News

New Bedford Foss Terminal Opening to Support Offshore Wind

March 23, 2022

New Bedford, MA – The Port of New Bedford will add another base of operations and terminal logistics facility to support offshore wind projects off Massachusetts and the northeastern coast seaboard.

The former Sprague/Eversource site was selected for its proximity to offshore wind blocks located approximately 15 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket islands. The site will undergo redevelopment over the next year and be renamed the New Bedford Foss Marine Terminal. The terminal, slated to open in March 2023, will provide storage and laydown yards for equipment and materials, berth facilities for tug and barge operations, and host crew transfer vessel (CTV) and service operation vessel (SOV) support services. It will create new office space for project teams and a marine coordination center for technicians involved in offshore wind projects.

Foss is partnering with key local investors of New Bedford’sCannon Street Holdings LLC (CSH) to develop the 30-acre site. Andrew Saunders, local commercial offshore marine industry attorney with Cannon Street Holdings, will serve as President of the New Bedford Foss Marine Terminal.

“Today marks a big day for the Port of New Bedford and the City as a whole,” said Saunders. “The repurposing of this facility to support offshore wind has been a vision for many and it is great to see this project now begin to materialize”.  “This day was the result of a lot of support from the many key local and state government stakeholders as well as industry stakeholders and we would not have gotten to this point without this support.  Both Sprague and Eversource also helped greatly in bringing this day to reality. Thank you to all involved”.

“The New Bedford Foss Marine Terminal is perfectly situated to support offshore wind projects on the East Coast,” said Jason Childs, President and CEO of Saltchuk Marine. “We appreciate the vision of the City and Port of New Bedford and the vital role they are playing in making this project a success,“ added Childs.

New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell lauded the announcement. “We are thrilled to welcome Foss to the Port of New Bedford. The new terminal will solidify the Port’s status as the East Coast’s leader in offshore wind, complement our fishing industry, and create opportunities for our residents,” Mayor Mitchell said. “I congratulate Andrew Saunders and Foss’s parent, Saltchuk Marine, for their skillful and persistent effort to close this important deal.”

“Congratulations to Andrew, John and Lou at CSH and Foss for acquiring the Sprague and Eversource sites and building a marine terminal there to support the offshore wind companies. Today’s announcement of the acquisition for a new marine terminal brings New Bedford another step closer to realizing the economic and environmental benefits of the offshore wind industry and the city’s role within it. This is an exciting day for New Bedford and the SouthCoast region, and the role our city will continue to play in offshore wind development and renewable energy.” said local State representative Antonio F.D. Cabral (D – New Bedford) whose district includes the property.

“Re-dedication of this local port facility in New Bedford to provide support services for the coming Massachusetts wind renewable industry will provide jobs and economic growth while complementing the existing fishing, shipping and recreational maritime users in the harbor”, said local Representative Bill Straus (D-Mattapoisett), whose district includes both port communities of New Bedford and Fairhaven.  Rep. Straus is the House Chair of the legislature’s Transportation Committee.

“Congratulations to Foss and the City of New Bedford for continuing to build on the momentum that the emerging offshore wind industry is gaining in our community. This project is another opportunity to spur economic development in the region,” said local Representative Christopher Hendricks (D-11^th Bristol).

“The people of New Bedford should be very excited that a private company has decided to make such a huge investment in our community.  This type of private investment in our city should be an example of how important offshore wind will be to our community over the next generations.  Very proud that a native of New Bedford was able to put this all together.  Hats off to Andrew and the team at Saltchuk.” said local State Representative Christopher Markey (D-Dartmouth) of the 9^th Bristol District which includes New Bedford.

“Foss’s investment in New Bedford is a great example of how the emerging offshore wind industry, led by the Vineyard Wind 1 project, can have a meaningful impact on the community,” said Vineyard Wind CEO Klaus Moeller.  “The agreement will not only expand Foss’s operations in Massachusetts but also create opportunities for local residents. We’re proud to work with Foss and look forward to the positive effect their presence will have in the City of New Bedford.”

“We are happy that we supported Foss in its development of this terminal as we believe that this is an example of creating added value in the development of offshore wind along the Northeast US coastline. It shows that cooperation, long term relationships and trust between companies and people creates opportunities for multiple parties and leads to local job creation”, said Jan Klaassen, director of DEME Offshore US.

The seller, Sprague Massachusetts Properties, is wholly owned by Axel Johnson Inc. which is a private operating company with a mission to invest in and help grow great industry-leading businesses over the long term. Until mid-2021, Axel Johnson was the majority owner of Sprague Operating Resources with Sprague utilizing the New Bedford facility as a petroleum marketing location. In the near term, Sprague will continue to service the New Bedford petroleum market from its nearby Providence, Rhode Island distribution terminals via truck.

