december 2006 / volume 19 issue 4

By Gary Faber President and Chief Operating Offi cer a holiday greeting: More than any 12 months in the recent history of our company, 2006 was a year in which Foss Maritime moved forward strategically in all areas of our business. Strategic Moves in 2006 We believe that new courses charted in our harbor Align Us with This Mission: services, marine transportation/logistics and shipyard Provide Customers with Services lines of business, while not without risk, will further the growth and success of the company for decades to come. that are Without Equal Amid the complexities of those initiatives, we’ve come up with a brief mission statement that will enable us to continued on page 3

always ready New Foss Logo Symbolizes Vision of Future, INSIDE Link to Customers’ Core Values, Safety Focus Faber Appointed President and COO Gary Faber’s appointment as president and chief operating offi cer was announced in In October, Foss unveiled a new consistent brand that refl ects October by Foss, with offi cials of parent logo that aims to symbolize the com- that momentum.” company Marine Resources Group citing his pany’s growth, expansion and vision record of accomplishment as one of the main President and Chief Operating Of- reasons for his promotion. for the future. fi cer Gary Faber said Page 3 The design is an the branding project abstract tow chain is part of a larger ef- Another Tractor-Plus Tug link created with fort to “get better at Foss is adding a drive unit to the tug Brynn two intersecting, telling the Foss story, Foss, making it the third boat in the company’s fl eet to get a power boost that will improve stylized versions not just our history, its ability to handle big, new-generation con- of the letter “F” but where we are tainerships.Two Foss tugs already have been and replaces a logo introduced going and how we are expanding and upgraded with the now-proven “Tractor-Plus” 20 years ago. improving our service.” technology. The new symbol is part of a brand Hill said the logo was designed to Page 5 marketing effort started in 2006 be modern, memorable and distinc- Partnership at PAL under the leadership of Marketing tive, distinguishing Foss from its Tow was along for the ride as two giant Vice President David Hill. Also as part competitors. The tow chain link also tankers came together for a crude oil transfer of that effort, Foss recently launched refl ects the work Foss does in mari- off the coast of Southern California. Foss a new web site that features the logo time transportation and logistics while provides a vessel, personnel and equipment and highlights the company’s broader symbolizing a link between Foss and in support of Chevron’s Pacifi c Area Lightering (PAL) operations. range of services, including the Harbor the core values and safety focus of Page 6 Marine Group, Foss’ full-service ma- its customers. rine engineering unit. The tilt of the link, according to Drydock Riddle Tow Bitts and other published and Hill, denotes movement, “looking Foss Shipyard came up with a complex-but printed materials, including stationery to the future, moving our customers methodical solution to the challenge of and business cards, also are being disposing of a 200-foot-long drydock that had forward toward their goals." The web been laid up on the Lake Washington Ship updated to include the new logo and site address is www.foss.com. The site Canal in Seattle since 1997. Use of an even refl ect a consistent look and feel, gives customers a more comprehen- bigger drydock was part of the answer. Hill said. sive view of Foss’ services, ranging Page 12 “Foss is changing, and we need from ship assists to vessel construction a new professional look that brings and international logistics. On the Cover Robert Tandecki’s watercolor, “Working the together all aspects of our expanding The Seattle-based marketing con- Tidefl ats, Tacoma,” was selected for use on company,” Hill said. “We are proud sulting fi rm Aukema & Associates has the 2006 Foss Holiday Card in the annual that Foss has maintained its values, been working with Foss on the brand- Foss art competition. An article about work ethic and dedication to custom- ing project, including the design of the Tandecki, and reproductions of the paintings ers for over a hundred years. Now we logo and web site. used in the 2007 Foss calendar, appear on are growing and expanding and want a pages 10-11.

Updated Look for Foss Tow Bitts Tow Bitts is published quarterly by Foss Maritime for Foss employees, is Part of Company Branding Project customers and friends. To make Tow Bitts has a new look. in keeping with a a towing-chain link. Also, text and headlines changes to the Tow Bitts mailing list, call (206) 281-3958. Tow Bitts editor branding project that is bringing consistent design throughout Tow Bitts are printed with an updated is Bruce Sherman, graphic designer standards to all company publications and type face. is Barbara Edquist and coordinator of printed material. More changes aimed at improving the appear- production is Gil Graham, Foss Vice The cover features a new “masthead” at the ance of Tow Bitts, but not affecting the content of President of Human Resources. top of the page and includes the new Foss logo, the newsletter, are planned for future editions.

2 • Foss Tow Bitts • December, 2006 Faber Is New President and COO, Plans to Double Business in 5 Years

Gary Faber, a 33-year veteran of work, especially in oil and gas explora- the maritime industry who over the tion,” Faber said. last two years has helped Foss boost Pointing to the recent acquisition of its emphasis on safety and move into Constellation Maritime, a Boston-area international logistics, has been tug company, Faber said Foss would appointed president and chief operat- continue to look for opportunities to ing offi cer. extend its expertise in harbor services The appointment was announced in the United States and abroad. Gary Faber Oct. 27 by Paul Stevens, president and And in line with its acquisition of chief executive offi cer of Foss parent Harbor Marine Services, a full-ser- rine industry, both ashore and afl oat. Marine Resources Group, who said vice naval architecture fi rm, Foss will He joined Foss as senior vice presi- Faber was chosen because of his continue to be a leader in innovative dent of engineering, shipyards and vision, leadership and “extraordinary” technology and design, according project management in 2002. track record at Foss. to Faber. Stevens said Faber brings three Faber since February 2005 has But he said the company’s top prior- crucial traits to his new job. been executive vice president for ma- ity going forward is the safety of people “First, he has had great success in rine transportation and global services, and the environment. implementing sound quality, safety where he oversaw the company’s “Our customers are now measuring and environmental protection pro- successful sealifts to Russia’s Sakhalin success based on our safety record,” grams” Stevens said. “Second is his Island for Exxon Neftegas. Faber said. “Today, getting the job done deep knowledge of the challenges and He said one of his principal goals is on time is not enough. We must also opportunities in the maritime industry. to keep the company growing. strive to achieve zero accidents and Third, Gary is committed to building “Our plan is to double Foss' size injuries in all aspects of our business.” and maintaining strong relationships in the next fi ve years, through a Faber, 55, is a 1973 graduate of the with customers.” combination of acquiring existing tug U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and companies and expanding Foss’ project has spent his entire career in the ma-

