Posts Categorized: Domestic Shipping
In 2020, Saltchuk companies gave $4M to the communities we live and work in
November 15, 2021
Giving of time, talent, and treasure in the communities that support our employees and businesses is a value the founding members of Saltchuk shared, and one that has become a cornerstone of our family business.
We are proud that in 2020, during an extraordinary year of challenge for so many, Saltchuk companies provided almost $4M million in grants, in-kind freight transportation, and employee-matching contributions in our communities.
In 2020, Saltchuk matched employee donations of $187,000 and gave another $1.76 million in cash grants through individual operating companies and Saltchuk Regional Giving Committees in Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, and Florida/the Caribbean. Our Regional Giving Program expanded its usual support of youth development and postsecondary education to include emergent needs such as food security, housing, and healthcare insurance related to the COVID-19 crisis. Our companies provided nearly $2 million in in-kind transportation for emergency supplies, recycling, food bank donations, and other community programs. Whether focused on health, the environment, social services, the arts, youth, and/or education, Saltchuk companies intend for their gifts to build capacity and resiliency in our communities.
As shareholders, we set a minimum target for community giving to ensure consistency and accountability to our value of giving back. As we reflect on the last year, we want to express our appreciation and gratitude to the communities and employees who support our family of companies. We hope this report provides a sense of ownership and pride, reflecting the values we share and the commitment we as shareholders feel to our communities.
– Saltchuk Shareholders
TOTE Group Announces Changes to Company Leadership
November 10, 2021
New team structure to advance accelerated growth and strategic opportunities for TOTE Group, TOTE Maritime Alaska, and TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico
Jacksonville, Fla., – TOTE, LLC (“TOTE Group”), an industry leader in maritime transportation, vessel services, and terminal operations, today announced the expansion of its leadership team to support the organization’s growth and future strategic opportunities. 
Mike Noone, President of TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico, LLC is being promoted to a new role as the company’s chief operating officer for TOTE Group. Kevin D. Kendrick will be named the new president of TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico and Alex Hofeling will be named president of TOTE Maritime Alaska, LLC.
“The TOTE organization welcomes Mike to this newly created role, where he will help drive the future of our companies,” said TOTE Group President & CEO Tim Nolan. “Mike’s proven track record as an executive and his 30-years’ experience in shipping and logistics make him a significant asset as we continually look for ways grow our organization and to drive value for our customers.”
Kevin Kendrick, who served as the chief commercial officer for the TOTE Group since 2012, is being promoted president of TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico.
“Kevin successfully led the commercial strategy for the TOTE organization for the last decade with a focus on growth and improving the customer experience and we’re excited to have him lead the TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico team,” said Nolan. “Kevin understands very clearly our company’s commitment to service excellence and our dedication to the people and communities in Puerto Rico.”
Noone and Kendrick will transition to their new roles on January 1, 2022.
In addition, Alex Hofeling, TOTE Maritime Alaska Vice President and General Manager, has been promoted to President, effective November 29th, where he will oversee the entirety of operations for TOTE Maritime Alaska and will be based at the company’s office in Tacoma, Washington.
“Alex joined the TOTE organization as a regional sales manager and has rapidly worked his way up through increasing roles of responsibility at TOTE Maritime Alaska,” said Nolan. “Alex has been the face of TOTE in Alaska, working closely with our customers, communities and others to help demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the Last Frontier.”
Nolan said, “On behalf of the TOTE Group, we look forward to welcoming Mike, Kevin and Alex to their new roles and to furthering our commitment to excellence in safety and service to our customers and our communities.”
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About Mike Noone
Mike joined the TOTE organization in 2013 as president of TOTE Maritime Alaska before transitioning to the role of president of TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico in 2018. Prior to his time with TOTE, Noone served as chief operating officer and executive vice president for Yusen Logistics Americas (formerly NYK Logistics), where he was responsible for leading the strategic direction, execution, and bottom-line results for the company’s six business units. Before his time at Yusen, Noone spent a total of 21 years with Maersk companies and five years with APL, part of the NOL Group.
About Kevin Kendrick
Kevin D. Kendrick joined the TOTE organization in 2012 as the chief commercial officer, bringing to the organization more than 22-years’ experience in the transportation and logistics industry. He began his career with the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group as an outside sales representative, where he continued to advance in sales and general management before moving to the logistics side of the business. As Regional Director of Maersk Logistics, Kendrick gained valuable experience and a better understanding of customers’ supply chain challenges. He was promoted to Senior Director before being named Vice President of Damco, formerly known as Maersk Logistics, where he was responsible for the Southeast and Gulf States, as well as operational execution and commercial growth for all 3PL products.
About Alex Hofeling
Alex joined TOTE Maritime Alaska in 2013, serving as Regional Sales Manager and Director of Marketing before taking over the Vice President and General Manager of Alaska role in 2019. Since then, he has been the face of TOTE in Alaska, working closely with the Port, vendor partners, customers, and the community to ensure that TOTE continues to offer reliable, best-in-class service to the Last Frontier state.
