal, Phifer, right, and Chief Engineer Merle Norquist retrieve the towline. August, 2013 • ALWAYS SAFE • Foss Tow Bitts • 11 First of Two Arctic Sealifts Underway; Foss Involvement in Oilfield Services Continues to Grow
Foss embarked in mid-June on Accompanying the two tugs and North Slope activity has intensi- the first of two sealifts to a major oil two barges was the shallow-draft fied in the past few months. A federal exploration development project in tug Emmett Foss, making its first government decision to issue a permit the Alaskan Arctic, furthering the voyage after its construction at Foss for drilling in the Point Thomson field company’s expansion into support Rainier Shipyard and the Millie Cruz drew predictions from Alaska state services for the fast-growing on timecharter from Cruz Marine. officials that the development would energy sector. The Emmett Foss and Millie Cruz will bring hundreds of new job to the The ocean-going tugs Barbara maneuver the barges the last few North Slope’s eastern half. Foss and Lauren Foss departed from miles into a shallow water discharge The Point Thomson field is Anacortes, each towing a barge carry- facility. estimated to contain 8 trillion cubic ing tank modules that will supply fuel Foss’ customer on the job is feet of natural gas, about 300 million during development and operation of Australian company WorleyParsons, barrels of gas condensate liquids and the project near Point Thomson, which specializes in engineering, traditional crude oil. 60 miles east of Prudhoe Bay. The procurement and construction To meet its growing Alaska busi- modules are key components, with management services in energy ness, Foss announced early this enough fuel capacity to keep all development. year that it would build three new equipment running through the A second, larger, sealift with ocean-going tugs at the Foss Rainier winter season when ice prevents modular components of the Point Shipyard. Work on the first of those resupply operations. Thomson plant itself will sail from tugs is underway. South Korea in summer 2015.
The first two of four large oil tank modules were ready to be loaded onto a barge in Anacortes, Wash.
12 • Foss Tow Bitts • ALWAYS READY • August, 2013 New SoCal Port Engineer Speaks Fluent Mandarin, Puts Linguistic Skills to Work in Singapore Project
When James Ding was a kid But as is the case with many growing up in Philadelphia, his mariners, moving ahead in life means parents, who emigrated from Taiwan coming ashore, so he took a job as in the 1970s, insisted that Mandarin a power plant engineer in Southern Chinese be spoken at home, all California. But he chaffed in the the time. job and yearned to get back into the And today, as an assistant port maritime industry. He saw an ad for engineer for Foss, Ding is putting the job as assistant port engineer for his Mandarin fluency to good use, Foss in Long Beach, applied and got it. helping to supervise an overhaul of “After the second day at Foss, I the articulated tug-barge (ATB) Strong knew I was in the right place,” he Mariner at a shipyard in Singapore. said. “Here, when something goes “There are a lot of people at wrong, you just find a way to fix it. Foss who have a lot more project The mentality at the power plant was, management experience than I do,” you can just order another piece of Ding said recently before coming back equipment and take care of it later.” to the states after a two-month stint in He added, “There’s a sense of Singapore. “But the communication familiarity here. Everybody has the over here is difficult, and it’s easier to same mindset.” communicate with them in their Jerry Allen, California fleet James Ding home language.” engineering manager, said Ding’s Ding, whose father was a senior degree from CMA and his licensed hiring him was that he was fluent in unlicensed engineroom crewmember sailing experience fit what Foss was Mandarin Chinese.” Allen said. “Since on cargo ships, is a 2008 graduate looking for. Also, his power plant he was available and could speak the of California Maritime Academy and experience is likely to help him in language, we sent him to Singapore to went to sea with the Military Sealift working with the two hybrid tugs Foss help with the Strong Mariner, and he’s Command for four years as a third and operates in Long Beach. been doing a great job.” second engineer. “One thing I did not realize when
MOVING DOWNRIVER The pusher tug P.J. Brix moved a barge load of 39 dormitory modules from Lewiston, Idaho, in early July, 360 miles down the Columbia-Snake River system to Astoria, Ore., where the AMNAV tug Liberty took over and towed the barge load of modules to Seward, Alaska. Foss’ customer on the job was sister company TOTE Logistics, and the modules were destined for AVTEC, Alaska’s Institute of Technology.
August, 2013 • ALWAYS SAFE • Foss Tow Bitts • 13 Shipyard Welder is Always Thinking: ‘Which Way is is Better...Faster’
Meet Maeng Kang, the most productive welder at the Foss Seattle Shipyard. Kang, 64, started welding in shipyards in his native South Korea when he was just 18 years old and worked there before following his mother to Seattle in 1988 and getting a job at Foss Shipyard. He’s now a 23-year veteran of Foss and plans to retire in two years. “We’re going to miss him,” said Steel Shop Foreman Monte Roy, Kang’s boss. Kang’s welding is much stronger than his English, and he spoke to Tow Bitts with the help of an interpreter, Jong Nan, a Foss Shipyard painter. “Foss is a great place to work, and everything is better here than it was in Korea,” he said. “It’s a better workplace, the money is better and the Maeng Kang safety is better.” Asked how he achieves such high Roy said Kang handles a big Kang who lives in Lynnwood, productivity, Kang said “I’ve been a workload and is in great shape for his north of Seattle, is married and has welder for a long time, and I’m age. He gets to work about an hour a daughter who is a nurse at the always thinking which way is better and 15 minutes early each day, “and University of Washington Hospital. and which way is faster, and I’m when he’s on a job and says ‘no good,’ When he retires, he said, he plans to never tired.” you better listen to him.” travel and do a lot of fishing.
