News

Delta Western breaks ground on new facility at the Port of Anchorage

April 30, 2015

Delta Western President Kirk Payne, Port Director Steve Ribuffo, and Assembly Enterprise Committee Chair Tim Steele dug the first shovel of dirt. Also present were Assembly Chair Dick Traini, Municipal Manager George Vakalis, business partners and staff.

ANCHORAGE- A local petroleum company will bring a brand new product to Anchorage this year.  Delta Western, Inc. broke ground on their new refined petroleum storage facility at the Port of Anchorage on April 30th, 2015.  The first product to be offered will be methanol which will be used on the North Slope Oil fields.

“This is an exciting day for Delta Western. After years of planning and permitting applications, we’ve officially broke ground. We’re ready to get to work. By Fall of this year we’ll be prepared to receive methanol,” said President Kirk Payne.

Anchorage Port Director Steve Ribuffo added “It’s wonderful to see the Alaska business community investing in the Port of Anchorage, especially when they had the choice to go anywhere they wanted. We’re thrilled to lease this space to Delta Western and we welcome their new operation. We’ve worked well together for many years now, and we look forward to continued growth and success.”

Delta Western is the leading independent distributor of petroleum products and lubricants in Alaska and has been serving Alaskans since 1985. A household name to many in rural communities, Delta Western distributes its products from fuel terminals placed throughout the Aleutians, Pribilofs, Bristol Bay, Western Alaska and Southeast Alaska.

The Port of Anchorage is a landlord port with over twenty customers including Delta Western, Totem Ocean Trailer Express, and Horizon Lines. The Port is located at the northern end of Cook Inlet in Southcentral Alaska. The facility accommodates three dry cargo berths and two petroleum handling facilities. It serves as Alaska’s regional hub.

Foss Christens New Arctic Class Ocean Tug

April 14, 2015

Powerful Michele Foss designed for the most extreme conditions

The Michele Foss Arctic Class Tug

TACOMA- The first of three Arctic Class tugs being built at the Foss Rainier, Ore. Shipyard was christened Thursday, April 9, at the Foss Waterway Seaport in Tacoma, Wash. The vessel, the Michele Foss, will see its first assignment on an oil field sealift this summer from South Korea to the Alaskan Arctic.

Mike Magill, Vice President of Foss’ Technical Services, made opening remarks at the christening, praising the hardworking men and women who constructed the vessel.

“As we know, a construction project of this magnitude requires significant teamwork to accomplish,” Magill said. “Engineers, craftsmen, purchasing and logistics experts, to name a few, have gone beyond the call of duty to deliver this vessel safely, on time and on budget.”

Ken Hawkins, Executive Director of the Mission to Seafarers – Seattle, delivered the invocation to bless the vessel.

Michele Seaver, her son Aiden and husband Rick.

The vessel’s namesake is Michele Seaver, one of the three sisters who are primary shareholders of Saltchuk, the parent company of Foss Maritime. Seaver had the honor of breaking the ceremonial bottle of champagne across the hull of the Michele Foss.

Mike Garvey, Seaver’s father and one of the founding shareholders of Saltchuk, said he hoped the vessel would share some of his daughter’s finest qualities: an adventurous spirit, a commitment to working hard, and a passion for being the best at what she does.

The Michele Foss is ice class D0. This means the hulls are designed specifically for polar waters and are reinforced to maneuver in ice. The vessel complies with the requirements in the ABS Guide for Building and Classing Vessels Intended to Operate in Polar Waters, including ABS A1 standards, SOLAS and Green Passport.

The Michele Foss includes a Caterpillar C280-8 main engine, which complies with the highest federal environmental standards; a Nautican propulsion system; and Reintjes reduction gears. Markey Machinery supplied the tow winch. The tug has a bollard pull of 221,000 pounds.

