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At Saltchuk we’re proud of the positive impact our companies are making in their respective industries and communities. Regular updates will be posted here. Media Inquiries? Contact Emily Reiter at .TOTE Services and Philly Shipyard Christen Second NSMV, Patriot State, Headed to Massachusetts Maritime Academy
September 9, 2024
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg attends ceremony highlighting importance of US maritime investments
Philadelphia, PA – Today, TOTE Services, LLC and Philly Shipyard christened the second of five National Security Multi-Mission vessels (NSMVs), Patriot State, with the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of the Navy, and other key officials on hand to celebrate this milestone for U.S. maritime.
The NSMV program marks a new era in vessel construction in the United States. These next generation ships are the result of a strategic public-private partnership that leverages the design, construction and management of the private sector with the dynamic needs of the US government. The use of TOTE Services as the vessel construction manager provides financial and schedule stability and, in the case of the NSMV program, will result in delivery of all five vessels within six years of the contract award.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro both attended the christening – a reflection of the importance of this program to country at large.
“America is a proud maritime nation, a global power largely because of our relationship with the seas,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Today, as the Biden-Harris Administration celebrates the new vessel NSMV II Patriot State, we mark a new moment in our seafaring history, including the jobs and opportunities this program has created for the skilled workers of the Philly Shipyard.”
Jeff Dixon, President of TOTE Services noted “The Patriot State is the second of the five NSMVs constructed at Philly Shipyard under TOTE Services’ oversight and management. These vessels not only represent a critical US investment in the future of our maritime industry but exemplify what is possible when we leverage the right expertise and resources to the benefit of our country and the next generation. Serving as the vessel construction manager for these ships is a reflection of TOTE Services’ 49-year history as a leader in the American maritime industry.”
“The Patriot State is the 32nd vessel built with a Philly Shipyard birth certificate,” remarked Steinar Nerbovik, Philly Shipyard President and CEO, during the naming ceremony today. “On behalf of our entire workforce, we are honored to provide MARAD with a safe and quality vessel to carry the Massachusetts Maritime flag for generations to come.”
“The National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) Patriot State represents a significant leap forward in maritime training and disaster response capabilities. This vessel will not only equip our cadets with the hands-on experience necessary to become the next generation of skilled mariners, it also stands ready to serve our nation in times of crisis, providing critical support in disaster relief operations” noted Rear Admiral Francis X. McDonald, President, Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
Following the christening ceremony, the vessel will be delivered to Massachusetts Maritime Academy in the coming weeks.
About the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) Program
The U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) NSMV program is designed to provide a purpose-built, state-of-the-art training platform for the state maritime academies in New York, Massachusetts, Maine, Texas, and California, respectively.
This next-generation training fleet will address a critical shortage of qualified officers necessary to crew government and commercial owned sealift ships. In addition to providing world-class training for America’s future mariners, the NSMVs will be available to support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions in times of need.
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 government sealift vessels.
In addition to being a state-of-the-art training and educational platform, 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.
Vessel specifications:
· Length: 159.85 m
· Breadth: 27.00 m
· Draft, scantling: 7.50 m
· Total berthing: 760 people
· Speed: 18 kts
· Deadweight: 8,487 MT
Related: https://www.saltchuk.com/saltchuk/tote-services-announces-contract-to-construct-new-class-ships
New Bedford Foss Marine Terminal Opens Deep Water Berth to Accommodate Offshore Wind Vessels
August 29, 2024
Foss Transforms Derelict Power Plant Property into Gateway for Wind Industry to Provide Clean Energy
Foss Prevailing Wind docked at new NBFMT deep-water berth
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. – The New Bedford Foss Marine Terminal (NBFMT) this month opened its first deep water berth after two years of demolition and construction to support North America’s emerging wind energy sector. The berth is part of Phase II of the project and was designed specifically to accommodate offshore wind service vessels. A 300-foot bulkhead has been installed and dredging has occurred to further improve the use of the berth for both domestic and international vessels.
Administrators with the operations and maintenance (O&M) facility under development anticipate that once completed, the terminal will host a monthly rotation of up to 300 offshore workers that will be a boon for the local economy, according to Andrew Saunders, a New Bedford native and president of NBFMT.
