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TOTE Maritime Playing Critical Role in Delivery of Relief Goods to Puerto Rico

October 26, 2017

Jacksonville, FL – TOTE Maritime, through its partnerships with diverse organizations and individuals such as Monica Puig and the American Red Cross, is playing a leading role in the delivery of relief cargo to Puerto Rico.

Eduardo Pagan, TOTE Maritime VP in Puerto Rico and Monica Puig helped coordinate the distribution of relief supplies.

Earlier this week, TOTE Maritime delivered containers filled with fuel, stoves and medicine on behalf of Monica Puig and Maria Sharapova who visited the island to distribute these items. “I am so thankful for the help that TOTE Maritime has given me with my relief efforts for Puerto Rico. To be able to have the supplies  shipped to the island in such a fast, safe and efficient manner means the world to me and enabled to make it possible to hand out all these products to the people that needed it so badly”  noted Ms. Puig, a Puerto Rican tennis player and the reigning Olympic champion.

TOTE Maritime has also worked closely with customers and non-profit organizations to meet the ever changing and increasing needs of the island.

Chris Swartz, Director of AJC Logistics noted “TOTE Maritime’s efforts to support our company, our customers and, most importantly, the people on the island have been extraordinary. Their flexibility and solutions oriented approach in this time of crisis is ensuring the timely delivery of relief goods while sustaining and reinvigorating the island’s economy. They are the leader of refrigerated cargo shipment to the island.  Reliable refrigerated cargo delivery means restaurants, retailers and hotels are open and people are able to get back to work and support their families.”

Sergio Sandrin, President of Aquagulf Transport, commented “Since Maria hit Puerto Rico, we have worked closely with TOTE Maritime to keep our customers supply chain moving forward. Over the last month, at every step along the way, TOTE has clearly communicated the challenges and worked with us on solutions.”

TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico team in San Juan

TOTE Maritime and its partners are committed to meeting to the immediate needs of the island while also supporting the long-term regeneration of the island’s economy which is critical for the people and communities of Puerto Rico as they adjust to life after Hurricane Maria.

“We are appreciative for the partnership with TOTE Maritime to support the people of Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria,” said Lauren Ulrich, Director of Logistics Support for Disaster Cycle Services at the American Red Cross. “TOTE’s commitment to people, communities and the environment make them a good disaster response partner.”

Since Hurricane Maria, TOTE Maritime has delivered more than 9300 containers of relief good and cargo to the island. The Isla Bella arrived yesterday with more than 1040 containers and the Perla del Caribe will arrive this weekend.

TOTE Maritime Cargo to Puerto Rico has Increased Twenty Percent Since Hurricane Maria

October 19, 2017

Utility truck shipped to Puerto Rico by TOTE Maritime

Jacksonville, FL – Since Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico on September 19, TOTE Maritime’s vessels have brought cargo to the island nine times delivering more than 7200 containers of food, water, oxygen, generators and other essential relief and recovery items. This is along with the regular day to day commercial needs for the island.

Through its efforts, TOTE Maritime has supported a twenty percent increase in cargo movement to the island. TOTE Maritime and its customers are working closely together to ensure the most critical items are receiving priority status, expediting their movement off the ships and into the communities.

This would not be possible without the engagement of key transportation partners including truckers, stevedores, Puerto Rican Tax Department (Hacienda) and the Puerto Rico Port Authority. This ongoing partnership and coordination has ensured a steady flow of cargo leaving the terminal once a ship arrives.

A container of ice shipped and donated by TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico.

Offloading goods quickly and efficiently is also an integral step in the delivery and distribution process. Puerto Rico Terminals has been a critical partner and supported a significant increase in vessel traffic and cargo as relief goods are being sent to the island. Immediately following Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico Terminals brought eight (8) engineers to Puerto Rico to reestablish crane operations and generator power that is necessary for unloading cargo in the port. Puerto Rico Terminals continues to accommodate additional vessels and to date has offloaded more than 9,000 containers including seven (7) relief ships for the people of Puerto Rico.

TOTE Maritime’s Isla Bella arrived Tuesday night with more than 1050 containers and the Perla del Caribe is expected to arrive in San Juan this weekend. As of this week, the movement of cargo at the TOTE Maritime terminal in San Juan has returned to the levels seen before Hurricane Maria.