About TOTE Group
The TOTE Group includes some of the leading transportation and logistics companies in the U.S. domestic market. TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico, LLC and TOTE Maritime Alaska, LLC bring unmatched reliability and service to their respective markets, while TOTE Services, LLC offers crewing and technical services to meet the needs of commercial, privately owned and U.S. Government vessels. The TOTE Group and its subsidiaries are part of the Saltchuk family of companies. www.toteinc.com
TOTE Named Best Place to Work
August 24, 2021
Recognized as Best Place to Work in both 2020 and 2021
Jacksonville, Fla. — TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico (“TOTE”), a premier carrier in the domestic m
aritime industry, was once again named one of the “Best Places to Work” on the First Coast by the Jacksonville Business Journal. This is the second year in a row that TOTE has received this recognition.
“TOTE greatly values our employees and we’re honored to have again been recognized as one of the best places to work in northeast Florida,” said TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico President Mike Noone. “Thanks to the dedication of our talented, experienced, and diverse team, TOTE’s committed to providing reliable, value-added service for our customers and to contributing positively to the communities in which we live and work.”
TOTE’s dedicated, twice-weekly service from Jacksonville, Fla. to San Juan, Puerto Rico, provides essential goods and cargo on which consumers rely to support their quality of life and most basic needs. Leveraging the world’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueled containerships – the cleanest and most advanced in the market today – and other innovative capabilities, TOTE is a maritime leader in safety, service, and sustainability.
“TOTE’s mission is personal, and we take care of our people. We’re committed to a culture that develops and rewards those who do good work. Driven by a focus on our core principles of safety, the customer experience, operational excellence, and our colleagues, TOTE truly is a phenomenal place to be a part of,” concluded Noone.
The Jacksonville Business Journal conducts an annual survey of employees at companies throughout the northeast Florida region to determine which should be recognized as a “Best Place to Work” based on morale, engagement, and tenure. This is the fifth year that Jacksonville Business Journal has conducted the survey and the second time that TOTE has been recognized.
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About the TOTE Group
The TOTE Group includes some of the leading transportation and logistics companies in the U.S. domestic market. TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico, LLC, and TOTE Maritime Alaska, LLC bring unmatched reliability and service to their respective markets, while TOTE Services, LLC offers crewing and technical services to meet the needs of commercial, privately owned, and U.S. Government vessels. The TOTE Group and its subsidiaries are part of the Saltchuk family of companies. www.toteinc.com
National Security Multi-Mission Vessel Achieves First Construction Milestone with Steel Cutting Ceremony
December 15, 2020
Philadelphia – TOTE Services, LLC, (“TOTE Services”) and Philly Shipyard, Inc., (“Philly Shipyard”) today began a new era in maritime education with the cutting of steel for the new National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) at Philly Shipyard. This is the initial major construction milestone for the first purpose-built, state-of-the-art training vessel for America’s state maritime academies. In addition to providing world-class training for America’s future mariners, the NSMV will be available to support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions.
“This new state-of-the-art modern school training ship will be a tremendous addition to the U. S. Flag fleet, be available to respond to disaster relief efforts, and support about 1,200 jobs in Philly Shipyard,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao.
Construction of the NSMV will help recapitalize our nation’s maritime training fleet, strengthen America’s industrial base, and directly support more than 1,200 shipyard jobs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
“For more than a decade, MARAD has been working to make the NSMV a reality for America’s state maritime academy cadets who deserve state-of-the-art training ships,” added MARAD Administrator Mark H. Buzby. “Thanks to the strong bipartisan support that the NSMV has received in Congress and the leadership of Secretary Chao, this program will further advance excellence in American maritime education and reignite the jobs engine that is America’s shipyards.”
In May 2019, MARAD awarded TOTE Services, LLC, (TOTE Services), an industry leader in ship management, marine operations, and vessel services, a contract to be the Vessel Construction Manager (VCM) for the NSMV program. This contract is an innovative approach to federal shipbuilding where the government benefits from commercial best practices for ship design and construction.
In April 2020, TOTE Services awarded Philly Shipyard, Inc., a leading shipyard in the United States, a contract to construct up to five NSMVs.
“TOTE Services is proud to have been awarded a contract by MARAD to be the vessel construction manager for this new, state-of-the-art training ship that will help provide qualified officers to support the domestic maritime industry,” said TOTE Services President Jeff Dixon. “Each of us at TOTE Services is thrilled to be part of this historic investment in the U.S. maritime industry, and are working closely with MARAD and Philly Shipyard to advance this new class of vessel built by union labor in a U.S. shipyard with U.S.-made steel and U.S.-made engines.”
TOTE Services is working with its design partners – Glosten, Inc., Philly Shipyard, and Philly Shipyard’s subcontractors, including the design team at DSEC – to deliver the first NSMV in early 2023.
