September 2012
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SEPTEMBERdecember 2012 2006 / / volume volume 25 19 issue issue 4 4 HEADED FOR THE ARCTIC The tugs Drew Foss, right, and Wedell Foss took the oil rig Noble Discoverer out of Seattle’s Elliott Bay on Wednesday, June 27, heading for Port Angeles to hand off the rig to the Lauren Foss, which towed it to Dutch Harbor. Alki Point is in the background. Numerous Foss tugs, two barges and a derrick are supporting a Shell Arctic drilling project. (See article on page 3.) NEW TUGS WILL OPEN The introduction ofMore three than new any 12 monthsannounced in the recent early in history the summer of our com- of a holiday greeting:“Arctic-Class” tugs by pany,Foss Maritime 2006 was a year2012, in which and constructionFoss Maritime of movedthe first forward OPPORTUNITIES IN will open new opportunitiesstrategically in the in all areaswill of startour business.early next year, bringing Strategic Moves in 2006oil and gas industry, broaden the additional jobs to the yard on the company’s capability to take on Columbia River. OIL AND GAS SECTOR We believe that new courses charted in our harbor services, Align Us with This Mission:projects in extreme environments, “At Foss we innovate,” said marine transportation/logistics and shipyard lines of business, Provide Customers withand Servicesensure continued growth of Foss Gary Faber, Foss’ president and chief while not without risk, will further the growth and success of that are Without EqualRainier Shipyard. operating officer. “These vessels will The plan to build thethe innovative, company for decadesbe built to come. using Continued the latest insideadvances in 130-foot ocean-going tugs was technology and equipment. We want Continued on page 4 always readyready LINES Atlantic Division is Safe and Growing; Big New Tugs Foss Maritime plans to bolster its ocean fleet New Tugs Spur Growth in Energy Sector and seize new opportunities for work in the oil and gas industry by building a new “Arctic Operating with a high level of strongest potential for growth in our Class” of tugs at its Rainier Shipyard on the Columbia River. Also in this issue of Tow safety and continuing to grow our Atlantic Division is in project work in Bitts, Foss Historian Mike Skalley reviews the business are both priorities at Foss the energy and construction sectors, company’s involvement in ocean towing and Maritime, and our Atlantic and we expect to be a previous “new-build” program. Division has been winning making an announcement Cover and Page 20 high marks recently on soon about a contract for Supporting Shell both fronts. work in a significant energy A number of Foss tugs and two barges were The Boston-based development project. involved in a variety of support activities this division, as of mid- On another front: As summer for a Shell Oil drilling project in the September when Tow Bitts a result of our growing Beaufort and Chukchi Seas in the Alaskan Arctic. Meanwhile, Shell gave high marks went to press, had not involvement in the oil and to Foss for its safety and environmental experienced a lost–time gas sector, and future oppor- management systems. injury since July 1, 2008. tunities we expect there, we P a g e 3 That’s a remarkable and noteworthy have announced plans to build three Ice Delays Red Dog Start achievement, especially considering new Arctic Class ocean-going tugs. Veteran Red Dog captains said they could the fact that our Atlantic group joined remember only two previous years when the (See article on the cover.) The 130-foot Arctic ice was as heavy in early July as it was Foss just six years ago with the vessels will be built with the latest at the beginning of the 2012 season. As a acquisition of Constellation Maritime. advances in technology and consequence, Foss got its latest start ever, But our safety chairman in Boston, equipment and will broaden our beginning lightering operations on July 11. Capt. Chris DeModena, notes that ability to take on large projects in Page 6 there has been a significant change extreme environments. Foss Atlantic Division in the group’s safety culture since We will begin construction of the Successful safety efforts and improving Foss took over. (See article on page 8.) tugs early next year at our Rainier business in Boston Harbor and on the ocean are raising the profile of the Atlantic Division “Things are a lot safer around here,” Shipyard on the Columbia River in in the company. In a package of articles, he said. Oregon, which already has proved Tow Bitts also interviewed two employees Capt. DeModena, all of Foss is its ability to produce top-quality new who are helping to make it happen. taking notice. vessels. The