HOLIDAY GREETING Continued from Page 1 maintain focus on just a few things sion statement and positions us to use Our marine transportation/logistics crucial to the success of our company it as a maxim for success in the future. group has undergone a restructuring going forward: Companywide in the now-closing to spur expansion into worldwide proj- Our mission: to provide marine year, our Operational Excellence Pro- ects in energy development and other services without equal. We will deliver gram, with its underlying themes of areas where we have expertise. unsurpassed customer service by: safety and quality, and our re-charged We have proven our strength in • Relentlessly pursuing perfection in focus on marketing and the Foss worldwide logistics during three oil- our health, safety, quality, brand, will cement our position among fi eld sealifts to Russia’s Sakhalin Island environment and compliance the world’s elite companies in our over the last four years, and we aim to initiatives. business sectors. use those successes as a springboard to • Maintaining a steadfast focus on our In the harbor services area, we other upcoming projects. customers’ needs and preferences in made the fi rst step toward turning Our shipyards have demonstrated everything we do. Foss into a bi-coastal company with the their capabilities in new construction • Continuing to extend and expand purchase of Constellation Maritime, and upgrades, through the Dolphin our operations globally. which performs ship-assist and marine Class and Tractor-Plus programs, and • Retaining our world-class work force support work in the Boston area. will signifi cantly expand these activi- by fostering an environment of Capitalizing on the Foss name and ties. Credit for our 2006 successes mutual trust and respect. the introduction of tractor tug technol- goes to our employees, our vendors Our remarkable progress in 2006 ogy, Constellation is currently looking and to our loyal customers. already has aligned us with this mis- to expand signifi cantly. Happy holidays.

December, 2006 • Foss Tow Bitts • 3 Foss Warehouseman Expresses Thanks for his Job and Family, Credits Salvation Army for Helping to Turn his Life Around

In 1995 when John Ramos was 30 solid,” Birks said. “He’s at peace. years old, his probation offi cer gave That’s the best way to describe John.” him a choice: go to prison or go to the After successfully completing his re- Salvation Army men’s rehabilitation habilitation in Anaheim, Ramos came center in Anaheim, Calif., to get over to the Northwest to work as a coun- his addictions. He chose the latter. selor and cook at a Salvation Army kids “It was the best thing that ever camp in Eatonville, Wash. There, he happened to me, other than my wife,” met his future wife and later got a job said Ramos, who said he had been a with Marine Systems, which supplies skateboarding party animal whose life engine parts to Foss. had become unmanageable as a result “I delivered to Foss sometimes, of drugs and alcohol. and I got to know Chuck Criss (Foss “At the rehabilitation center, my life Receiving). He told me about this job, was changed forever. I learned about just because he liked me, and it’s the God and Narcotics Anonymous and best job I ever had.” Capt. Robert Birks, left, and John Ramos outside Alcoholics Anonymous and started Ramos has manned coin-collection the Salvation Army’s North Seattle Worship Center. tackling my problems. It’s taken me to kettles during the holidays for the Sal- where I am today.” vation Army over the years, but that’s probation offi cer or their wife sent Today, Ramos is a warehouseman just a small part of his volunteering them, or they walked in on their for Foss in Seattle. He also is married activity. He’s also worked at homeless own because their life had become to the daughter of a Salvation Army shelters, food banks, and played the unmanageable. offi cer and has one 2-year-old child and guitar and sung at various functions. “There are so many stories but another scheduled to arrive He also goes to the Salvation Army they’re all the same story because in February. rehabilitation center in Downtown they’re all drug addicts or alcoholics, The pastor at his Salvation Army Seattle once a month to help out. and they don’t know how to live parish in North Seattle, Capt. Robert His experiences help him connect with without their drug of choice. I can Birks (All ministers in the Salvation the men he encounters there. just relate.” Army are assigned a rank) says it’s “I know what they’re going Volunteer work is fulfi lling, Ramos hard to believe the pre-1995 Ramos through,” he said. “I know their said, “because when I came to the was the same man he is today. struggles. I know they’re addicts and Salvation Army my life was a complete “I probably wouldn’t recognize him alcoholics and that they’re desperate. wreck, and I want to give back when- the way he was, because he’s always I know that they’re there because their ever I can.”