“It’s great to be part of a project that is transforming a derelict power generating station into a state-of-the-art offshore wind hub able to support projects here in the US Northeast,” Saunders said. “All of the old, outdated buildings are now gone and the recently completed waterside improvements position us to be the gateway to the offshore wind lease blocks. The opening of this new deep-water berth is just the beginning with more waterside and land side improvements that will occur over the next few years.
“We are very excited about what the future will bring for the industry and for the regional economy as a whole. We’re building up to provide advanced management and warehouse space for partners who are servicing the burgeoning Northeast wind industry. With the opening of the deep-water berth, a consistent circulation of industry workers will spend a few days in town every month spending their company dollars on local businesses. Physically and financially, it’s truly a breath of fresh air for New Bedford.”
Future Phase III Completion Rendering
The 27-acre private terminal, owned by Foss Offshore Wind and local business leaders, has progressed through collaborations with city, state and federal agencies, notably New Bedford mayor Jonathan Mitchell, the New Bedford city council, the Port of New Bedford, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC). MassCEC so far has contributed $15 million to the project.
In order to complete the deep-water berth, The City of New Bedford facilitated state, local and private funds to dredge more than 80,000 cubic yards of contaminated material from the waters just off the site. This work was part of the City’s Phase V Dredge Program that allows for the removal of legacy contamination from decades past. In all, the Phase V Dredge Program will remove and encapsulate more than 500,000 cubic yards of contaminated material from New Bedford harbor. When complete, the terminal will boast four large individual berths and a floating pier system that can accommodate up to eleven offshore wind construction and O&M vessels.
The New Bedford Foss Marine Terminal is a model that Foss intends to emulate in multiple East and West Coast markets as the wind industry grows over the coming years, according to Foss Offshore Wind president Joel Whitman in Boston.
“Our nation needs electricity and we need it from resources that don’t continue to send environmentally damaging materials into the atmosphere,” he said. “The terminal is an investment in the people and ports necessary to make this energy transition possible.”
About NBFMT:
The New Bedford Foss Marine Terminal is a collaboration between Foss Offshore Wind, a Saltchuk Marine company, and Cannon Street Holdings, which is comprised of three local business leaders. Prior to transforming the property into a clean energy hub, the 27-acre property had a history of operating within the energy sector dating back to the whaling era more than a century ago then as a coal and oil facility through the modern era. Foss is developing the property through three phases: demolition that is complete, improvements to address the waterside infrastructure and site ground bearing capacity that is underway and eventual improvements to both expand the waterside capabilities and build out O&M warehouse, fueling capabilities and crew transport support structures. Further development, including a parking garage will coincide with industry growth over the coming decade.
About Foss Maritime
Foss was founded in 1889 in Tacoma, Wash., and grew to become the largest tugboat operation on the West Coast. Foss Offshore Wind was created in 2020 to service the growing offshore renewables market in the United States and globally. Encompassing the expansive service offerings from the Saltchuk family of companies, Foss Offshore Wind is uniquely positioned on the East and West coasts to provide clients with the full range of on- and offshore support services. Visit Foss Offshore Wind’s digital space to stay current on the New Bedford facility and future terminal and service expansions.
Saltchuk names Salazar, Estencion 2024 safety award honorees
August 20, 2024
Saltchuk is pleased to announce the honorees for the 2024 Saltchuk Safety Awards. Nominations received from across the Saltchuk family of companies highlighted incredible stories of safety mentorship, examples of going above and beyond, leading safety culture, and innovating to make operations safer for employees and the community.
The Michael D. Garvey Award for Distinguished Service in Safety is awarded to an individual who displays distinguished service at a Saltchuk company with regard to safety.
Aldin Estencion, 2024 Michael D. Garvey Award for Distinguished Service in Safety
Carlile Hostler Aldin Estencion is the 2024 Michael D. Garvey Award for Distinguished Service in Safety. A daily stretching program started five years ago at Carlile has helped to nearly eliminate soft tissue injuries, but these programs don’t happen without consistent champions. Each morning, Al, a well-respected 18-year Carlile veteran, leads employees at Carlile Transportation in Tacoma, Washington in a series of exercises designed to keep everyone moving safely throughout the day. “Aldin has been a model employee for safety and reliability,” his nominator says. “He continues to be a great asset to Carlile and all of the employees around him.”