TOTE Maritime Working Closely with Partners to Expedite Cargo, Restore Critical Infrastructure to Puerto Rico

October 4, 2017

Eduardo Pagan, VP and General Manager for TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico, meets with Governor Rosello at the TOTE Terminal in San Juan

Jacksonville, FL – TOTE Maritime continues to work closely with a variety of partners and the Puerto Rican government to expedite cargo and restore critical infrastructure to communities throughout Puerto Rico. TOTE Maritime is providing logistical support for the government for all cargo and containers they are distributing as well as providing transportation for communications and power companies bringing supplies to the island.

TOTE Maritime, in partnership with customers, vendors and the broader community, continues to increase productivity at the terminal. TOTE Maritime is at 80 percent productivity. Productivity continues to improve every day thanks to the hard work of Puerto Ricans who are committed to distributing goods communities, stores and shelters around the island.

TOTE Maritime continues to coordinate with the Red Cross and other relief organizations to ensure the timely and consistent arrival of goods to the island. The Isla Bella arrived on Sunday October 1 with more than 1040 FEUS of cargo. In the last 2 days more than 550 containers have left TOTE Maritime’s facility in San Juan for distribution in communities and delivery to stores. In addition, the Perla del Caribe is scheduled to arrive on Friday with 1060 FEUs of cargo. These shipments include bucket trucks, electrical poles, food, water, ice and fuel amongst other critical items for the island.

TOTE Maritime is shipping trucks and other key equipment for power and communications companies

TOTE Maritime is committed to supporting Puerto Rico throughout the recovery and rebuilding process.

Other TOTE Maritime efforts include:

•  Transportation of relief and recovery goods for more than 20 organizations including businesses, FEMA and various non-governmental organizations
• Facilitate the immediate need of a large generator to one of Puerto
• Rico’s major food distributors to support relief throughout the island
•  Engagement of key power contractors to support increased generator capacity on island
• Terminal operations seven days a week to allow for distribution of goods throughout the week
• Donations of water and ice to the government for key communities

Foss Maritime Joins FEMA’s Response and Relief Operations in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands    

October 4, 2017

SEATTLE – Foss Maritime Company announced today that it has contracted with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to support the relief and rebuilding efforts in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands following the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria.

Three accommodation vessels are being utilized and will serve as floating hotels, providing safe housing and warm meals for responders. With these vessels, Foss will be able to help feed and temporarily house 729 people.

“We have the ability and the commitment to serve the wide range of needs of hurricane victims in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and are prepared to offer additional services, as needed, to FEMA and other federal agencies throughout all relief efforts,” said Will Roberts, Foss CCO.  

“For Foss, this type of project is at the heart of what we do. We are glad to do our part to help the families affected by this devastating disaster by enlisting the skills of our finest operators and providing needed equipment,” he said.

Foss has deployed a multiple disciplined team consisting of operations, fleet engineering, project management, safety, marine assurance, supply chain, legal and finance.

Foss sister companies, Tropical Shipping and Tote Maritime Puerto Rico, employ 42 employees in Puerto Rico and 115 in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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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 operates two shipyards and offers worldwide marine transportation, emphasizing safety, environmental responsibility and high-quality service. See www.foss.com for more information.

TOTE Maritime Committed to Relief and Recovery Efforts in Puerto Rico

September 27, 2017

TOTE Maritime Terminal in San Juan with more than 2700 containers of cargo for the island

Jacksonville, FL – TOTE Maritime is working around the clock to ensure that relief and recovery supplies are available to the people of Puerto Rico. In the last few days, TOTE Maritime and sister company Tropical have discharged three vessels. As of last night, more than 2750 FEUS (forty foot equivalents) of cargo, including ice, water, fuel, generators and canned/dried food, will have arrived at the Port all intended to assist with the short and long term needs of the island.

TOTE Maritime is working directly with the American Red Cross and FEMA as well as various local churches and smaller local organizations to prioritize the most critical items. In addition, TOTE is coordinating with these organizations and the island to ensure future sailings contain key items for the communities of Puerto Rico.

TOTE Maritime’s Perla del Caribe docked in San Juan on Sept. 26, 2017

“We are committed to playing a central role in supporting Puerto Rico during this time and ensuring that all Puerto Ricans have access to basic necessities such as clean water and food as the relief and recovery efforts begin” noted Tim Nolan, President of TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico. “Our ships have significant capacity and we want to use our resources to support the island. Just one ship can carry the same amount of goods as nearly 2000 passenger planes – and we want to make sure every shipment, every ton, every container counts and helps the people of Puerto Rico.”

TOTE Maritime is on-hiring additional equipment to ensure continuous flow of cargo to the island with the upcoming sailings.

TOTE Maritime will continue to engage with appropriate parties to ensure the needs of the island are being met over the coming weeks and months.