MAY 2012 2006 / / Volume Volume 25 19 Issue Issue 2 4
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decemberMAY 2012 2006 / / volume volume 25 19 issue issue 2 4 TWO TUGS HEADING TO ARCTIC TO SUPPORT SHELL DRILLING Foss has signed multi-year contracts that will send the company’s most powerful ocean-going tugs to the Arctic beginning this year to support Shell Oil in its exploratory drilling operations in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas. Under a contract with Houston- based Superior Energy Services, the Corbin Foss in June will tow the barge Arctic Challenger north for the ice-free season, which lasts through October. Superior is currently equipping the barge in Bellingham with a contain- ment system that would be deployed in the event of a well blowout. The Lauren Foss and barge Tuuq (former Z-Big 1) will head north under a contract with Shell. The barge was outfitted by Foss in Mobile, Ala., to serve as a warehouse for Shell’s drill- More than any 12 monthsing operations in the recent in thehistory Beaufort of our Sea. com- a holiday greeting: pany, 2006 was a year inFoss which Vice Foss President Maritime for moved Global forward strategically in all areasTowing of our and business. Transportation Vince Strategic Moves in 2006 Port of Long Beach Godfrey said the contracts continue to establish Foss in the oil and HUGE CONTAINERSHIP IN LONG BEACH, OAKLANDWe believe that new courses charted in our harbor services, Align Us with This Mission: gas industry. The MSC Fabiola, said to be the largest containership ever to call a Northmarine American transportation/logistics and shipyard lines of business, “We’re on the ground floor of port, stopped inProvide Long Beach Customers March 16 and Oaklandwith Services March 21 and was assisted by while not without risk,what will looksfurther to thebe agrowth rapidly and growing success of Foss tugs in eachthat port. are In theWithout photo above, Equal the Arthur Foss, in the foreground, joins the company for decadesmarket to come. that’s Continuedin our core inside competency,” the twin hybrid tugs Carolyn Dorothy, middle, and Campbell Foss in assisting the Godfrey said. “And it’s in an area ship into its berth at the Port of Long Beach. The ship is 1,200 feet long and can Continued on page 4 carry more than 12,500 20-foot-equivalent container units. always readyready Rainier Shipyard Builds New Boat To Transport Ship Pilots on Columbia River The pilot boat Connor Foss was Supporting Shell in the Arctic launched April 18 at Foss Rainier In a contract that puts Foss “on the ground Shipyard in Oregon and will replace floor” of a growing energy development the Arrow 2 in June. The Arrow 2 will market, the company has signed multi-year be taken out of service after 50 years contracts that will send its two largest ocean transporting river and bar pilots on the tugs to the Arctic to support Shell Oil drilling Columbia River at Astoria, Oregon. operations. Cover The Arrow 2 began service on the Columbia River in 1962. The steel hull The Chevron Alliance launch boat with a single 700 horse- Foss and Chevron share values, particularly with regard to safety and environmental power engine has made thousands of Jereme Ruhl excellence, creating a common ground that pilot transfers in its long career. The tug Betsy L. caught the Connor Foss after it was has fostered a close relationship between the “It’s just time to upgrade our equip- launched April 18 at Foss Rainier Shipyard on the two companies. They recently observed the ment,” said Foss project manager Dan Columbia River. 15th anniversary of their alliance. Cole. “The Arrow 2 has done a great Page 3 job all these years, but the Connor Foss system — removing the traditional Foss in North and South Korea will far surpass it in terms of safety smoke stack, which can hinder the Foss embarked on voyages to both Koreas and efficiency.” operator’s rear view. recently. The Lauren Foss picked up two container cranes in South Korea for delivery The Connor Foss was designed by “The Connor Foss will provide a to North Carolina. And the Strong Mariner Kvichak Marine Industries and is more modern and, therefore, more made the first visit to North Korea by a U.S.