Corbin Crew does ‘Heck of a Job’ Enduring Lengthy Voyage; Russia, Singapore and China Part of Seven-Month Itinerary

Foss in November gave special rec- Chief Engineer Jim Greenlund from Shanghai to Seattle is more than ognition to the crew of the Corbin Foss, boarded the tug in Dutch Harbor on 5,000 miles and took about 30 days. whose return from Sakhalin Island to April 1, while it was on the way to “They spent a long time at sea,” Seattle was delayed a month when the Russia. Others switched onto the crew said Marine Transportation Operations tug was detoured to Shanghai to pick during the season, but also had lengthy Manager Doug Pearson. “They did a up four new barges. stays on board, said Don McElroy, heck of a job.” One member of the crew, Cook senior vice president for marine After the Corbin’s return, its sister, Chris Miller, had been on the tug more transportation. the Lauren Foss, picked up the barges than seven months, since it departed When the Corbin arrived in Shang- and towed them through the Panama Seattle for the Sakhalin sealift on hai, the new barges weren’t ready, and Canal to their Gulf of Mexico buyer. March 20. The homecoming in Seattle the tug spent 17 days at anchor waiting The barges were stacked two-high was Oct. 25. for them to be completed. The run and towed in tandem.

4 • Foss Tow BBittsitts • December,December, 2006 Third Tug Receiving Tractor-Plus Conversion at Foss Shipyard; Now-Proven Technology Will Help Brynn Assist Biggest Ships

The Brynn Foss is undergoing a that rotate 360 degrees, and the Voith While the Brynn is in the , one “Tractor-Plus” conversion at Foss Schneider drives using vertical rotat- of its Voith units is being overhauled. Shipyard, becoming the third of the ing blades that sweep the water in the Both of its existing engines also company’s ship-assist tugs to receive desired direction. will be upgraded to “Tier I” environ- a major power boost through what is But the systems work well together, mental compliance, a process which now a proven propulsion technology. adding power needed to handle huge requires that they be disassembled The Brynn, based in Long Beach, new-generation containerships coming and “re-manufactured.” follows the Wedell Foss and Henry Foss into service in Southern California and The new Cummins engine, pow- to Tractor-Plus surgery. The fi rst two the Pacifi c Northwest. ering the ASD unit, will meet more tugs were converted in 2005 and have Puget Sound Port Engineer John stringent “Tier II” requirements. received high marks in service on Barrett, who is acting as owner’s rep- The tug also will undergo plenty of Puget Sound. resentative for the Brynn project, said work to extend its life, Barrett said. For The conversion involves adding the tug will pull 115,000 pounds ahead example, salt water cooling systems, an azimuthal drive (ASD), also and 89,000 astern after the conver- with interior piping prone to fouling called a “Z” drive, to the tugs, which sion, compared to its previous 75,000 with barnacles and other growth, will were built about 25 years ago with two pounds ahead and 58,000 astern. be replaced with heat exchangers. New Voith Schneider cycloidal propulsion The two previous conversions stern fendering for ship assist work units. A fourth tug of the same class, produced comparable results. The also will be installed. the Long Beach-based Pacifi c Escort, Henry Foss also was tested for sideways The project is scheduled to last also is to be converted. pulling and registered over 58,000 through the middle of April. The ASD and Voith propulsion sys- pounds of power. “I think it’s the only “It’s a lengthy job with a lot of man tems are radically different, with ASD tug that’s ever been tested that way,’ hours,” Barrett said. “It’s a very big job drives employing propellers in nozzles Barrett said. for our yard.”

Machinists Darryn Baker, left, and Chris Broderson maneuver a turbo coupler in the engineroom of the Brynn Foss before it is lifted from the tug to be overhauled.

December, 2006 • Foss Tow Bitts • 5 PARTNERSHIP AT PAL

Chevron’s Cygnus Voyager, right, approaches the ultra large crude carrier TI Africa on a calm October night off the Southern California coast. Big Tankers Come Together off the Southern California Coast Foss and Chevron are Partners in Crude Transfer Operations

n a carefully orchestrated dance per- shallow waters of El Segundo Moor- exceed 12 feet, which generally oc- Iformed by Chevron Shipping about ings, where it will be piped ashore to curs only in the winter, operations are 100 times a year, two tankers with a to- a refi nery. suspended. tal weight of nearly a half million tons “Every one of these approaches is a With Southern California native are coming together about 50 miles off little bit different,” the coast of Southern California. says Capt. Lightering Master John Wells, right, is in charge as the Cygnus Voyager The larger of the two is the TI Af- John Wells, the closes in on the TI Africa (background). Also on the bridge wing are rica, a 1,250-foot ultra-large crude car- lightering master Capt. Neil Hunt, center, master of the tanker, and Chief Mate Bojan Simper. rier (ULCC) that has just completed a who is piloting the month-long voyage from Saudi Arabia Cygnus Voyager. with three million barrels of crude oil. “You can’t write a The ship and its three sisters are the procedure that will world’s largest double-hulled tankers. cover every one.” Overtaking TI Africa from behind Though it is after is Chevron’s 900-foot Cygnus Voyager, midnight, the sea which is specially equipped for this is calm, and the offshore lightering work. The plan is to air is clear, so this transfer a million barrels of crude from approach won’t the ULCC (with a loaded of about be as challenging 80 feet) and carry it to the relatively as some. If swells

6 • Foss Tow Bitts • December, 2006 THE FOSS-CHEVRON PAL PARTNERSHIP

Foss has been providing support to Chevron’s Pacifi c Area Lighter- ing (PAL) operations off the coast of Southern California since the spring of 2005. A Foss vessel, the Strategic Horizon carries equipment and per- sonnel for Chevron, and Foss supplies riggers for the lightering operation. Foss also maintains lines, hoses, fend- ers and other gear used by Chevron at PAL. The Foss Tug Pacifi c Escort assists Chevron tankers at El Segundo moorings, where crude oil is piped to a refi nery on shore.