“We’re proud of our continued partnership with the City of New Bedford and the work that has already gone into the waterfront site over the past several years,” said Eversource Executive Vice President for Corporate Relations and Sustainability Jim Hunt. “Redeveloping the property will bring environmentally responsible economic development opportunities to the area as our region becomes a leader for offshore wind, which aligns with our work creating a more sustainable future.”

A groundbreaking ceremony will be held later this year, in conjunction with the One SouthCoast Chamber of Commerce.

Media Contacts:

Mark Grantor

206.448.5868

Andrew Saunders

508.264.6230

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ABOUT FOSS MARITIME

Founded in 1889, Seattle-based Foss Maritime offers a complete range of maritime services and project management to customers across the Pacific Rim, Europe, South America, and around the globe. Foss has one of the largest fleets of tugs and barges on the American West Coast. The company has harbor services and transportation operations in all major U.S. West Coast ports, including the Columbia and Snake River system, Hawaii, and Alaska. Foss offers worldwide marine transportation, emphasizing safety, environmental responsibility, and high-quality service. See www.foss.com for more information.

ABOUT CANNON STREET HOLDINGS

Cannon Street Holdings was established in 2021 to acquire and develop the Sprague/Eversource site into an offshore wind staging facility. Its principals are Louis A. Cabral, John A. Lees Jr., and Andrew B. Saunders. Each of the three principals are local members of the community and bring extensive experience to the project. In Early 2021, the project signed a public private partnership with the City of New Bedford which committed the development objective be focused on an offshore wind staging facility.

ABOUT SALTCHUK MARINE

The Saltchuk Marine family, with the tugboat as the center of our services, is steeped in a rich and storied history of innovation and service. With a keen use of technology, Saltchuk Marine companies: Foss Maritime, Young Brothers, Cook Inlet Tug & Barge, AmNav Maritime, and Starlight Marine continue to lead the industry in harbor services and marine transportation solutions, with safety and the environment leading our principles. Visit www.saltchukmarine.com for more information.

ABOUT EVERSOURCE

Eversource (NYSE: ES), celebrated as a national leader for its corporate citizenship, is the #1 energy company in Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Responsible Companies for 2021 and recognized as one of America’s Most JUST Companies. Celebrated as a national leader for its corporate citizenship, Eversource transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas and supplies water to 1.8 million customers throughout Massachusetts, including approximately 1.45 million electric customers in 142 communities, 635,000 gas customers in 110 communities, and 8,700 water customers in five communities. Eversource harnesses

the commitment of approximately 9,300 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. The #1 energy efficiency provider in the nation, the company is empowering a clean energy future in the Northeast, with nationally recognized energy efficiency solutions and successful programs to integrate new clean energy resources like solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles, and battery storage, into the electric system. For more information, please visit eversource.com, and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more information on our water services, visit aquarionwater.com.

Montana-based Fuel Company Joins NorthStar Energy

March 18, 2022

With the addition of CityServiceValcon, NorthStar Energy expands its operational reach into Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Eastern Washington, and beyond.

NorthStar Energy, a business operating unit of the Saltchuk family of companies focused on the energy sector, announced this week that CityServiceValcon, based in Kalispell, Montana, and with operations in multiple states throughout the Plains, Rocky Mountain, and West Coast regions, will be joining its family of companies.

“Throughout the history of our company, it has always been our vision to grow and expand our business through honesty and integrity, maintain a strong capital foundation, provide a great environment for our employees, and give back to our communities,” said Tim O’Neal, president of CityServiceValcon. “Becoming part of the NorthStar Energy family helps us achieve this vision and we look forward to this partnership.”

CityServiceValcon was founded in 1932 and has a 90-year history of exemplary customer service. The company’s mission is to create a safe and healthy environment for its employees while providing innovative and high-quality products to its customers. As one of the major logistics and delivery industry leaders in the United States, CityServiceValcon touches businesses and residents in 20 states and operates in regions where fuel supply remains fragmented, yet fuel consumption is increasing along with population providing attractive growth opportunities.

“We are excited that CityServiceValcon will join the NorthStar Energy family,” said Bert Valdman, president and CEO of NorthStar Energy. “Our two companies are a strong cultural fit. We align well in terms of operating philosophy and customers served.”

CityServiceValcon is a market leader in fuel distribution across multiple product lines offering wholesale ground and aviation fuel programs from top national brands and independent refiners. Commercial products including propane, proprietary card lock, bulk fuel, and lubricants are distributed from its multiple locations across Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. The company serves customer needs in aviation, trucking, agriculture, mining, construction, government, and residential homes. CityServiceValcon’s experienced and long-tenured management team is committed to optimizing the business and has a track record of successful growth.

