News

Tropical Shipping to Update Fleet With Six New Vessels

July 5, 2016

Tropical signs order for six new vessels from Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard

Palm Beach, FL.—In early June, executives from Tropical Shipping traveled to Guangzhou, China to sign an order for six new vessels; the order represents close to $150 million dollars in fleet reinvestment and commitment to the Caribbean market. On order from Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard are two Carib class vessels, two Mini Express class vessels and two additional Carib class option vessels.

“The objective of Tropical’s new build program is to provide for continued future market leadership and profitability by having the right size ships with the right operating characteristics for our marketplace,” said Tropical Shipping’s Executive Chairman Rick Murrell. “Essential operating characteristics such as optimal refrigerated capacity will ensure that Tropical Shipping can meet future customer needs and changing market demands with its differentiated service.”

Carib class vessels are similar to Tropical’s Tropic Carib and Tropic Unity, which entered into service in 2002. The new1,100 TEU vessels feature a service speed of 20 knots and are equipped with, 2 cranes, 260 reefer plugs, hi-cubes below deck, and bow and stern thrusters that will minimize the need for tugs.

Two new Carib class vessels will replace two chartered vessels, greatly improving service time from Saint John, Canada and Palm Beach, Florida to San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas and St. Maarten. Two additional vessels on option would replace the Tropic Sun and Tropic Tide currently deployed in the St. Thomas Leeward Trade, as they are operating at 100% capacity.  The Sun and Tide would then be redeployed to the Nassau and Cayman services.

Mini Express class vessels are similar to the Tropic Express, which entered service in 2011. The two 300 TEU vessels are equipped with 2 cranes, a ramp for roll-on roll-off cargo,  60 reefer plugs, and bow and stern thrusters. The Mini Express vessels are able to serve shallow draft ports such as Providenciales, and will replace two Night class vessels currently deployed in the Marsh Harbour–Turks and Caicos–Dominican Republic service.

“Tropical Shipping has been and continues to be the leader in ocean transportation to the Caribbean. Tropical develops and maintains outstanding relationships with our customers and provides them unmatched on time reliability and fast, purpose built, versatile ships.  Our vessels are first to market with our customers’ freight,” said Murrell.

The $150 million dollar investment includes all six ships, as well as $5 million for additional equipment such as containers, chassis and gensets to support the added capacity.

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.

Second Foss Arctic Class Ocean Tug Christened 

June 7, 2016

Powerful Denise Foss ready to join the fleet in the Arctic far North 

SEATTLE, Wash., – The second of three state-of-the-art Arctic Class tugs, the Denise Foss, was christened June 1, 2016 at the Foss Waterway Seaport in Tacoma, Wash. Built at the Foss Rainier, OR. Shipyard, the Denise is designed to operate in the extreme conditions of the far north, and will enter service this summer.

John Parrott introducing Denise Tabbutt.

Foss COO John Parrott conducted opening remarks. Parrott applauded the hard work and dedication of the people, designers, and customers that made this project possible. He also introduced Denise Tabbutt, the vessel’s namesake and one of the three sisters who are primary shareholders of Saltchuk, the parent company of Foss Maritime.

Tabbutt spoke at the event and had the honor of breaking the ceremonial bottle of  champagne across the hull of the Denise Foss. “It’s a proud moment for the people whose vision and leadership inspired the creation of this tugboat class to support our commitment to Alaska and the Arctic,” said Tabbutt. “In order to stay relevant in a fast and ever changing world, it’s important we remain committed to our shared values and continue looking for opportunities to better serve our customers. The Arctic Class tugs are the perfect example of this commitment.”

Mike Magill, Vice President of Foss’ Technical Services, praised the team at the Rainier Shipyard–many who were present for the christening–for their commitment to safety, quality, and the obvious pride they take in their work.

“The Rainier shipyard is now gone 879 days without a Lost Time Incident,” said Magill. “In an industry where far too often injuries and accidents are answered with excuses, the Rainier team has taken responsibility to embrace our safety culture and the results bear this out.”

The Denise Foss is ice class D0, meaning the hulls are designed specifically for polar waters and are reinforced to maneuver in ice. The first of the three Arctic tugs, the Michele Foss debut in 2015 and has performed above and beyond expectations. The Michele lead the way in safely pioneering a new route across the North Slope, while operating in extreme conditions of first year ice a meter thick.

Like the Michele, the Denise complies with the requirements in the ABS Guide for Building and Classing Vessels

The Denise Foss, ready for the Arctic far North.

Intended to Operate in Polar Waters, including ABS A1 standards, SOLAS and Green Passport. She includes a Caterpillar C280-8 main engine, which complies with the highest federal environmental standards; a Nautican propulsion system; and Reintjes reduction gears. Markey Machinery supplied the tow winch.

The tug has a bollard pull of 221,000 pounds.

The vessel incorporates several environmentally focused designs and structural and technological upgrades, including:

• Elimination of ballast tanks, so there is no chance of transporting invasive species;
• Holding tanks for black and gray water to permit operations in no-discharge zones (such as parts of Alaska and California);
• Hydraulic oil systems compatible with biodegradable oil; Energy efficient LED lighting;
• and High-energy absorption Schuyler fendering.

The Denise Foss has been designed to withstand the rigors of Arctic operations and is suited to work across the globe as Foss competes for opportunities in the oil and gas industry.