A worker on the Chevron tanker Cygnus Voyager, foreground, throws a lever activating one of the big that draw his ship together with the ultra-large crude carrier TI Africa.

Wells on the port bridge wing are bigger tanker’s speed and begins to crude is loaded, back to the ULCC. Cygnus Capt. Neil Hunt, a Briton, and slide his ship to the left. The transfer takes about 18 hours, Chief Mate Bojan Simper, a Croatian, Capt. Hunt explains that speed is as the tethered ships lumber along at who is guiding the ship based on kept to the minimum while still en- about a knot. Then the entire coupling Wells’ commands. abling control, minimizing the hydro- process is reversed and the Cygnus de- The Cygnus is unusually maneuver- dynamic effect between the ships that parts for the six-hour trip to able for its size, retrofi tted a few years could otherwise suck them together. El Segundo. Some of the cargo will be ago with a variable-pitch propeller and As the distance between the ships discharged there, and then the tanker 5,000 horsepower thruster. Also slowly closes, the crewmembers get will make a 30-hour run to the added were special cradles on to ready with the lines. Wells (he ex- Chevron refi nery in Richmond, Calif., to hold four huge cylindrical pneumatic plained later) uses left to keep pump off the rest. fenders — 33 feet long and 16 feet in the stern away from the big ship while Another Chevron lightering ship will diameter— which fl oat between the the bow thruster controls the lateral take a second million barrels from the ships and keep them apart during movement of the forward part of TI Africa beginning in a few hours, and lightering. the ship. then the Cygnus will return for As the ships get closer, Foss Rig- To keep his ship’s speed the same the rest. gers Bob Willis and Jeramie Verhelst as the TI Africa’s, Wells picks a couple So far, the job has gone fl awlessly. walk the decks of the Cygnus Voyager, of range points on the ULCC’s deck. “With this ship, it’s easy, because these making sure the fenders are deployed If their relative position changes, the guys are so well trained,” said Willis. properly over the side and that the 14 Cygnus is going too fast or too slow. lines that will hold the ships together Concluding a process that has taken have been positioned correctly by the about 40 minutes, the forward fender crew and are ready to go. on the Cygnus nudges the TI Africa. With about a tenth of a mile separat- Starting at the bow, crewmembers toss ing the ships and the Cygnus moving at lines to the big ship and then draw the just under 4 knots, its bow passes to two vessels snugly together with big the right of the TI Africa’s transom. steam-powered winches on the Cygnus. “It’s always slow from here, but Willis and Verhelst are then hoisted once you get to the house, it races by to the TI Africa with a “Billy Pugh” you,” says Wells, as his ship creeps personnel net and set to work attach- alongside the ULCC. When the bridge ing the two 12-inch hoses that will carry A jogger follows a path along the beach as the of the Cygnus is just forward of the crude onto the Cygnus. A third, 16-inch Cygnus Voyager unloads crude oil at the TI Africa’s house, Wells matches the hose carries vapors, displaced as the El Segundo Moorings.

December, 2006 • Foss Tow Bitts • 7 PARTNERSHIP AT PAL

Teamwork, Positive Approach, Help Foss Maintain Excellence While Providing Equipment and Personnel to Chevron at PAL

perational Excellence is a key was a tug captain, and he believes that “It’s a constantly changing environ- Ocomponent in Pacifi c Area Light- experience is helping him in his man- ment out there — Every situation is dif- ering (PAL) operations for both Foss agement role. ferent and unique,” he said, “We have and Chevron Shipping. “Every improvement we have made to stay focused and committed to those Under a contract initiated in the on the boat is the result of team input,” two concepts.” spring of 2005, Foss provides sup- he said. “I am just a collector of good port in the offshore lighterage area, ideas that we fi lter into the absolute where Chevron transfers oil from Ultra best product.” Large Crude Carriers (ULCCs) and Jimmy Eduljee, Southwest region Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) to operations coordinator for Chevron smaller tankers for transport to refi ner- Shipping, said Foss and Chevron are ies in El Segundo and Richmond. a good match as strategic partners at Foss owns a 130-foot launch, the PAL and elsewhere on the West Coast. Strategic Horizon, which is dedicated “Foss has been a fantastic partner, to the service and carries gear, riggers as I see it,” Eduljee said. “I’ve been in (who are Foss employees) and Chevron the Gulf and have worked with lots of lightering masters to the PAL transfer companies, and I think our ideology is area.. well synchronized with Foss in terms Foss also services the used of Operational Excellence.” to hold the ships together during light- Describing PAL operations as a ering, stores and tests the hoses used “high-risk endeavor,” Eduljee said the At Chevron Shipping’s offi ce in El Segundo are, from left, Jules Vik, Chevron Southwest Region to transfer crude and vapor between Operational Excellence challenge there Voyage Manager, Jimmy Eduljee, Chevron South- the tankers and maintains the 30-by- is to maintain safety of people and the west Region Operations Coordinator, and 16-foot pneumatic fenders that fl oat environment. Paul Hendriks, PAL Superintendent for Foss. between the ships during transfers. Twelve Foss employees work full-time on the PAL Program. They Foss Riggers Bob Willis, left, and Jeramie Verhelst are responsible for lashing the ships together and include fi ve riggers, two captains, two connecting the hoses that carry crude between the ships. The TI Africa is in the background. engineers, two deckhands, and Super- intendent Paul Hendriks. Throughout its operations, Foss has introduced the Operational Excellence concept, which emphasizes striving for zero accidents and injuries. “We try to promote Operational Excellence as a team and with a posi- tive message,” said Hendriks. “It’s one thing to present something like the Ten Commandments in terms of Operational Excellence. It’s another thing to have people buy into it. The way our people buy into it is that we’ve been told, and we believe, that we are responsible for each other’s safety.” Before being tapped to head the PAL service for Chevron, Hendriks

8 • Foss Tow Bitts • December, 2006 Foss team members gathered on the bow of the Strategic Horizon are, from left, Riggers Jeramie Verhelst and Troy Jones, Rigging Foreman Howie Howerton, Rigger James Varley, Engineer Alison Williams, Capt. Don Williams, Superintendent Paul Hendriks, Rigger Robert Willis and Deckhand Vincent Pereira.