OCEAN BOATS, PIECE BY PIECE Steel work has begun for the first of three ocean-going tugs under construction at Foss Rainier Shipyard. In the photo at right, Adam Phelps, left, and Matt Fulton prepare keel bottom plates for welding, and in the photo at left, Jaff Barth and Kelly Quick work on hull frame pieces. The “Arctic-Class” tugs will be 132 feet long and will have ice-strengthened hulls. The first is to be delivered in December 2014 and the others are to be finished 12 and 24 months later, respectively.
Jereme Ruhl 14 • Foss Tow Bitts • ALWAYS READY • August, 2013 LONG BEACH FIREBOAT TAKES SHAPE The first of two fireboats being built for the Port of Long Beach is taking shape at Foss Seattle Shipyard. In the photo above, Juan Meza-Lizarraga examines welds on the stern section of the vessel. At right, welder Dave Lindschmidt works on a compartment that will house the starboard voith drive, while Superintendent Bill Fiamengo, in the white coveralls, and mechanic James Waring look on. The first boat is scheduled for delivery in May 2014 and the second is to be completed the following December.
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GOOD WEATHER AT RED DOG The Stacey Foss towed the ore barge Kivalina toward the anchored bulk carrier MV Sea Eagle on July 10, with the tugs Sidney Foss on the stern, and Iver Foss alongside. Foss began its ore lightering operations at the Red Dog Mine in the Alaskan Arctic on July 2, 10 days earlier than last year. Good weather enabled the team to lighter 170,000 wet metric tons of ore by July 10.
NEW FERRY ‘SANPOIL’ The new ferry built at Foss Rainier Shipyard and trucked in parts to the Columbia River was launched on July 11 after it was assembled at a provisional shipyard just above the Grand Coulee Dam. The 20-car ferry is scheduled to be christened on Aug. 14 and will go into service on State Route 21, ferrying vehicles across Lake Roosevelt. Its name is Sanpoil, a native word that is the name of one of 12 aboriginal Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation.
Scott Hunter, The Grand Coulee Star 16 • Foss Tow Bitts • ALWAYS READY • August, 2013
Four Win Scholarships for Employees’ Children
Four young men who are the sons Kevin Dreitlein of Longview, Wash., University in Pullman in September of three current and one deceased Foss is the son of Chief Engineer Kevin and plans to major in engineering. mariner are winners of 2013 scholar- Dreitlein and Wendi Lifto. He will Shane O’Connor of Gig Harbor, ships for children of employees. be a sophomore this year at Lower Wash., is the son of the late Capt. Riley Corrie of Snohomish, Wash., Columbia College in Longview and is Shawn and Michelle O’Connor. He is the son of Capt. Dave and Marianne majoring in accounting. plans to enter the mate training Corrie. Riley will enter Western Lucas Kovatch of Gig Harbor, program at Pacific Maritime Institute, Washington University in Bellingham Wash., is the son of Deckhand Seattle, in February of 2014. in September and hopes to pursue a Engineer Kenneth and Joni Kovatch. pre-med program. He will enter Washington State
Riley Corrie Kevin Dreitlein Lucas Kovatch Shane O’Connor
PEOPLE NEWS
PROMOTIONS Eric Watson RETIREMENTS Chief Mate to Captain, MT Stephen Creech Robert Farrell AB to Chief Mate, MT Chris Wolf Captain, MT Director of Customer Service Igor Loch Leonard Haglund Deckhand, CSR Vice President Marine Operations NEW EMPLOYEES and Assurance Colleen Rosas Charles Hammer Michael Mann Vice President Human Resources Chief Mate, MT AB to Chief Mate, MT Midea Schasteen Jon Miller Patrick Miller SR HRIS Business Analyst Deckhand/Engineer, PNW AB to Chief Mate, MT Jim Van Wormer Doug Pearson Tucker Tillman Director of Operations, Alaska region Senior Marine Advisor Customer Service Rep, CSR to Project Controls Manager, Malcom Porter PASSINGS Alaska region Deckhand/Engineer, PNW David Fries Joseph Tweedie Cook/Deckhand MT Richard A. Smiley AB to Chief Mate, MT Tankerman, San Francisco Elizabeth Gedney Andrew VanCuren Retired Mate, MT Ross Springer Supervisor of Customer Service Captain, PNW
Mike Walker Regional Operations Manager, CSR
August, 2013 • ALWAYS SAFE • Foss Tow Bitts • 17
THE LOOK AFT
Descendants of Foss company founders Thea and Andrew Foss, spouses, and distant cousins from Norway at the recent reunion were, front row from left, are Ken Johnson (husband of Leslie Johnson), Pete Campbell (descendant), Norwegian spouses Sol and Hans Dellivig (cousin), Brynn Rydell (descendant), Carol Johnson (descendant), Philip Wood (descendant), Sandra Wright (descendant), Norwegian Marius Hellerud (cousin), Leslie Johnson (descendant), Norwegian Morten Bøe (Hellerud’s partner), Jim Johnson (husband of Carol Johnson), and Harry Rydell (husband of Brynn Rydell). In the back are Garth Rydell (descendant) and his wife Taylor. Now a Museum Vessel, the Arthur Foss had A Full Life of 79 Years in Commercial Towing
