News

Saltchuk companies join the AK CAN DO campaign

April 21, 2020

Saltchuk companies joined the AK CAN DO campaign this week with a $25,000 contribution. The AK CAN DO campaign, partnership for COVID-19 Response, a partnership between the Alaska Community Foundation and United Way of Anchorage, was established to provide support to non-profits providing critical support across the state in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Saltchuk companies’ donation will support non-profits on the frontline of the COVID-19 response and families who have suffered economic hardship as a result of the crisis.

Saltchuk companies in Alaska include TOTE, Carlile, Northern Air Cargo, Cook Inlet Tug & Barge, Delta Western Petroleum, Inlet Energy, Alaska Petroleum Distributing, and Northern Oilfield Services.

“We are grateful for the amazing network of non-profit organizations across Alaska who serve the most vulnerable in our state,” said Dave Karp, Managing Director for Saltchuk in Alaska. “Today, more than ever, those organizations are rising to the challenge and meeting our community where they are needed most. This crisis has touched us all, and we are committed to not only keeping the supply chain running smoothly but to support our community however we can.”

Last year, Saltchuk companies contributed more than $630,000 in grants to Alaskan non-profit organizations and supported community efforts with more than $2 million in in-kind transportation.

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.

TOTE Executive Phil Greene Receives Seamen’s Church Institute 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award

June 11, 2019

NEW YORK CITY – Phil Greene, Jr., TOTE executive vice president and senior advisor, was presented the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award at the Seamen’s Church Institute’s 42nd Annual Silver Bells Award Dinner, where he was recognized for his 40+ years of leadership and service to the U.S. Armed Forces, seafarers in the U.S. and beyond, and others engaged in the international maritime industry.

Greene was joined by his family, close friends and members of the TOTE executive leadership team at the annual Silver Bells Award Dinner, which raises funds to support the Seamen’s Church Institute’s mission of advocacy, education and chaplaincy for merchant mariners at America’s ports.

“Phil has dedicated his career to serving his country, fellow seafarers and the maritime industry and there is hardly a more deserving recipient for this Lifetime Achievement Award,” said TOTE President and CEO Tim Nolan. “His embodiment of TOTE’s core values – safety, commitment and integrity – complement the Seamen’s Church Institute mission and exemplify TOTE’s commitment to supporting the maritime community.”

As executive vice president and senior advisor for TOTE, Greene provides counsel on many of the company’s top priorities. An enduring advocate of maritime industry interests, he currently sits on the board of directors for the United Seamen’s Service and the National Cargo Bureau. Greene is also a member of the American Shipping Bureau and the Marine Society of the City of New York.

Greene joined TOTE in September 2012, serving as president of TOTE Services from February 2013 to January 2019. Prior to joining TOTE, Greene held a series of prominent federal service roles, including U.S. Department of Transportation Chair at the National Defense University (Washington, DC); Superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point, New York); and Senior Executive Service at the U.S. Department of Transportation.

These responsibilities followed an active duty Navy career from 1978 to 2010 in which he received various service and unit awards, including the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal (two awards), Legion of Merit (four awards), Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), and Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards).

Having long championed the importance of developing and shaping our nation’s future mariners, Greene was chosen to be the Distinguished Alumni Speaker at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Class of 2016 commencement ceremony. He was recently honored with the Kings Point Light of Leadership Award as a Lanier Lecturer to the Regiment of Midshipmen. He is a three-time recipient of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association and Foundation’s Outstanding Professional Achievement Award and was named Kings Pointer of the Year in 2011.

Greene is a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York. He also holds post graduate degrees from the National War College and the Naval Postgraduate School. In addition, he holds a merchant marine license as master.

“Phil has had an extraordinarily distinguished career and we are honored to consider him a member of the TOTE family,” said Nolan. “On behalf of all the TOTE operating companies, we are grateful for the many contributions he has made and continues to make to our organization.”

TOTE Services Awarded MARAD Contract to Develop National Security Multi-Mission Vessel

May 21, 2019

Washington, D.C., – TOTE Services, an affiliate of TOTE, LLC (“TOTE”) and an industry leader in ship management, marine operations and vessel services, has been awarded a contract by the Maritime Administration (MARAD) to manage construction of a new class of vessel – the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) – to provide training to sustain world-class maritime sea training for America’s future mariners and to support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) in times of need.