“The christening ceremony is our way of honoring our history,” said Parrott. “The boat sitting behind me represents our future.”

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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.

Minit Stop Wins Gold and Silver at the Pele Awards Ceremony

May 7, 2016

New company logo and carry-out food boxes win pristine awards in Hawaii

Kahului, HI. – Hawai`i’s top recognition for excellence in advertising design are the Pele awards. At the April 23rd award ceremony on Oahu, Minit Stop was awarded top honors amongst all of Hawai`i’s advertising and designs for their new logo and carry-out food boxes.

Gilbert & Associates, the advertising firm for Minit Stop who designed the new logo and boxes, accepted the awards on behalf of Minit Stop. The most popular and most competitive was the logo category. Minit Stop won a Silver award for the unique Minit Stop “Shaka Chicken” logo that is being launched this year at all stores (the Shaka is a gesture started and used in Hawaii and surf culture as a gesture of salutation, friendship, thank you, and gratitude).

The Gold Pele was won in the Packaging category, for the design of a fun Minit Stop food carry-out box using whimsical-isms and phrases written on the box. Jon Miyabuchi, Vice President of Minit Stop, described the boxes saying, “We wanted something that would entertain the person while enjoying the great food inside.  Kind of like when you were little and would read the cereal box when eating breakfast.”

“The recognition we received from the logo and food boxes is very exciting for our team and all of our customers, and they are currently being implemented at all of our stores on Maui and the Big Island.  It’s an exciting year at Minit Stop.  Besides the new logo and food boxes, we have the upcoming debuts of our Minit Stop App and proprietary blend coffee program.  We will be rolling out a lot of new exciting features at all of our stores—it’s an exhilarating time to be a Minit Stop fan!” said Vice President Miyabuchi.

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About Minit Stop

Minit Stop is the retail c-store brand of Hawaii Petroleum, Inc. Hawaii Petroleum is an independent petroleum marketer on the islands of Maui and Hawaii, and markets retail fuel under the Ohana Fuels. Today Minit Stop has 17 locations with 10 on Maui and 7 on the Big Island.  Minit Stop is an active contributor to the communities they serve, with the goal of providing world class customer service that perpetuates the diversity of culture in Hawaii and exemplifies a commitment to supporting strong family and community values. For more information, call (808) 891-6770, visit minitstop.com, “like” Minit Stop on Facebook, or follow @MinitStop on Twitter and Instagram.

North Star Petroleum expands footprint on North Slope

May 2, 2016

Saltchuk welcomes NANA Oilfield Services to the family!

Anchorage, AK –   NANA Oilfield Services (NOSI) has become the newest member of the Saltchuk family of companies.

NOSI will operate as as a sister company to Delta Western, the leading distributor of petroleum products and lubricants in Alaska, under North Star Petroleum, the petroleum distribution unit of Saltchuk.

NOSI’s facilities in Deadhorse distribute jet A and B aviation fuel, diesel, heating fuels and gasoline as well as drilling fluids and potable water to camps all over the North Slope. The acquisition further diversifies and expands North Star Petroleum’s footprint in the state.

“We are very happy to have NOSI as well as Brad Osborne and his team join the Saltchuk family of companies,” said Brian Bogen, President and CEO of North Star Petroleum, “We currently serve the North Slope from Delta Western’s location in Fairbanks. Expanding services in Deadhorse is reflective of our long term commitment to the state of Alaska and our oil and gas customers.”

The purchase was completed on April 30, 2016. Leadership from North Star Petroleum and Saltchuk will travel to meet with NOSI’s 36 employees in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Deadhorse over the coming week.

“It’s a great fit. Saltchuk’s values and commitment to Alaska make me very confident that we have found a great home,” said Brad Osborne, President of NOSI. Osborne will stay on as President of the company. “We’ve got a long and exciting future ahead, I’m looking forward to being a part of the Saltchuk family.”

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About North Star  Petroleum:

Formed in early 2006, North Star Petroleum is the parent company of the petroleum unit of Saltchuk Resources and has operating companies focused throughout Alaska, Hawaii, and the Pacific Northwest. North Star Petroleum’s operating companies employ over 500 employees in the fuel and lubricants distribution and retail trade. North Star Petroleum is located in Seattle, Washington. www.nspetroleum.com

About Saltchuk:

Saltchuk is a privately owned family of diversified transportation and distribution companies headquartered in Seattle, Wash. Throughout North America, Saltchuk companies provide air cargo, domestic and international shipping and logistics, marine services, nationwide and Alaska trucking & logistics, and petroleum distribution. Saltchuk is a values-driven organization. We put safety first. We are reliable — we take care of our customers and conduct business with honesty and integrity. We are committed to each other, to protecting our environment, and to contributing to our communities, in a work environment where anyone would be proud for their children to work. www.saltchuk.com

About NANA Oilfield  Services:

NANA Oilfield Services, Inc. (NOSI) assists North Slope Producers and contractors with the purchase of more than 5 million gallons a year of diesel, gasoline and aviation fuels, as well as all of the Chevron lubricants to keep equipment in optimum running condition. Fuel delivery on Alaska’s North Slope comes with its challenges. Despite temperatures dipping to minus 50 degrees, and wind chill factors of minus 80, NOSI has a record of on-time delivery and a reputation for quality service. www.nanaoilfield.com