News

74 Foss Maritime Vessels Honored for Environmental Excellence 

November 9, 2016

Thirty-seven Vessels Recognized for 10+ Years of Incident-Free Operation

WASHINGTON, DC – With a combined 843 years without an incident, 74 Foss Maritime and subsidiary companies’ tugs and tank barges have been recognized by a major maritime organization for their environmental records.

	Wedell Foss assisting the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin

The Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) announced the 2016 Environmental Achievement Awards honoring the Seattle-based company’s work on Nov.2, 2016, in Washington, D.C. Foss and its sister companies have 37 vessels with 10 or more years without an environmental incident, with 11 of those vessels achieving 20+ years of environmental excellence. The Wedell Foss and the Stacey Foss are just two of the Foss Maritime vessels that have been free of environmental mishaps for more than 20 years.

“We are truly honored by this award, since it underscores our dedication to the highest safety standards and care for the environment,” said John Parrott, Foss CEO. “These values are an important part of our corporate culture and also what our customers demand.”

The awards are open to all owners and operators of vessels that operate on oceans or inland waterways.

“Foss’ commitment to safeguarding the environmental is something that we take great pride in,” said Susan Hayman, Vice President of HSQE and External Affairs at Foss. “We engineer and build our state-of-the-art vessels to exceed environmental and safety requirements. It’s this commitment that helps make Foss an industry leader.”

“These awards celebrate the dedication to environmental excellence of our seafarers and the company personnel shore-side who operate our vessels to the highest standards,” said Kathy J. Metcalf, president of CSA, praising the award recipients for their commitment to serving as stewards of the environment.

A list of the vessels receiving the 2016 Environmental Achievement Award is posted on CSA’s website www.knowships.org. Click on “News & Events,” then “Press Releases.”

Foss Partners with Seattle Maritime Academy to Provide State-of-the-Art Training for Mariners    

September 21, 2016

Mock up of the simulator complex.

SEATTLE, Wash.-  Foss Maritime has entered into a four-year agreement with the Seattle Maritime Academy to support their new training facility, which includes a state-of-the-art engine room simulator, a full mission bridge simulator and a computer simulation training laboratory.

Foss’ experienced mariners will have access to the new simulators, along with the customized professional development training offered by Seattle Maritime Academy, to support upgrading or renew licensing, and learn new skills.

“At Foss, safety is our top concern. And when it comes to avoiding accidents, there are three things that really help: practice, practice, and practice. Having as much time as possible on a simulator is an excellent way for mariners to build their skills and confidence in vessel handling, navigation, and equipment handling,” said Scott Merritt senior vice president at Foss.

The new facility will also prepare students new to the industry for maritime careers, with professional/technical programs in Maritime Engineering Technology and Marine Deck Technology.

“We are grateful for Foss’ support and participation as we build this new resource for the community, and are looking forward to working with Foss mariners to build their skills,” said Sarah Scherer, Director/Associate Dean of Seattle Maritime Academy.

“This partnership is a continuation of a strong relationship that also includes successfully placing SMA students with Foss for internships, where they receive at-sea and real world experience, while acquiring the required sea time to upgrading their credentials,” she said.

“Foss, like other companies in the maritime industry, is experiencing increasing demand for skilled mariners as many of our employees near retirement. We are excited to have a high quality program here in Seattle to train the next generation of mariners,” said Darlene Crowder, Vice President of Human Resources.

The Seattle Maritime Building 1, comprising of 24,000 square feet in two floors, opening ceremony will be held on October 6, 2016. The building will be christened, like a vessel. Foss and other industry professionals will be in attendance.

# # #

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.

John Parrott to Assume Role of President of Foss Maritime

June 17, 2016

Paul Stevens to transition to executive role at parent company

SEATTLE, Wash., –  Foss Maritime Company Chief Operating Officer John Parrott will take over the role of President of Foss Maritime, assuming responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the company as of August 1, 2016. Current President and CEO, Paul Stevens, will remain CEO of Foss until the end of 2016. He will then move to Foss’ parent company, Saltchuk, where he will serve as Senior Vice President and Managing Director.

Parrott, who came to Foss as COO in January of this year from sister company TOTE Maritime, takes the helm with over 28 years of maritime experience, both at sea and ashore. “Foss is an incredibly dynamic company,” said Parrott. “We are building on more than 125 years of safe, innovative service, and we have an exciting road ahead. I’m honored to be part of this iconic company.”

Paul Stevens to transition to Saltchuk.