- based on the design of the pilot stable and safe boarding platform,” flag vessel in five years. vessel Skomer, currently operating for said Regional Operations Manager, South Korea, Page 5 and North Korea, 10 the Milford Haven Port Authority in Mike Walker. “Seasonal wind and tidal Freighter Rescue the United Kingdom. conditions combine in and around The Corbin Foss sailed about 800 miles off The Connor Foss has a steel hull the pilot boarding area, resulting in the Washington Coast recently to rescue a bulk carrier that lost power in its main with an aluminum deckhouse and is very challenging conditions at times. engine. The challenges included high seas propelled by twin engines rated for up You have to have a boarding platform and difficulty communicating with the ship’s to 1,430 horsepower, offering power that will remain stable even at 10 plus Asian crew. and maneuverability. The new pilot knots, the Connor Foss will do upwards Page 8 boat can travel up to 14 knots with a of 14 knots.” Foss Profile: The Shipyard Pipe Shop semi-displacement hull riding more Once in service, the Connor Foss Their work encompasses installing, repairing atop the waves than its predecessor. — named after company founders and maintaining all manner of piping, tubing Carrying on Foss’ corporate focus Andrew and Thea Foss’ great-great- and hoses on vessels at the Foss Seattle Shipyard. The craftsmen in the Pipe Shop on safety, the Connor Foss will have great-grandson Connor Hansen who offer a unique blend of skills for a relatively many safety redundancies in place, is eight years old — will transport small group of workers. tilted windows that reduce glare, Columbia River pilots and Columbia Page 14 technologically modern operating Bar pilots between Astoria, Ore., and Keel-Laying Ceremony at Rainier Yard systems, a side-mounted hoist system ocean-going vessels in the designated With Washington Secretary of Transportation in case of an overboard incident, an pilot exchange area of the Paula Hammond as the guest of honor, the onboard speaker system to aid Columbia River. Foss Rainier Shipyard began construction of a 20-car ferry that will serve a Columbia River communication, and a wet exhaust crossing in rural eastern Washington. Page 16 Correction CSA Official’s Identity: A Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) official was identified incorrectly in a photo on page 5 of the March edition of Tow Bitts. The correct identity of the CSA representative is Michael Bohlman, chairman. To submit articles for Tow Bitts, please contact Bruce Sherman, editor, [email protected], or Earl Clark, coordinator of production, [email protected]. The Tow Bitts graphic designer is Barbara Hoberecht. Tow Bitts is published quarterly by Foss Maritime for employees, customers and friends. Changes to the Tow Bitts mailing list should be referred to Tina Wissmar, (206) 281-3824 or [email protected]. 2 • Foss Tow Bitts • ALWAYS READY • May, 2012 Foss-Chevron Alliance Works due to Shared Values; Approaches to Safety, Environment are Keys to Partnership Foss and Chevron recently observed about one and a half miles offshore the fifteenth anniversary of their West of El Segundo on Santa Monica Bay, Coast “alliance,” a relationship that where tankers deliver crude oil and functions more like a partnership than pick up products transferred by a vendor-customer arrangement. underwater lines from Chevron’s “We work together on best practices El Segundo Refinery. and how to improve our operations,” Foss also built two new boats said Foss California General Manager recently at its Rainier Shipyard for the John Marcantonio. “We have shared El Segundo Moorings. The Lucy Foss values with Chevron, particularly with handles mooring lines for tankers and regard to safety and operational excel- the Ava Foss shuttles crewmembers lence, and over the years it’s evolved to and from the moorings. Foss’s into a brotherly type of relationship.” Caribe Alliance also services ships at Chevron Shipping General Manager the moorings, and the barge San Pedro of Marine Assurance Tim Coombs provides vapor recovery services. agreed. Regional committees in each of the “We are aligned on what’s impor- three areas where the alliance operates tant in regards to doing business ethi- meet regularly to discuss operations cally and with the right value systems, common issues. he said. “That’s one of the things that A steering committee made up really makes the alliance work.” of executives and managers of the More specifically, Coombs said, two companies also meets regularly Foss and Chevron both place the high- for long-term planning and strategic est value on safety and environmental analysis. Foss representatives include protection, which are core values for Senior Vice President Operations Scott The Marshall Foss with a Chevron tanker on both companies. Merritt, Pacific Division Vice President San Francisco Bay. As part of the alliance, Foss pro- Dave Hill and Vice President Safety, vides escort and ship assist services to Quality and General Counsel Frank Merritt echoed these sentiments. Chevron on the Columbia River, on Williamson, and General Manager of “From the first day of the alliance San Francisco Bay and in Southern California, John Marcantonio. the driving force was not what the California. A recent example of how the two contract said, but what was the right Foss also supplies oil terminals companies worked together success- thing to do. We knew we could amend around San Francisco Bay from fully was the development of the Lucy the contract if it makes us safer, more Chevron’s Richmond Long Wharf.