Lightering Masters are Seasoned Mariners who Oversee Ship-to-Ship Dockings of Tankers and Crude Oil Transfers

apt. Lawson Ellison jokes that Che has a professional interest in surfi ng, which consumes much of his leisure time when he isn’t piloting Chevron tankers at the Pacifi c Area Lightering (PAL) site off Southern California. “If I go to the beach every day, I can tell what the sea is doing.” Ellison said, claiming to be a strong paddler even though he’s in his mid-50s. Ellison and Capt. John Wells are sharing watches as lightering masters aboard the Cygnus Voyager as it trans- fers a million barrels of Saudi oil from Lightering Master Lawson Ellison stands watch on the bridge of the Chevron Tanker Cygnus Voyager the ultra-large crude carrier TI Africa. They are among nine seasoned the dockings at PAL. cost-effective and enabled Chevron to masters — four U.S. citizens and fi ve of Ellison and Wells, both Southern control the transfer operation. international citizenship — who over- California natives, started their careers “What we’re most proud of is the see lightering operations for Chevron as unlicensed mariners in the mid- gear that we use, which is maintained in various areas of the world where the 1970s, and “came up through the by Foss to the highest quality standards biggest tankers draw too much water fo’c’sle,” earning licenses without go- for operations and safety,” Ellison said. to come into port. ing to a maritime academy. Both sailed “Some of the other companies haven’t Lightering masters generally have on a variety of ships, including tankers, elevated themselves to using these about fi ve years of training piloting before joining Chevron. types of wire tails and consistently tankers into El Segundo Moorings, Ellison said Chevron has been light- maintaining the hooks and releases. where oil is pumped ashore to the re- ering in the Gulf of Mexico since the This stuff is really important in fi nery just north of Manhattan Beach, early 1980s with two dedicated lighter- wintertime.” before being given responsibility for ing ships, fi nding that the process was

December,July 2006 2006 • • Foss Foss Tow Tow Bitts •• 99 Thirty Artists Submit Paintings in Foss Competition for Slots in Calendar and Image on Holiday Card

A watercolor by marine artist Robert Tandecki’s painting, reproduced on the others are based in the Northwest Tandecki, depicting a Foss tractor tug the cover of Tow Bitts and at right, was and California. towing a cargo barge by a peaceful one of 36 entries from 30 artists com- Tandecki’s favorite subjects are the beach at the Port of Tacoma, was peting to have their paintings chosen rural and marine environment of the selected for the 2006 holiday card in for the card and for the Foss calendar. Pacifi c Northwest and Alaska. Most of the company’s annual art competition. Tandecki lives in Sumner, Wash., and his paintings are cool scenes of winter,

January Gene Erickson, Barbara Foss April Sally Ohlsen, Tractor, Tug Skill

February Austin Dwyer, A Foss Welcome Home May Marshall Perrow, Tall Ship Palladia with Benjamin Foss

March J. H. Christensen, Gateway June James R. Williamson, Sakhalin Barge Assist

10 • Foss Tow Bitts • December, 2006 for which he is best known. ally out running around.” He said he gravitated to painting Tandecki said his paintings have marine scenes because he’s spent most been in the calendar about a dozen of his life around Puget Sound and times, and the 2006 holiday card is enjoys boats and the water. his third. “I like the mood and the weather, The winning artists receive a $500 especially the bad weather,” he said. reproduction fee and retain the right to “And when it’s bad weather like we’ve sell their paintings. had the last couple of weeks, I’m usu- Robert Tandecki's Working the Tide Flats, Tacoma

July Nancy Peach-Turner, Oakland Bridge Passing October Bob Williams, Sunset in the Sound

August Julie Creighton, The Fleet Arrives November Giorgina Candelaria, Wells Towing to Destination

September Mike Corcoran, Morning Muscle, Henry Foss December Marshall Johnson, Guidance by Garth Foss

December, 2006 • Foss Tow Bitts •• 11 Shipyard Resolves a Nine-Year-Old Riddle: How Do You Get Rid of an Old, 200-foot, 1,600-ton Drydock?