NorthStar’s current operating companies distribute fuel and lubricants throughout Alaska, Hawaii, and California. Its companies include Delta Western Petroleum, a highly respected petroleum and lubricant distributor in Alaska; Northern Oilfield Solutions, serving the North Slope of Alaska; Inlet Energy, Alaska’s premier lubricants distributor; Alaska Petroleum Distributing, the largest home-heating oil distributor in Fairbanks, Alaska; Hawaii Petroleum, the leading independent fuel marketer on Maui and the Big Island; and The Jankovich Company, a full-service marine and land fuel and lubricants specialist in Los Angeles and San Diego. The Jankovich Company, a family-owned business with a strong local brand, joined NorthStar in early 2021.

“NorthStar is now one step closer to becoming the West Coast’s leading fuel supplier,” Valdman continued. “We are well-positioned to support customers through the energy transition as the industry develops alternate fuels with lower carbon intensity.”

“Our aspiration to be the most respected marketer in the region remains the same,” O’Neal concluded, “Joining the NorthStar Energy family of businesses provides us an opportunity to expand and grow together.”

About CityServiceValcon
Established in 1932, CityServiceValcon is a robust full-service lubricants, fuels, and specialty products distributor that strives to provide high-quality, dependable delivery and superior service. We take care of our people by providing a safe and healthy work environment, and in turn, it allows us to serve customers across multiple industries with goods that keep commerce prospering, people comfortable and provide economic stability. Our customers, employees and vendors are the heart of our operations. For more information, visit cityservicevalcon.com.

Family-owned California fuel company joins NorthStar Energy

March 8, 2021

With the addition of The Jankovich Company, NorthStar Energy expands its operational reach into California to provide customers with best-in-class fuel solutions

SEATTLE – NorthStar Energy, a business operating unit of the Saltchuk family of companies focused on the energy sector, today announced that The Jankovich Company (TJC CA, LLC) based in San Pedro, California, will be joining its family of companies.

“I am very excited for this next chapter in our company’s story,” said Tom Jankovich, president of TJC CA, LLC. “One of the reasons our family chose to say ‘yes’ to NorthStar was because of its commitment to honoring its operating companies’ histories, their local resources, and their people.”

Thomas B. Jankovich founded The Jankovich Company in 1933. Despite a massive earthquake, adverse economic conditions, and fierce competition in the Los Angeles Harbor, the small business thrived, serving the local fishing fleet for the next 40 years. In 1977, Tom Jankovich, took over the company and continues to grow it today, serving land and marine customers from the Pacific Ocean east to Nevada and from the Mexican border north to the San Francisco Bay. With strategically located facilities throughout Southern California, Jankovich’s family-owned culture was built on the core value of taking responsibility and engaging with its employees, customers, and communities.

“Our companies complement each other in terms of culture and operations” said Bert Valdman, president and CEO of NorthStar Energy. “NorthStar’s values are rooted in safety, environmental compliance, and sustainability, while driven by a service-oriented, entrepreneurial spirit that aligns with the Jankovich Company’s past 88 years of operating on the pillars of safety, sustainability, integrity, and service.”

TJC CA, LLC is a full-service marine products supplier offering bunkering, marine lubricant deliveries via truck or barge, and dock-side fueling of commercial vessels, mega yachts, and pleasure craft. On land, the company offers a full spectrum of fuel and lubricant solutions that anticipate customer needs, prevent emergencies, and eliminate stress on customers’ organizations. TJC CA, LLC also provides a comprehensive line of products, equipment, and related supplies to auto dealerships, car washes, marinas, truck fleets, and more.

NorthStar’s current operating companies distribute fuel and lubricants throughout Alaska and Hawaii. Its companies include Delta Western Petroleum, a highly respected petroleum and lubricant distributor in Alaska; Northern Oilfield Solutions, serving the North Slope of Alaska; Inlet Energy, Alaska’s premier lubricants distributor; Hawaii Petroleum, the leading independent fuel marketer on Maui and the Big Island; and Alaska Petroleum Distributing, the largest home-heating oil distributor in Fairbanks, Alaska. Alaska Petroleum, a family-owned business with a strong local brand, joined NorthStar in late 2019.

“Expanding into California allows us to provide integrated, point-to-point service for many of our marine customers who travel along the west coast,” Valdman continued. “We are looking forward to having The Jankovich Company as part of the NorthStar family of companies and collaborating for future innovation and growth.”

“While change is a natural part of growth and inevitable over time,” Jankovich concluded, “The Jankovich Company remains a family business. Our culture and practices will be strengthened as part of the NorthStar Energy family. This is an opportunity to expand and learn from one another.”

About NorthStar Energy

NorthStar Energy companies operate in some of the most remote communities in Alaska and Hawaii, where traditional fuel is still a critical and vital resource. It is up to us to deliver this commodity safely, ethically, and without harm to the local environment. We believe all businesses must commit to a cleaner future, investing in more efficient operations, products, and services. Our responsibility is to guide our customers to the future of fuel while navigating the complexities of remote geographies and economies. With future generations always front of mind, we repositioned our petroleum distribution line of business into a forward-thinking energy holding company in 2018, rebranding NorthStar Petroleum into NorthStar Energy.