By Mike Skalley An appropriate location for the 1934 it entered the Foss Shipyard in four-masted schooner Commodore, reunion of a number of Foss Tacoma for a complete rebuild. loaded with 1.5 million board feet of family members in June of this year In late 1934, the Wallowa was lumber from Puget Sound sawmills. was the former Foss tug, Arthur Foss. renamed Arthur Foss, to honor the In early 1941, the Arthur, with The Arthur was built in 1889 as the Foss company president. The rebuilt long time Foss skipper, Vince Miller steam powered tug Wallowa owned by tug emerged with a new 700 horse- in command, departed Oakland for the Oregon Railway and Navigation power Washington diesel and new Honolulu towing a closing gate for a Company. Ironically, this was the same auxiliary machinery as well as a Navy graving dock in Pearl Harbor. On year as the Foss family, Andrew and new deckhouse, pilot house and a arrival in Honolulu the Arthur went on Thea, along with their young children modernized galley. long-term charter to the Pacific Naval arrived in Tacoma and started the Foss The Arthur, now designated as Airbase Contractors to assist in the Boathouse Company, the predecessor the “most powerful” tug on the West construction of military airbases on to Foss Launch & Tug Co. and now Coast was making routine coastal tows Oahu, Wake Island and French Frigate Foss Maritime Company. between Puget Sound and California Shoals. The Arthur continued in ser- When the Foss family purchased as well as occasional tows to Alaska. vice for both the Airbase Contractors the Wallowa in 1929 from the Merrill In 1936 the Arthur was welcomed with and the U.S. Navy, working in the and Ring Timber Company, the 111-foot public fanfare to Los Angeles when Pacific theatre of action until the end tug was already 40 years old. In early she arrived towing the famous of World War II.
18 • Foss Tow Bitts • ALWAYS READY • August, 2013
The Arthur Foss spent much of its career towing logs on Puget Sound.
After a lengthy lay-up in Honolulu log crib from the Rayonier log dump the Arthur returned to Tacoma in late in Sekiu to Port Angeles. At the 1947 for a 10-month overhaul at the completion of the tow on July 26, Foss Shipyard, prior to re-entering 1968, the captain, Arnold Tweter, rang service in August 1948. For the next “Finished with Engines” on the engine twenty years the Arthur was assigned room telegraph for the final time. to the Foss Port Angeles division Several weeks later, the Arthur was The Arthur remains a viable unit towing log cribs from Neah Bay, Sekiu towed to the Foss facility in Tacoma and the Pysht River to Port Angeles where she was de-commissioned after in the “Seaport” fleet, berthed and other log handling ports on a full life of 79 years of commercial Puget Sound. towing. The Arthur remained in by the Museum of History and Passing the 75-year mark in 1964, Tacoma until June 24, 1970 when it the Arthur was working over 300 days was donated to the non-profit Industry on Seattle’s Lake Union. per year but her days were numbered. historical society, “Save Our Ships,” Many new Foss tugs were being the predecessor to today’s Northwest turned out at several West Coast and Seaport. Forty-three years later, in Gulf Coast shipyards to replace 2013, the Arthur remains a viable unit the aging fleet of wooden and under- in the “Seaport” fleet, berthed by the powered tugs. In 1966 the new Myrtle Museum of History and Industry on Foss entered log towing service in the Seattle’s Lake Union. Straits, followed in 1968 by the Martha Foss. With the presence of these two Editor’s Note: Mike Skalley is the Foss new steel-constructed, automated tugs, company historian and author of “Foss, the 79 year old Arthur was forced out Ninety Years of Towboating.” of the running. The final job recorded in the Arthur’s logbook was towing a
August, 2013 • ALWAYS SAFE • Foss Tow Bitts • 19 PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID SEATTLE, WA PERMIT NO. 15551 1151 Fairview Avenue North Seattle, WA 98109
TACOMA’S BIGGEST CONTAINERSHIP The Zim Djibouti, the largest containership ever to call the Port of Tacoma, was assisted up the port’s Blair Waterway to Washington United Terminals on July 10, by the tug Henry Foss. The ship has a capacity of 10,000 20-foot equivalent container units and is 1,145 feet long and 150 feet in beam. Zim Integrated Shipping began calling the port in July 2012 after the Grand Alliance shipping consortium relocated to Tacoma.