Paul Stevens has had a distinguished maritime career for more  than 40 years. “I’m happy to turn over the company to someone with an extensive maritime background and who has earned the respect of our owner group at Saltchuk through his contributions at TOTE Maritime,” said Stevens.

“Paul has led Foss through an incredible period of growth and has served as an adept leader within our company for more than 13 years,” said Tim Engle, President of Saltchuk. “We are grateful that we will continue to have Paul’s leadership and expertise serving the entire Saltchuk family of companies.”

In his new role at Saltchuk, Stevens will support various strategic initiatives currently underway and will help support Saltchuk’s growth activities.

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.

Foss Maritime Center provides 24/7 service, enhancing safety and shoreside services to Saltchuk companies’ maritime fleets

June 7, 2016

Foss expands services to Foss Maritime Center in Portland

Portland, OR. – Foss Maritime has expanded services offered at its Portland terminal and dispatch center, now called the Foss Maritime Center (FMC), to include a 24/7 call center with fleet monitoring and weather service capabilities.

On June 1, the FMC opened to support Foss’ international fleet of tugs and marine assets as well as the maritime fleets of sister companies TOTE Services and Tropical Shipping.

The expansion, the result of a collaboration of Saltchuk companies served by the FMC, included a renovation of Foss’ Portland offices located on the shores of the Columbia River and the addition of staff trained to enhance safety and situational awareness of maritime fleets operating around the globe.

While a vessels’ master remains the final authority on all operational decisions, the FMC Staff are specially trained to use multiple information sources to keep Mariners and those who support them well ahead of potential hazards and provide actionable information to support decision making. Emergency calls to the Call Center will be forwarded to designated points of contact within the companies’ shoreside operations.

“The Foss Maritime Center allows us to standardize and enhance support for the Saltchuk family of companies,” said Foss Maritime President & CEO Paul Stevens. “We’re taking state of the art technology and pairing it with our own experienced and dedicated staff – this is a natural extension on Foss’ promise of ‘Always Safe, Always Ready.’”

Features of the Foss Maritime Center include:

• 24/7 Watch Stander – Call Center staffed by professional mariners. The call center will have the ability to immediately see the vessels location, its route, and the prevailing weather conditions.
• Fleet Monitoring to collect information through automated situational alerting and Watch Stander observation.
• Weather Monitoring will be provided by enhanced weather tools for information, monitoring and rerouting support.

Lam Nguyen-Bull of Foss Maritime Honored with 2016 Diversity Champion Award 

February 9, 2016

Nguyen-Bull Recognized by the Puget Sound Business Journal 

SEATTLE, Wash.-  Foss Maritime’s Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Ethics Officer, Lam Nguyen-Bull, has been named 2016 Diversity Champion by the Puget Sound Business Journal’s 2016 Corporate Counsel Awards committee. The award recognizes Nguyen-Bull for her efforts in supporting diversity in the community, in the legal profession, and in the maritime industry. 

PSBJ’s annual awards honor in-house attorneys who are helping drive business throughout the region. They highlight outstanding work and emphasize the value these professionals bring to their organizations.

“Lam’s dedication to inclusiveness and her involvement is impressive,” said Paul Stevens, President and Chief Executive Officer of Foss. “I’m glad to see her recognized for her tireless efforts and proud to have her on our executive team.” 

Nguyen-Bull serves on the board of PeaceTrees Vietnam, a humanitarian organization working in central Vietnam to assist those whose lives and livelihoods are threatened by the explosive remnants of war. In addition, she co-chaired the Joint Asian Judicial Evaluation Committee in 2015, and is the former President of the Vietnamese American Bar Association of Washington. Nguyen-Bull is a current board member of the Asian Bar Association of Washington, and interim chair on the Governing Council of the Washington Initiative for Diversity.

“I’m flattered by the recognition,” said Nguyen-Bull. “This is such an honor for me, but the real recognition should go to the extraordinary mentors and programs I’ve had the benefit of working with. Here at Foss, I’ve been really lucky to be involved in the Saltchuk Women’s Leadership Initiative, a program personally sponsored by the three sisters who are Saltchuk’s majority shareholders and championed by senior executives from all around the Saltchuk companies. I’ve had great support in my career and the work I do now is just my attempt to pay it forward.”

Based in Seattle, Washington, Nguyen-Bull leads Foss Maritime’s Legal and Risk Management Group, providing counsel on legal issues and business strategies and practices. She also heads the company’s ethics and compliance programs that work to safeguard Foss’ values and reputation. Nguyen-Bull came to Foss from parent company Saltchuk, where she served as Associate General Counsel and Compliance Officer.