For more information, visit www.nsenergy.com.

About The Jankovich Co.

Established in 1933, The Jankovich Company. is a full-service lubricants, fuels, and specialty products distributor. Family- owned and operated, we combine world-class resources while maintaining adaptability, flexibility, and best-in-class services. We provide products of the highest quality from the world’s leading brands in Land and Marine, Lubricants, Fuels, Equipment, and Supply. And we offer unrivaled experience and proven expertise in Automotive, Industrial, Commercial, Marine, and Aviation industries. With a technical and operating staff available 24/7 and a comprehensive, streamlined delivery process, we can meet your needs quickly and efficiently, all at the highest standards of safety, sustainability and integrity.

For more information, visit thejankovichcompany.com.

CONTACT:

Thien-Di (“Zee”) Do

VP, Marketing & Communications

NorthStar Energy

o: (206) 357-1756

Saltchuk Marine to Expand Ship Assist Operations

December 28, 2020

Seattle, WA – Saltchuk Marine announced today it has acquired Centerline Logistics’ harbor ship assist operations in California and the Pacific Northwest.

Eight ship assist tugs currently operated under the Millennium and Starlight brands will join the Saltchuk Marine fleet in early 2021. Operations will be consolidated under the Starlight brand, which will remain independently-operated – managing, dispatching, and crewing its own boats.

This major acquisition increases the ship assist capacity of Saltchuk Marine companies by more than 40% in California. The addition of the Starlight brand to the Saltchuk Marine family of companies furthers the company’s goal to diversify resources and expertise to deliver a wide range of harbor towing solutions to customers along the West Coast.

“This transaction strengthens the Saltchuk Marine family of companies. We are pleased to expand our capacity in both California and the Pacific Northwest, enabling us to grow our portfolio of safe, reliable, competitive ship assist services.” said Jason Childs, CEO of Saltchuk Marine. “This addition to our family of companies continues to strengthen our reach along our coastal waterways, providing expert and reliable tugboat escorts and assists when customers call, and deepens the long-term relationships we have in California today.”

Saltchuk Marine and Centerline will partner together during a short transition period to provide continuity while the transaction is completed. During this time, Centerline will continue to operate Starlight and Millennium tugs before the vessels transfer to Saltchuk Marine.

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ABOUT SALTCHUK MARINE
The Saltchuk Marine family is steeped in rich and storied history of innovation and service. With a keen use of technology, Saltchuk Marine companies: Foss Maritime, Young Brothers, Cook Inlet Tug & Barge, and AmNav continue to lead the industry in innovative solutions and environmental stewardship.

Saltchuk Marine is wholly owned by Saltchuk. Saltchuk’s goal is to build the best family of transportation and distribution companies in North America.

Tropical Shipping Enters Suriname Market with Fastest Transit Time

May 4, 2020

Only Eight Days from Florida to Suriname

Paramaribo, Suriname – Tropical Shipping has announced it will serve the Port of Paramaribo with once-weekly sailings beginning May 14. The new eight-day transit will be the fastest service between Florida and Suriname. Tropical will ship everything from small packages to refrigerated cargo, dry goods, building supplies and vehicles. Based in South Florida, Tropical has served The Bahamas and Caribbean, including Guyana, for more than 50 years and added Belize to its ports of call in 2019.

“Moving into the Suriname market is a natural fit for Tropical,” said Tropical Shipping Assistant Vice President Mark Lopez. “It enables us to integrate our Caricom neighbor into Tropical’s network for inter-island commerce and provide an on-time, reliable supply chain to Suriname from the U.S. and Canada.”

Tropical Shipping uses state-of-the-art technology that allows customers to track their cargo for the entire journey, including at sea. Tropical is known for its on-time service and good communication with its business partners, something those customers have come to depend on.

“When you’re in the food business, you need a carrier that’s reliable,” said Willie Hamed, owner of Plaza Extra, one of the largest grocery store chains on St. Thomas and St. Croix. “We need to get fresh produce, meat, milk and other items consistently, and Tropical has provided us excellent service for more than 30 years. If there’s a delay on the mainland, they let us know, so we can plan for that. We couldn’t do what we do without them.”

Southbound service to Suriname will depart the Port of Palm Beach every Thursday and arrive in Paramaribo each Friday of the following week. The northbound 11-day service will depart Suriname on Friday and arrive in the U.S. on a Tuesday. Tropical has retained Best Maritime Services as its Suriname agent.

For more information on Tropical Shipping and the new Suriname service, visit: www.tropical.com/news/2020/tropical-shipping-announces-a-new-service-to-suriname