yard’s skilled craftsmen Pages 8 - 11 Business also has been busier in Spotlight on the Paint Shop turned out 10 Dolphin-Class harbor Bill Ibsen, foreman of the Paint Shop at the Boston lately, and more growth is tugs for Foss and its sister companies Foss Seattle Shipyard, estimates that he and expected. and a number of commercial vessels. his eight craftsmen paint about 50 vessels On the harbor services side, we The ocean tug project will keep and use thousands of gallons of paint every have a new ship-assist customer, those craftsmen working while year. The targets of their brushes, rollers Mediterranean Shipping Co., one making use of a 10,000-square-foot and sprayers include tugs, big yachts and other vessels. Page 12 of two major container lines calling addition to the yard and launching Boston, with two ships a week. Foss Maritime into a new era of The Groomses’ Muscle Car We also are assisting articulated expansion in one of our most Information Technology Specialist Brandon tug-barges operated by Kirby Inland Grooms and his father Brad spend almost promising line of business. every Sunday the same way, starting with a Marine, which arrive almost daily with It’s good news, all around. walk and a cup of coffee and then going back petroleum products. (See article on to a project that has consumed them for page 10.) three years—construction of a 1965 Shelby With the harbor market stable, the Cobra replica. Page 16 President and Chief Operating Officer 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 • September, 2012 Shell Gives High Marks to Foss HSE Management System; LINES Atlantic Division is Safe and Growing; Numerous Tugs, Other Assets Deployed to Support Drilling New Tugs Spur Growth in Energy Sector Foss received Shell Oil’s highest on the audit included Scott Merritt, contractor rating following a rigor- senior vice president operations, Frank ous audit of the tug-barge company’s Williamson, vice president health health, safety and environmental safety, quality environment and (HSE) management system held in general counsel, Al Rainsberger, advance of a planned exploratory director of health and safety, Jim drilling project in the Arctic this year. Peschel, quality assurance manager, And as of mid-September, the tug Mike Lauer, director of marine Lauren Foss and support barge Tuuq transportation, and Dan Brechtel, had arrived in the Beaufort Sea. The health safety and environment Corbin Foss stood by in Bellingham, coordinator. awaiting completion of a spill In a letter to Shell following the containment barge to be deployed audit, Merritt said, “We appreciate for the project. your guidance and suggestions in our Earlier, Foss tugs moved the drilling move toward continual improvement. rig Noble Discoverer to Dutch Harbor. We will be a better company as a result Shell will use that rig and another for of this process. Our companies share the exploratory effort. similar values in the HSQE programs The two-day HSE audit was led and we welcome your input.” by John Kaighin and Terry Eastwood Shell calls its highest rating of Shell Exploration and Production “Stoplight Band Green Contractor,” in Company. The Shell team gathered reference to a traffic light with Green, information through observation, Amber, and Red signals. interviews and by checks of hardware On the operations side, Marine The Foss 300 derrick loaded materials onto the and documentation. Transportation Port Captain Chris oil-containment barge Arctic Challenger in early As part of the effort, Foss also Mack Jr., said, “The dedication of our September, while the Lindsey Foss, right, provided completed a 25-page questionnaire crews and our safety culture have led assistance. The photo was taken from the Corbin that covered topics including: roles to the success in our operations.” Foss, also assigned to the project. and responsibilities of safety person- In addition to the Corbin, Lauren, nel, training programs, and emergency Barbara and barge Tuuq, Foss assigned of the spill containment barge Arctic response and contingency plans. a chartered barge, the KRS 330, to Challenger. Following the audit, Shell produced carry drilling equipment for Shell to “We have a lot of moving parts a report highlighting its findings and Dutch Harbor. In Bellingham, several involved in this project,” Mack said. suggesting areas of improvement. Foss harbor tugs and the Foss 300 The Foss team working with Shell derrick were assisting with preparation NEW WEBSITE: EASIER TO NAVIGATE AND FIND INFORMATION Foss Maritime in August rolled out easy to navigate and quickly leads a new website with an updated customers to details of the information look and many new features.