In a job as challenging as it was scuttling it in deep water or turning it barge. The holes in the barge were complex, Foss Shipyard this fall trans- into a fl oating warehouse — had fallen then patched, it was refl oated with the ported a 200-by-65 foot drydock ashore through since it was taken out of ser- drydock on its deck, and both were and demolished it. The drydock served vice. So Jim Stewart, Shipyard Director, towed back to Foss. the company for 49 years but had been said it was time to bite the bullet. The drydock was lifted and hauled laid up on the Lake Washington Ship “We just came to the conclusion from the barge on 16 hydraulic, remote Canal since 1997. that we needed to get this vessel taken controlled jacks, each mounted on Several earlier plans to dispose of care of, disposed of, and this was the eight wheels. Once ashore, it took four the wooden behemoth— including time to do it,” Stewart said. weeks to demolish the vessel. Depositing the 1,600-ton drydock, Stewart said the plan to scuttle the known as Old No. 2, on the tarmac of drydock was itself scuttled because the Foss Terminal was no easy task. shipyard wasn’t certain that Old No. 2 First, a chartered Manson barge was sturdy enough to be towed to the was raised in an even bigger drydock offshore disposal site. (600 by 93 feet) at Seattle’s Todd Pa- And no one could be found to cifi c Shipyard across town on Harbor pursue Stewart’s idea of building a Island. Holes were cut in the barge, roof on trusses between the drydock’s and it sank when the big drydock was wing walls and using it as a fl oating lowered. warehouse. Then the Old No. 2, which had been The drydock was built in 1943, and Old No. 2 sits on a barge inside a bigger drydock towed through the Hiram Chittenden Foss purchased it from the U.S. Navy at Todd Shipyard. The barge and its cargo were Locks from Foss, was moved over the in 1948. It was put into service in towed back to Foss. Next door was a drydocked sunken barge in the Todd drydock. As Tacoma but was moved north when Washington state ferry. the big drydock was raised, Old No. 2 Foss consolidated its shipyard in settled onto the deck of the Manson Seattle in the early 1970s.

The drydock was mounted on 16 jacks, each with eight wheels, and towed from the barge to Foss Ter- minal. Ron Becker monitors the towing mechanism.

Level wooden runways were built at Foss Terminal to support the old drydock as it rolled slowly from Project Manager Van Vorwerk shoots a photo as the month-long demolition process begins. the barge.

12 • Foss Tow Bitts • December, 2006 A 140-TON FLIP

The Foss 300 derrick made some waves Oct. 6 when it fl ipped a 140-ton house boat foundation. The 30-by-40-foot concrete fl oat, for a home to be located on Seattle’s Lake Union, was built upside-down at the Foss Terminal and launched by the Foss 300 with assistance from a Ness crane. Then, using two straps run under the fl oat to pick points on the far side, the derrick lifted until the fl oat was vertical and then tumbled over into the water, top-side-up. John Tarabochia was operator on the Foss 300, and Steve Imhoff was the steam engineer and rigger. Trend Construction of Redmond, Wash., built the fl oat.

DESERT-BOUND

Foss loaded this fi berglass tank, about 18 feet high and 12 feet in diameter, onto a trailer headed to eastern Washington on Sept. 26 for use with the drinking water system in a residential development in Cle Elum. Foss Shipyard originally intended to use the tank as part of a storm water collection system fi nished about fi ve years ago, but the tank has been surplus since then. Holding the tag line, at right, is Rigger Foreman Jim Mosman. The tank weighed about 17,000 pounds.

December, 2006 • Foss Tow Bitts • 13 Justine Foss and Crew Win Prestigious Award for Atlantic Rescue; AOTOS Honors go to Company for Second Consecutive Year

For the second year in a row, a Foss tug and its crew have won the presti- gious Admiral of the Ocean Seas (AO- TOS) Award presented by the United Seaman’s Service for outstanding seamanship in rescue operations. This year’s award went to Capt. Sam Nelson and the crew of the Justine Foss. It is the latest in a string of honors earned by the crew for the rescue of fi ve crewmembers from a sinking tug off the coast of North Carolina on Jan. 18, 2006. The award was presented at a ban- quet held Nov. 3 at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers. The master and crew of the Sea- Land Commitment also were honored at the banquet for their part in the same rescue. The Sidney Foss and its crew re- ceived the AOTOS award in 2005 for the tug’s dramatic attempt to save the powerless cargo ship Selendang Ayu near Dutch Harbor, Alaska. in December 2004. Paul Stephen, Wilmington Star News

The Justine Foss tows the oil barge it lassoed into the Port of Wilmington, N.C.

Arctic Team Sets Red Dog Record In Spite of Shortened Season; Two Barges, Four Tugs Move More than 1.3 Million Tons of Ore

Foss handled a record amount of The barges also loaded the largest ore at the Red Dog Mine port in the ore carrier ever to call the port, an 800- Alaskan arctic during the 2006 season foot bulker. completed in late October, in spite of “They didn’t get started until July 20 spotty weather and the latest start in because of late ice, and some people 17 years were a little nervous about whether Don McElroy, senior vice president they could get it all done,” McElroy for marine transportation said the said. “But they did a fabulous job and specialized barges Noatak and Kivalina got every pound out.” carried a total of 1,373,000 tons of zinc Handling the two barges were the and lead ore to 24 bulk carriers waiting tugs Iver Foss, Jeffrey Foss, Sandra Foss in deep water. That broke the previous and Stacey Foss. The Stacey Foss, near the Red Dog Mine port. record by 13,000 tons.