The President’s Award for Innovation in Safety is awarded to an individual responsible for an innovative idea that improves safety behaviors or activities at a Saltchuk company.
George Salazar, 2024 President’s Award for Innovation in Safety
Tropical Shipping Senior Cargo Handling (and Hazmat) Specialist George Salazar is the 2024 President’s Award for Safety Innovation honoree. After witnessing a near-miss situation in which cargo wasn’t properly secured on a flatrack container, George took action. “Loading flatracks entails many risks — for the person loading, for the drivers and for everyone on the highway daily,” he said. To ensure safety for all parties, he used a 40-foot shipping container to create a flatrack inspection depot at the Miami warehouse. Inside, he stored tools — chains, cutters, straps, measuring poles and more — that he needed to ensure each flatrack load was secure and would pass inspection. George went beyond just creating the depot, he volunteered to work nights, training a new crew and ensuring processes and safety were consistent across the team.
2024 Honorable Mentions:
- Michael Correa, Mechanic Crew Chief, Aloha Tech Ops
- Sal Griffith, Operations Manager, St. Thomas, Tropical Shipping
- Tomas Merel, Electrician, TOTE Services
- Drew Nanouk, Cargo Agent, Ryan Air
- Hector Rodriguez, Operations Manager & Vessel Planner, Tropical Shipping
- Ronald Rodriguez, Cargo Operations Manager, TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico
- Scott Jason, Manager, Marine Operations, Vineyard Wind, Foss Offshore Wind
- Blair Teddy, Port Captain, Pacific Northwest, Foss Maritime
- Nathan White, Assistant Foreman, TOTE Services
- Donell Wilson, 289 Mechanic, TOTE Maritime Alaska
Congratulations to Aldin and George and thank you to all the 2024 nominees for making Saltchuk companies safe workplaces. This fall, People of Saltchuk will feature the stand-out achievement of the 2024 honorees.
For information regarding Saltchuk’s safety awards program, contact Saltchuk Head of Safety Michiel Versteeg, , or Communications Director, Emily Reiter,
Saltchuk Welcomes Overseas Shipholding Group to Its Family of Companies
July 10, 2024
Seattle, WA, Tampa, FL – Saltchuk Resources, Inc. (“Saltchuk”) today announced that it has successfully completed its previously announced tender offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. (NYSE: OSG) not already owned by Saltchuk for a purchase price of $8.50 per share in cash, an enterprise value of approximately $950 million. The transaction closed this morning, and OSG is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Saltchuk.
“With OSG, Saltchuk now numbers more than 8,500 people who share one thing in common: every day we strive to safely, responsibly, and reliably perform our services,” Saltchuk Chairman Mark Tabbutt stated. “As with our other businesses, OSG will remain standalone and independently managed. We look forward to working alongside the OSG team as we move forward together.”
OSG joins Saltchuk as its seventh business unit, adding energy shipping to its diversified lines of business which include domestic shipping, international shipping, logistics, marine services, energy distribution, and air cargo.
Sam Norton, OSG’s President and Chief Executive Officer remarked, “The transaction with Saltchuk marks a significant development in the long history of OSG and we are very pleased that it has been successfully completed. Leadership at both of our companies sees the value of having our business lie within the Saltchuk family of companies, an organization committed to sustaining the important role of the domestic maritime industry within the USA. The entire team at OSG looks forward to our future together.”
The proposed transaction was announced May 20, 2024 and the expiration of the required waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 was announced on June 26th.
Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., acting as joint depositary and paying agent for the tender, have advised that, as of the expiration of the tender offer, approximately 47,770,076 shares of OSG common stock were validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the tender offer, representing approximately 66% of the issued and outstanding shares of OSG common stock, which percentage does not include Saltchuk’s holdings.
As a result of the completion of the transaction, prior to the opening of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on July 10, 2024, all shares of OSG common stock will cease trading, and the OSG shares will subsequently be delisted from NYSE and deregistered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
About Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc.
Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. (“OSG”) provides liquid bulk transportation services for crude oil and petroleum products in the U.S. Flag markets. OSG’s 21 vessel U.S. Flag fleet consists of Suezmax crude oil tankers, conventional and lightering ATBs, shuttle and conventional MR tankers, and non-Jones Act MR tankers that participate in the U.S. Tanker Security Program.
OSG is committed to setting high standards of excellence for its quality, safety and environmental programs. OSG is recognized as one of the world’s most customer-focused marine transportation companies and is headquartered in Tampa, FL. More information is available at www.osg.com.
Contact
Susan Allan
Eastern Shipbuilding Group awarded contract to construct four escort tugs for Saltchuk Marine
July 8, 2024
PANAMA CITY, FL – Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) has been awarded a contract to construct four new escort tugs for Saltchuk Marine. The vessels will be built at ESG’s Allanton and Port St. Joe facilities, with delivery expected in 2026.
“We are pleased to partner with Saltchuk Marine on this significant fleet renewal project. Our team is dedicated to delivering high-quality, reliable vessels with industry-leading low lifecycle costs that meet stringent environmental standards and support our customer’s missions for many, many years,” said Joey D’Isernia, Chairman and CEO of ESG. “This contract award is more solid evidence that ESG is able to successfully design and build both government and commercial vessels while remaining highly competent and competitive in both arenas.”
“As the West Coast’s premier tug operator for more than a century, it’s critical that we continue to innovate and provide ship assist services in a manner that prioritizes safety and minimizes environmental impact,” said Jason Childs, Saltchuk Marine’s president and CEO. “The combination of Robert Allan team’s naval architecture and engineering experience and ESG’s proven history of building best-in-class vessels will ensure that we continue to provide our customers with the most reliable service on the West Coast, Hawaii, and Alaska.”
As a premier builder of commercial vessels in the United States, Eastern Shipbuilding Group is renowned for delivering high-quality tugs on budget and on schedule that have the resilience to support operations for decades. Over the past 20 years, ESG has successfully delivered 35 ship assist tugs to satisfied customers. This contract marks the beginning of Saltchuk Marine’s long-term fleet renewal project, with the new tugs set to support West Coast port operations and comply with EPA Tier 4 and California Air Resources Board (CARB) environmental requirements.
VESSEL SPECS:
Customer – Saltchuk
Delivery – 2026
Type – Ship Assist/Escort Tug
Length, overall – 84′-0″ (excluding fenders)
Breadth, moulded – 42′-0″
Depth, moulded – 14′-0″
Draft, navigation – 18′-7″
Accommodation for – 8 persons
Speed, ahead – 12 knots
Bollard Pull, minimum – 95 Short Tons (86.2 MT)
Main Engines – Caterpillar 3516E, EPA Tier 4, 3500 hp (2610 kW) @ 1,800 rpm
Thrusters – Schottel RudderPropeller SRP 510
Hawser Winch – Markey Machine DEPGF-52, 75HP, Single Drum Class II Winch
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About Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc.
Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. (ESG) is an American owned and operated shipbuilder with three shipyards on the Florida Gulf Coast. They build world class vessels for national defense and commercial clients, including the U.S. Coast Guard’s Heritage Class Offshore Patrol Cutters. ESG is the largest private sector employer in Northwest Florida and is a 2017 recipient of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Small Business of the Year award. With a portfolio of over 350 vessels and Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) and Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) certified systems, ESG is known as one of the most diverse vessel construction companies in the country. www.easternshipbuilding.com
About Saltchuk Marine
The Saltchuk Marine family, with the tugboat as the center of our services, is steeped in a rich and storied history of innovation and service. With a keen use of technology, Saltchuk Marine companies: Foss Maritime, Young Brothers, Cook Inlet Tug & Barge, AmNav Maritime, and Foss Offshore Wind continue to lead the industry in harbor services and marine transportation solutions, with safety and the environment leading our principles. Saltchuk Marine is part of Saltchuk. Saltchuk provides air cargo, domestic shipping, international shipping, logistics, marine services, and energy distribution services throughout North America. Visit www.saltchuk.com for more information.