From Welder to Hero: How Chris Nolan’s Safety Ladder Prevented Maritime Tragedy

Nolan’s path began in Battle Ground, Washington, where he started as a shop hand with a local welder and worked his way up to become a full-time welder, pipe bender, and fabricator. He joined Foss Maritime 21 years ago at the Rainier shipyard, transferring to tugboat operations in 2004 as a deckhand. 

His dual role as Deckhand Engineer allows him to split his time between vessel operations and maintenance fabrication, giving him intimate knowledge of both crew needs and engineering solutions. “I find the role important in keeping our tugs maintained and improved,” Nolan explains. 

Nolan’s swinging handrail addressed a common danger: crew members transitioning between vessels where gangways aren’t deployable. His solution, attached to tug bulwarks, provides a crucial third point of contact that significantly reduces fall risks during routine operations. 

His second innovation came through management collaboration. “Neal Feustel came to me with the man overboard recovery ladder request months ago, and I jumped on it,” he recalls. Inspired by a custom solution on a new fleet addition, Nolan designed a ladder connecting to the tug’s bulwark with a 360-degree rotating extension that projects over the bumper and hinges down to water level. 

Unlike traditional Jason’s cradles that hoist crew members but risk creating new injuries, Nolan’s ladder provides faster rescue with less risk for conscious crew members able to climb. 

The timing proved crucial—just two weeks after installation, a crew member positioned on a large anchoring buoy fell into the water when sudden wind caused the buoy to shift dangerously. The coordinated response using Nolan’s equipment resulted in a successful rescue. 

Thirty minutes later, Neal Feustel, Foss’s Port Captain for Columbia-Snake River, was on the phone with Regional Operations Director Sam Diedrick. “We were both in tears,” Feustel recalls. It was the closest call he had seen in his 30+ years as a mariner.  

The successful rescue validated the team’s investment in proactive safety. “It was as much relief that our friend and co-worker was okay as it was realization that what we’re focused on the right things,” Feustel reflects. “It’s sobering to think that two weeks earlier, things could have looked a lot different.” 

Chris Nolan and Erik Tolleshaug receiving the AWO HERO Award

Introducing the ladders came with some challenges. “Sometimes change is difficult to sell,” Nolan acknowledges. “My colleagues were skeptical but quickly saw the importance of this device.” 

The AWO honored the rescue with HERO Awards for Captain Erik Tolleshaug and Nolan, recognizing “selflessness, skill, and bravery.” Nolan’s goal extends fleet-wide: “I hope to build these recovery ladders for the entire Saltchuk fleet.” 

For Nolan, receiving recognition validates combining practical engineering skills with genuine concern for crew safety. In an industry where routine operations carry inherent risks, Nolan represents the power of practical thinking to transform maritime safety culture.