News

Foss Maritime Vessels Receive Safety Award 

June 19, 2017

Sixty-five Vessels Recognized for Years of Safe Operations

SEATTLE–  The Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) has recognized 65 vessels of Foss Maritime and their subsidiary companies with the 2016 Jones F. Devlin award for outstanding safety records.

Susan Hayman from Foss accepts the award.

The Jones F. Devlin Award is one of two award programs CSA has sponsored since 1968.The award is given to self-propelled merchant vessels that have operated for two full years or more without a crewmember involved in a lost-time incident. It publicly recognizes the skill and dedication of the men and women who are responsible for safe vessel operations.

The 65 Foss vessels were recognized at the CSA Annual Safety Awards Luncheon held on June 7 in New Orleans. Altogether, the Foss and subsidiary company vessels achieved the equivalent of 549 years of incident-free operation. Fifty-three vessels had five or more years, and 20 vessels boasted 10 to 23 years without a lost-time injury.

“CSA’s members are committed to safe operations and CSA’s involvement in safety is longstanding with our ongoing commitment to represent the industry, domestically and internationally, on safety issues encompassing every facet of ship operations. It is only fitting that an industry so focused on safety, publicly recognizes the skills and dedication of the women and men who have enabled these many years of safe operations and who are responsible for actions in keeping with the highest traditions of the sea – aid to those in peril,” said Kathy Metcalf, CSA President.

“The number of years our vessels have received this award is a testament to how seriously we take safety at Foss,” said John Parrott, Foss president and CEO. “The safety of our people motivates us every day to enhance our programs, training, resources and operations. We’re proud to receive this award because it shows our commitment to safety compels all of us, in all aspects of our work, to do better.”

A list of the vessels receiving the award is posted on CSA’s websitewww.knowships.org. Click on “Press Releases”.

ABOUT CSA
The Chamber of Shipping of America represents 31 U.S. based companies that own, operate or charter oceangoing tankers, container ships, dry bulk vessels engaged in both the domestic and international trades and companies that maintain a commercial interest in the operation of such oceangoing vessels. Current members include companies that own or operate U.S. flag or foreign-flag ships. A company owning or operating only foreign-flag tonnage must have an office in the United States to qualify for membership.

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 Receives 2016 American Maritime Safety Award 

September 19, 2016

For Zero Tolerance Drug and Alcohol Policy

SEATTLE, Wash. –  American Maritime Safety recognized Foss Maritime’s efforts in building and maintaining a strong culture of safety by awarding the company the American Maritime Safety Award for the implementation and management of zero-tolerance drug and alcohol policy.    
Foss will be presented with the award at the 2016 Annual Membership Meeting and Safety Awards Luncheon on Thursday, October 13.
“Foss has a long history of leading the industry in safety and innovation, and we are honored by this recognition of our drug and alcohol policy,” said Foss President John Parrott. “Our primary concern in all that we do is to keep our employees, equipment and the environments in which we operate safe. We do this with robust safety programs and systems, a constant commitment to improving our reporting and methods, and our relentless push to zero lives lost.”
Foss’ policy, which was updated in 2015, addresses the concerns of opioid abuse and other addiction issues, the legalization of marijuana in many states, and the reasons a zero-tolerance stance is essential to the company’s safety initiatives, and in meeting increasing customer demands and regulations.
“For decades Foss has built a strong reputation of being always ready,” said Foss CEO Paul Stevens in a recent video to employees about the policy. “In more recent years we’ve added always safe. One way that we deliver on this commitment is by upholding a drug and alcohol policy that keeps employees and equipment safe and ready for whenever we report to work.”
American Maritime Safety (AMS) is a non-profit maritime trade association that facilitates the maritime industry’s compliance with international shipping protocols and U.S. Coast Guard regulations. AMS annually recognizes companies that uphold a commitment to manage and operate vessels that are environmentally efficient, safe and dependable, as well as promoting responsible maritime work practices.
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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.

Foss Maritime Vessels Receive Safety Award

June 22, 2016

Seventy-three Vessels Recognized for Years of Safe Operations

SEATTLE, Wash. – The Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) has recognized 73 vessels of Foss Maritime and their subsidiary companies with the 2015 Jones F. Devlin award for outstanding safety records.

The Jones F. Devlin Award is one of two award programs CSA has sponsored since 1968. The award is given to self-propelled merchant vessels that have operated for two full years or more without a crew member involved in a lost-time incident. It publicly recognizes the skill and dedication of the men and women who are responsible for safe vessel operations.  

The 73 Foss vessels were recognized at the CSA Annual Safety Awards Luncheon held this year on June 8 in New Orleans. Altogether, the Foss and subsidiary company vessels achieved the equivalent of 562 years of incident-free operation. Sixty-one vessels had five or more years, and eighteen vessels boasted 10 to 22 years without a lost-time injury.

“This year, awards were conferred on 1522 vessels that operated 10,084 years without a lost-time incident,” said Kathy Metcalf, CSA President. “This extraordinary record is directly attributable to the professionalism of our seafarers and the dedication of shore-based company personnel to safe operation. These mariners are the front line in ensuring the safe and environmentally responsible operation of the vessels on which they serve.”

“Foss does not take safety lightly,” said Paul Stevens, Foss president and CEO. “We carry a deep obligation to the safety of our people and the environment, and this is evident in everything we do. We’re constantly improving and adding to our safety programs, training, resources and operations. We want every one of our valuable people to return home safely, and we do all that we can to make sure that happens.”

A list of the vessels receiving the award is posted on CSA’s website www.knowships.org. Click on “Press Releases”.

# # #

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.
ABOUT CSA

The Chamber of Shipping of America represents 31 U.S. based companies that own, operate or charter oceangoing tankers, container ships, dry bulk vessels engaged in both the domestic and international trades and companies that maintain a commercial interest in the operation of such oceangoing vessels. Current members include companies that own or operate U.S. flag or foreign-flag ships. A company owning or operating only foreign-flag tonnage must have an office in the United States to qualify for membership.

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.