Posts Categorized: Alaska News
NorthStar Energy Acquires Alaska Petroleum Distributing in Fairbanks
September 16, 2019
Local family business joins NorthStar’s growing fuel network in Alaska
Fairbanks, AK – NorthStar Energy, an energy holding company in the Saltchuk family of businesses, has acquired Alaska Petroleum Distributing (APD), a family owned petroleum distributor serving residential, commercial, and retail customers in Fairbanks, North Pole, and surrounding areas.
Primarily a heating oil distributor, APD also owns and operates a local retail gas station, including a convenience store and car wash. NorthStar Energy has acquired many of APD’s assets and will continue to operate as Alaska Petroleum Distributing in the Fairbanks region. Additionally, APD has moved operations to a new location on 1733 Well Street, a 24,000 square foot warehouse which will provide the expansion space to grow their locally operated business and better serve their customers.
“We are proud to continue the APD brand the Johnson family has built over the past four decades. Alaska Petroleum Distributing is known for their exceptional service and strong reputation with their customer base,” says Don Stone, VP of Supply and Logistics for NorthStar Energy. “It’s exciting to welcome the Johnson family to the NorthStar Energy petroleum group and provide the additional resources that allow APD to continue to serve the local market more efficiently and provide complementary product offerings.”
APD joins Delta Western Petroleum, Inlet Energy and Northern Oilfield Solutions in NorthStar’s network of Alaskan energy distribution businesses. APD’s historic brand will remain in the care of second generation family members who will continue to manage and operate the business locally. NorthStar Energy looks forward to supporting Alaska Petroleum’s ongoing success for years to come.
About NorthStar Energy
NorthStar Energy is a Seattle-based energy holding company in the Saltchuk family of businesses. NorthStar invests in fuel and energy distribution companies in Alaska and Hawaii with a mission to be the vital link to the most reliable, best in class, integrated energy solution, guiding customers to the future of fuel.
TOTE Maritime Alaska to Move its Headquarters to Tacoma in Spring of 2020
August 13, 2019
TOTE Maritime Alaska announced today that it plans to relocate its headquarters to Downtown Tacoma from its current address in Federal Way. The transition will bring nearly 150 TOTE employees to the 909 A Street Building every weekday. Employees of the company are excited about having access to all the restaurants, parks and amenities Tacoma has to offer as well as being part of a growing, urban community.
“TOTE Maritime Alaska helped build the Port of Tacoma and we are excited to be 100% located in the city that has supported our business and growth over the years. We look forward to bringing the TOTE office to Tacoma and are grateful for such a warm welcome,” said TOTE Maritime Alaska President, Grace Greene.
The upcoming move, planned for Spring 2020, will be TOTE’s second location in Tacoma, including their office at the Port of Tacoma, where they currently operate two cargo ships serving the Alaska market. Mayor Woodards reached out to Greene to congratulate her on the decision to choose Tacoma as home base.
“I am pleased to welcome TOTE Maritime’s corporate headquarters and the approximately 150 family wage jobs it will bring to Downtown Tacoma. I applaud the new ownership group for investing in and adapting this important property into a multi-tenanted space,” said Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards.
With historical roots in the Tacoma area, TOTE is looking forward to the office upgrade. Sellen has been hired as the general contractor on the project with Bonewitz providing project management and BCRA as architect. TOTE Maritime Alaska will continue supplying Alaska via their twice weekly shipping service between Anchorage and Tacoma.
Cook Inlet Tug & Barge Expand North Slope Operations
July 16, 2019
Newly acquired assets start work for the season in Prudhoe Bay
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – Cook Inlet Tug & Barge (CITB), an independently managed subsidiary of Foss Maritime Company, announced today that operations 
on Alaska’s North Slope are officially underway for the 2019 ice-free season. Three newly acquired tugs, along with barges and shore equipment, will be operating out of Prudhoe Bay for approximately the next three months.
“It is great to see these vessels on the water and ready to work,” said Jeff Johnson, President of CITB. “These shallow-draft tugs and barges are ideally suited for work on the North Slope waterways and the Western Alaska markets.”
The three newly acquired tugs include the Sag Wind, the Kuparuk Wind, and the Kavik Wind, each of which are 64 feet long, 27 feet wide, and with a very shallow draft of only 3.4 feet. They are each powered by three 1095 HP CAT 343D engines.
“The ice-free season in Prudhoe Bay is short, so we’re glad to have such capable vessels available there to support the oil and gas industry as well as construction activities on the North Slope,” said Johnson. “These versatile workhorses help round out Cook Inlet and Foss operations in Alaska.”
This resident equipment and existing trained mariners on the North Slope operations further expand CITB and Foss operations in the Arctic, and complements our harbor towage, oil and gas support services, mining and construction support, and offshore marine transportation services.
Inlet Energy Announces Move to Ship Avenue
May 21, 2019
On June 3rd, 2019, Inlet Energy will be moving to a newly renovated 40,000 square foot warehouse at 1824 Ship Avenue in Anchorage.
The move will allow for all employees to be under one roof. For the customer, this means improvements in care and service, as well as better communication and operating efficiency among employees.
The new warehouse is designed for safety, quality control, and quality assurance. There will be 100k gallons of bulk oil storage, installed so customers can pull up and fill tanks on site.
TSA delay will also be eliminated with the move, allowing for easier customer access and service.
Introducing Hyak Supply Chain to the Saltchuk Family of Companies
April 8, 2019
New brand, leadership introduced to headline Saltchuk’s logistics line of business
Saltchuk is pleased to introduce Hyak Supply Chain, the newest name in the Saltchuk family of companies. Hyak joins Foss, NorthStar Energy, TOTE, Northern Aviation Services
Leading the new business unit as President and CEO is Rick Murrell, who recently retired from Tropical after 40 years at the helm and is currently serving as Saltchuk SVP, Managing Director for the Caribbean. Murrell will work with leadership teams at two Saltchuk companies falling under the new brand, Carlile and Shoreside Logistics, to grow and develop their businesses.
The formation of Hyak reinforces Saltchuk’s commitment providing the best, most reliable logistics and supply chain services in the market.