14 • Foss Tow Bitts • December, 2006 FOSS FAMILY

John Lewis Mans the Tacoma Offi ce While Son, Ryan, Learns to Walk on Logs

John and Ryan Lewis both hung logs, which he attempted on his fi rst around the waterfront when they day of work when asked to go open a were kids. John was a Sea Scout and . Navy Sea Cadet, and Ryan tagged He is also learning such skills as along when his dad went to work and knot tying, making lines fast to a bit or enjoyed rides on Foss tugs during and checking the engine. Tacoma Harbor Days. Ryan wants to go back to art school, Today, they both work for the but the possibility that tugboating company, though Ryan signed on 28 could turn into a career isn’t lost years after his dad. John is a senior on him. customer service coordinator, the lead “I’d love to travel and this is a Foss employee in Tacoma, and Ryan is great way to do that,” he said. “Who a deckhand trainee working log boats wouldn’t want to go to the other side of in the Tacoma harbor. the world and get paid for it?” “Foss has been very good to me and my family,” said Lewis, obviously Ryan Lewis, left, and his father John on the porch proud that his son, at least temporarily, of the Foss offi ce in Tacoma is following in his footsteps. “Foss has been a career, and tugboats equal din- Ryan Lewis heaves a line from the tug Peggy Foss. The Tacoma Narrows bridges are in the background. ner, a house and a car for me.” The elder Lewis, a native of Everett, Wash., joined Foss after serving in the Coast Guard, where his last as- signment was with the Vessel Traffi c Service in Seattle. “It was ideal training for a tug dis- patcher, because I learned the names of all the boats on the Sound and what they did, plus all the geographical features of the Sound,” said Lewis, who joined Foss after leaving the Coast Guard and worked his way up. Ryan, 20, came by a different path, studying at the Art Institute of Seattle but leaving the school after fi nding that it didn’t fi t with his plan to pursue fi lm making. He worked in a coffee shop for two years before joining the deck- hand training program established by Foss in conjunction with the Inland Boatmen’s Union. “The pay is about double here, and it will be more when I’m through training,” he said. “Working outside is great. It’s hard and there’s a lot to learn, but it’s rewarding.” One of the biggest challenges so far has been learning to walk on fl oating

December, 2006 • Foss Tow Bitts • 15 The tugs Wedell Foss and Henry Foss maneuver a bulk carrier away from the TEMCO terminal in Tacoma while a rain cover was under construction at the terminal berth. Foss provided support for the construction project, completed in September, ferrying about 100 bargeloads of steelwork about a half mile to the terminal from a staging site on the Foss Waterway. Foss Customer Builds Rain Cover Over Tacoma Grain Terminal Berth

The winter storms of the Pacifi c Foss and Benjamin Foss hauled about Northwest will no longer force suspen- 100 bargeloads to the site from the end sion of grain-loading operations at the of July through September. TEMCO terminal in Tacoma, now that Keeping the work on schedule was the company has installed an 264-by- important, because the terminal had 150-foot roof over the facility’s ship to be shut down while fabrication was berthing area. underway directly over the berth. That The fi nished berth cover at TEMCO. Foss provided support for the con- part of the project took three and a half struction project, ferrying steelwork weeks. about a half mile to the terminal from The job was tricky for Foss, accord- where ships moor parallel to the shore. a staging site on the Foss Waterway. ing to Lewis, because the 286-foot The small, log boats Joe Foss and John Lewis, senior customer service barge had to be maneuvered into shal- Peggy Foss assisted the bigger tugs coordinator in Tacoma, said the Diane low water inside the row of dolphins there, Lewis said.

TUGBOAT CATCH

Capt. Mike Hedlund of the Benjamin Foss nudges the partially completed tug Mikiona into its berth at J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding in Ta- coma after the Benjamin “caught” the new vessel as it was launched Oct. 7. Martinac is building the Mikiona and another tug of the same class for Sause Bros. Inc. of Coos Bay, Ore. The ocean-going tugs are 128 feet long and 35 feet in beam, and Sause Bros. plans to use them to tow fuel barges in California, according to Martinac President Joe Martinac, Jr. Mike Stork

16 • Foss Tow Bitts • December, 2006 Joseph T. ‘Saves Day’ During Fierce Storm

The Foss tug Joseph T. went to the aid of the 180-foot fi shing vessel Woodbine on Nov. 15 after the converted Coast Guard cutter’s bow line broke loose at the Port of Astoria during a fi erce windstorm. Port Operations Director Ron Larsen was quoted in the Daily Astorian newspaper as saying the Joseph T. “saved the day,” when the Woodbine swung out from its berth, hit another fi shing vessel and nearly crashed into the oil spill cleanup ship Oregon Responder. “The stern lines held, but it was 90 degrees to the berth pointed right at the Oregon Responder,” said Larsen, “It was a major catastrophe happening.” Larsen called Foss, which dis- patched the Joseph T. to help the Port’s work boat push the Woodbine back into the berth. “We couldn’t have done it without it

(the tug),” he said. “It had to push it all Laura Rosenberg the way back against the wind, back to the dock to be secured.” TOWERING TUG HOUSE

The San Francisco Bay tug Point Vicente has a new steering station, which puts the

SATISFACTION operator’s eye level at 41 feet, following a re-fi t that also gave the tug upgraded Markey GUARANTEED deck winches that enable both pushing and hip-towing (towing alongside). The tug A negative attitude cancels also has two new 100 kw diesel generators, replacing a generator driven by the main out all positive skills. engine, plus new coolers and engineroom piping. Workers also installed new steering rams, air compressors, a new washer-dryer, refrigerator and freezer. The new — From Satisfaction Guaranteed house will help the tug handle the Bay Area group’s big bunker barges, FDH 35-1 and By Byrd Baggett FDH 35-2. Marine Operations Manager Dan Massey coordinated the work.

COLD-WATER TRAINING

Fremont Maritime Services Trainer Lonnie “Walt” Walters, right, led fi ve cold-water survival training sessions for Foss employees on San Francisco Bay during the fall. The classes included in- struction on donning survival suits and survival swimming as well as activating and fl ipping over life rafts.