“TOTE Services is honored to have been awarded this contract to construct the NSMV that will serve as the new training ship for the US maritime community,” said TOTE Services President Jeff Dixon. “This award reflects the wide-ranging knowledge and capabilities that TOTE Services has and will provide in executing MARAD’s vision to recapitalize the training fleet for our nation’s maritime academies, which provide qualified officers to support the domestic maritime industry.”

These vessels will promote growth of our nation’s domestic maritime industry through the development of a next generation training fleet, while addressing a critical shortage of qualified officers needed to crew commercial and government-owned sealift ships during crises.

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. As the Vessel Construction Manager (VCM), TOTE Services will manage development of the new vessels, which specifications have been established to be compatible with the pier length, draft restrictions and mooring limitations at each of the maritime training academies, as well ports able to conduct HA/DR operations.

The new vessel class will include state-of-the-art training facilities and the latest in maritime technological advancements with space to train up to 600 cadets at sea, maximizing the ship’s capabilities and its mission to provide future mariners with a world-class education. It also features modern hospital facilities, a helicopter pad and

the ability to accommodate up to 1,000 people in times of humanitarian need. Furthermore, the NSMV will provide a roll-on/roll-off ramp and container storage.

TOTE Services will soon issue a request for information to interested shipyards with the goal of awarding a contract to build by the end of 2019. Delivery of the first of these new class vessels is expected in 2022.

“TOTE has a long history of supporting maritime academy training programs and disaster relief missions in conjunction with MARAD,” said Dixon. “We’re confident in our ability to deliver on the NSMV and are excited to again work with MARAD on this important initiative.”

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 following Hurricane Maria, and managed various MARAD vessels, including six fast sealift ships.

TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico receives top honors in Quest for Quality Awards

August 7, 2018

TOTE received the best score in both the Value and IT categories

Jacksonville, FL – Last week it was announced that TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico was ranked number one in the value and IT categories for Ocean Carriers in this year’s Quest for Quality awards. These awards are a reflection of the long term investments being made by TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico – including the world’s first LNG powered containerships, terminal upgrades and custom equipment for customers – to ensure best in class service for the Puerto Rico market.

Logistics Management’s annual Quest for Quality awards ranks Ocean carriers. This annual award is driven by feedback from customers.

“TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico is excited to receive top honors in both of these categories” noted Tim Nolan, President and CEO of TOTE.

“Over the last few years, we have implemented new programs and secured new equipment to support diverse customer needs and ensure customer are receiving a best in class customer experience and great value when working with TOTE Maritime.”

Value and information technology, the categories where TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico scored highest in the industry, were ranked as the second and third most important attributes of a successful ocean carrier, preceded only by on-time performance.

Over the last five years, TOTE Maritime Puerto has invested in all aspects of operations to provide a competitive, best in class service for the Puerto Rico trade. These investments include new equipment, new vessels, updated operating systems, and new terminal systems to increase efficiency.

In the last six months, TOTE Maritime has launched a series of new and updated customer tools to improve the customer experience and increase the value of doing business with TOTE Maritime. These investments include additional new equipment such as 53’ and 40’ chassis as well as:

• an additional 300 x 40’ chassis delivered to Puerto Rico in June.
• an additional 220 x 53’ newly built containers, distributed in the last two months.
• an additional 200 x 53’ chassis are being delivered this week (week of August 6).

Most recently, TOTE Maritime launched a new mobile application allowing customers access to cargo and sailing information at any time of day from any device.

In addition to these equipment and IT updates, TOTE continues to adjust service offerings in line with customers’ needs. Specifically, TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico will continue to maintain Saturday gate hours in San Juan, as they have done since the beginning of 2018, to support customer cargo needs on the island.

“These updates are critical to providing customers with access to cargo and vessel information at any time of day from any device in the world” commented Bill Taylor, Vice President of Sales. “We know our customers expect best in class service and we are committed to providing the best customer experience possible.”

View the select list of Ocean Carrier Winners.