The vessel incorporates several environmentally focused designs and structural and technological upgrades, including:

• Elimination of ballast tanks, so there is no chance of transporting invasive species;
• Holding tanks for black and gray water to permit operations in no-discharge zones (such as parts of Alaska and California);
• Hydraulic oil systems compatible with biodegradable oil;
• Energy efficient LED lighting; and
• High-energy absorption Schuyler fendering.

The Michele Foss has been designed to withstand the rigors of Arctic operations and is suited to work across the globe as Foss competes for opportunities in the oil and gas industry.

Terry Howard to lead Carlile

March 9, 2015

Anchorage, Alaska – Terry Howard has been promoted to President of Carlile. Howard joined Carlile in September 2013 as Director of Maintenance & Equipment and was promoted to Vice President of Operations in the fall of 2014. Howard’s expanded responsibilities as President will include setting strategic direction for Carlile’s Alaska and Lower 48 business and overseeing all operations for the company.

Howard has a distinguished career as a leader in the transportation industry, including more than 20 years of experience in fleet maintenance management.  “Terry’s significant level of trucking business expertise rooted in Alaska is a tremendous asset moving Carlile forward as the company celebrates its 35^th year in business in 2015,” says John Parrott, board chairman for Carlile. “His considerable customer knowledge, inclusive leadership skills and ability to find solutions to unique challenges will build upon Carlile’s reputation for innovation and solidly position Carlile into the future.”

Prior to joining Carlile, Howard held several senior level positions over a span of 18 years with Coast Crane Company, including President from 2010 to 2013. Howard’s well-rounded work history also includes five years with Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, and four and six years respectively with Construction Machinery Incorporated and McDonald Crane Industries.

“Alaska as our primary focus of business continues to be a place of growth and I am excited to carry forward the incredible legacy established by the McDonald family,” says Howard. “Leveraging Carlile’s strengths with the suite of products and services offered by the complete line of Saltchuk companies is truly a unique opportunity,” says Howard.

Founded in 1980 by brothers John and Harry McDonald, Carlile celebrates its 35^th anniversary in business in 2015 as Alaska’s premier trucking company. Today with more than 300 tractors, Carlile offers a full range of transportation and logistics services. Carlile employs roughly 650 people and is based in Anchorage, Alaska, with terminals in Fairbanks, Kenai, Seward, Kodiak, Prudhoe Bay, Tacoma, Washington, Houston and Edmonton, Alberta. In 2013, Carlile became a proud member of the Saltchuk family of companies.

Saltchuk sponsors Olympic athlete Sadie Bjornsen

December 1, 2014

Bjornsen message of health and wellness well matched to Saltchuk family of companies

Bjornsen visiting with some of the staff and crew at Totem Ocean Trailer Express

Anchorage, AK- Saltchuk is proud to sponsor Olympian Sadie Bjornsen as she prepares to compete in the Women’s Cross Country Skiing event at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. The 25 year-old lives and trains in Alaska and was raised in Washington State, a “homegrown hero” for many who work in the Saltchuk family of companies.

Bjornsen grew up skiing alongside her parents and siblings in the Methow Valley. As a member of the National Team, she has competed around the world including Europe where she medaled in the World Cup, the highest level of skiing competitions. She took 18^th place in the 2014 Olympic Games and looks forward to returning in 2018 for the Sochi Winter Games. While her skiing trophy case is crowded, she says there is always room for more.

Through Saltchuk’s sponsorship, Bjornsen will serve as a company and community ambassador for healthy and active lifestyles. She will work to inspire kids and families to be engaged with physical activity at appearances and other activities during the year.

Delighted with the sponsorship, Bjornsen says, “I am excited about the new opportunities to represent such a large family of companies and share my values and commitment with them as they do so with their customers and employees. Their support gives me the platform to achieve my goals and allows me to dedicate myself to training and becoming best in my sport as Saltchuk strives for the same in their industry.”

Bjornsen keeps fans updated on her training and travels through her blog and Twitter. She is currently competing in the World Cup in Ruka, Finland and was featured in FIS Cross Country’s video of the opening weekend.