Laura Rosenberg

December,March 2006 2006 • •Foss Foss Tow Tow Bitts Bitts • 17 Teeple and Habiger Stride Seattle Streets, Help Bi-Coastal Team Raise $45,000 for Breast Cancer Cure Research

Two Foss employees were part of a bi-coastal team that raised $45,000 Oct. 15 in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk sponsored by the American Cancer Society. Accounting Manager Kayte Teeple and Operations Analyst Jane Habiger walked fi ve miles in Seattle’s Sunset Hills neighborhood, joined by Teeple’s friend Linda Nordness and Habiger’s dog Hoshi. By themselves, the three women raised $1,550 in contributions, many from Foss co-workers. They were part of a team captained by Teeple’s sister, Cindy Teeple, a nurse practitioner cancer specialist in a clinic associated with New York Medical College in Westchester County, N.Y. The East Coast contingent did its walk- ing in Purchase, N.Y., the location for Jane Habiger’s dog, Hoshi, gives her a lick before the Seattle team sets out on its walk for cancer research. one of many ACS walks around With Habiger and Hoshi are Linda Nordness, center, and Kate Teeple. the country. “They walked at 9 a.m. back there, contact with my sister and get involved fundraising among about 350 teams and we walked at the same time, at in a very good cause.” in the Purchase walk. The team had 6 a.m. here, and we had cell phones Named Team Mittleman after 36 members, among about 13,000 going between us,” said Kayte Teeple, Cindy Teeple’s boss, Dr. Abraham participants who raised a total of about “It’s been a good way for me to have Mittleman, the group fi nished third in $1.2 million.

GOLFER GIPSON

Ship Repair Superintendent Danny Gipson, second from right, retired Sept. 29 after more than 39 years at Foss and was photographed with a set of golf clubs that were among the gifts pre- sented to him by the company. Gipson was promoted from outside machinist to superintendent in 1989 and this year received a Top Mariner award for leading teams that refurbished eight big cranes for the U.S. Navy over the last few years. At left in the photo are Shipyard Pro- duction Manager Hap Richards and Gipson’s wife, Evelyn, and at right is Shipyard Director Jim Stewart.

18 • Foss Tow Bitts • December, 2006 Retired Teacher Mike Stork Writing Book on Foss Maritime Company

Mike Stork, a retired elemen- tions and has asked Foss employees tary school teacher and photographer for anything that might help him with whose pictures appear regularly in the book. Tow Bitts, has begun work on a Arcadia Publishing claims to be the book about Foss Maritime for South leading local-history publisher in the Carolina-based Arcadia Publishing. United States, with more than 3,000 Stork, who lives in Gig Harbor, titles in print and hundreds of new Wash., has a long-standing relation- books released every year. The compa- Mike Stork, left, and Pete Campbell go over ship with Foss, being the son of a ny lists 33 books on Washington State material for Stork’s upcoming book, Campbell is the 30-year captain. The company is open- historical topics among its titles. great grandson of the company founders and the ing its archives of photographs and Foss Customer Service Manager retired director of business development at Foss. material to Stork, who also plans to and Historian Mike Skalley will be the make use of other historical collec- company liaison for the project.

Foss and “K” Line Sign Two Year Ship-Assist Contract for SoCal Foss and “K” Line America have Ron Bates said the two companies are business relationship.” reached a two-year agreement for ship- a good match. “Each has high stan- Foss provides ship-assist services assist services in the Port of San Diego dards in today’s diverse and techno- for “K” Line containerships, bulk carri- and the Los Angeles/Long Beach Har- logically advanced environment and ers and auto ships in the two harbors. bor. “K” Line America is one of Foss’ wants to do business with like compa- The vessels will utilize about 650 tugs largest customers in each port. nies,” Bates said. “We are very pleased per year. Southern California Sales Manager to continue this good

Winds Force Cancellation of Foss-Sponsored Regatta PEOPLE NEWS Woodfi eld Retires NEW EMPLOYEES Foss was one of the key sponsors of Ed Woodfi eld, director Allen Rainsberger the Head of the Lake rowing regatta, of global services mar- Director of Health & Safety scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 12 in keting, retired Oct. 27 Seattle, About 2,500 rowers from as far PROMOTIONS after a 42-year career in away as Massachusetts, New York and Gary Faber maritime sales. Woodfi eld North Carolina, however, went home Executive Vice President for joined Foss in 1993 with safe but disappointed when the event Marine Transportation and the acquisition of Brix was canceled because of bad weather Global Services to President and Maritime. He previously for the fi rst time in its 25-year history. Chief Operating Offi cer worked for Shaver Trans- Pacifi c Northwest Port Captain RETIREMENTS portation and Crowley Steve Kimmel said Foss provided two Norm Manly Maritime. He was 300-foot strings of logs to create a lane Marine Personnel Manager, PNW appointed to the global protecting the racing shells from the Ed Woodfi eld services position in February 2006 weather as they passed through the Director of Global Services and previously served as Gulf Coast most exposed area of Lake Union. “The Marketing commercial director for Foss par- wind was so strong it was blowing the ent Marine Resources Group. Earlier PASSINGS log booms out of place,” Kimmel said. positions at Foss included director of Burel Rennick PNW regional contract sales and PNW Retired Captain, PNW regional director, harbor services.

December,March 2006 2006 • •Foss Foss Tow Tow Bitts Bitts •• 1919 Slow Roller

PARTNERSHIP AT PAL Foss’ 130-foot service craft, Strategic Horizon, cruises in the background alongside the ultra-large cruise carrier TI Africa in the Pacific Area Lightering (PAL) zone off the coast of Southern California. Foss provides support for Chevron lightering operations in the zone, including supplying riggers for the lightering operation and ferrying equipment and personnel to the zone. Articles and more photos appear beginning on page 6. .

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID SEATTLE, PERMIT NO. 15551 660 W. Ewing St. Seattle, WA 98119