Steinar Nerbovik, Philly Shipyard President and CEO said: “This is a tremendous honor and recognition of our history of building high-quality ships over the last 17 years. This project begins a new chapter in our history, a new customer and the first in series, which is a challenge we are eager to meet. I am confident that our workforce will deliver ships that the state academy cadets will be proud to sail for many years to come.”
The NSMV program is an important investment in the U.S. shipbuilding industry, which supports nearly 400,000 American jobs.
As part of the contract, Philly Shipyard will be working with domestic mills to supply steel for the vessels and U.S. manufacturers to provide key ship equipment, including GE Wabtec, a part of GE Transportation, which is manufacturing the engines and generators, GE Transportation for the main generator engine, Cummins USA for the emergency generator set, and Bronswerk for the air conditioning systems.
The NSMV will feature numerous instructional spaces, a full training bridge, and have space for up to 600 cadets to train in a first-rate maritime academic environment at sea. State maritime academies graduate more than half of all new officers each year—the merchant mariners who help keep cargoes and our economy moving. Many also support U.S. national security by crewing military sealift vessels.
In addition to being a state-of-the-art training and educational platform, the NSMV is a highly-functional national asset designed to fulfill numerous roles. Each ship will feature modern hospital facilities, a helicopter pad, and the ability to accommodate up to 1,000 people in times of humanitarian need. Adding to the NSMV’s capability, it will provide needed roll-on/roll-off and container storage capacity for use during disaster relief missions.
TOTE Services has ordered the first two NSMVs and the President’s budget request for Fiscal Year 2021 includes sufficient funding for TOTE Services to order the third ship. Construction of
the first two NSMVs will replace training ships at SUNY Maritime Academy and Massachusetts Maritime Academy, which are both more than 50 years old.
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About TOTE Services
TOTE Services, LLC (“TOTE Services”) is a leading U.S.-based ship management company that skillfully and expertly provides crewing and technical services to meet the needs of commercial, privately owned and U.S. Government vessels. Since 2015, TOTE Services has overseen construction and management of the world’s first LNG powered container ships, activated U.S. training ships to support disaster relief and managed many MARAD vessels. TOTE Services, along with TOTE Maritime Alaska, LLC and TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico, LLC, comprise the TOTE group of companies. The TOTE group is part of the Saltchuk family of companies. www.toteservices.com
About Philly Shipyard
Philly Shipyard, Inc. (PSI) is a leading U.S. shipbuilder that is presently pursuing a mix of commercial and government work. It possesses a state-of-the-art shipbuilding facility and has earned a reputation as a preferred provider of oceangoing merchant vessels with a track record of delivering quality ships, having delivered around 50% of all large ocean-going Jones Act commercial ships since 2000. PSI is the sole operating subsidiary of Philly Shipyard ASA. Philly Shipyard ASA is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (Oslo: PHLY) and is majority-owned by Aker Capital AS, which in turn is wholly-owned by Aker ASA. Aker is a Norwegian industrial investment company that creates value through active ownership. Aker’s investment portfolio is concentrated on key Norwegian industries that are international in scope: oil and gas, fisheries and biotechnology, and marine assets. Aker’s industrial holdings comprise ownership interests in Aker Solutions, Kvaerner, Aker BP, Aker BioMarine, Ocean Yield and Akastor. For more information about Philly Shipyard, please visit www.phillyshipyard.com.
Saltchuk companies join the ALL IN Seattle campaign with $100,000 in grants
April 22, 2020
Saltchuk companies are proud to support Food Lifeline, Northwest Harvest, and the Keep Workers Healthy and Safe Fund as part of the ALL IN Seattle campaign. The ALL IN Seattle campaign was created to promote direct donations to organizations providing critical support in Puget Sound and across the state in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are grateful to the strong network of non-profit organizations that are rising to the challenge to meet the needs of our community, said Nicole Engle, Saltchuk Shareholder and Chair of Saltchuk’s Washington Regional Giving Committee. “Employees across our companies are doing their part to keep the supply chain running smoothly and we are proud to support our communities in helping those most impacted by this crisis.”
NW Harvest – $30,000 grant
Northwest Harvest’s statewide hunger relief network is comprised of 375 food banks, meal programs and high-need schools as unique as the communities they serve.
Food Lifeline– $30,000 grant
Food Lifeline distributes food to more than 300 food banks, shelters, and meal programs throughout Western Washington, providing the equivalent of 134,000 meals every day for hungry children, adults, and seniors.
Keep Workers Healthy and Safe Fund– $40,000 grant
The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce fund has received $400,000 to date in pledges to help employers continue to provide uninterrupted medical insurance for their employees and keep employees safe by offsetting the costs of additional sanitization and safety supplies.
Last year, Saltchuk companies contributed more than $385,000 to non-profit organizations in the Pacific Northwest. Nationwide, the Saltchuk family of companies donated more than $2.2 million in in-kind transportation and nearly $2 million in grants within their communities.
Saltchuk companies in Washington include TOTE, Carlile, Foss Maritime, Delta Western Petroleum, NorthStar Energy and Northern Aviation Services.