News

Stay Current with Saltchuk

Foss Announces New Chief Financial Officer

January 12, 2018

New leader brings years of experience to role

SEATTLE-  Bryceon Sumner has joined Foss Maritime as Chief Financial Officer. In his new role at Foss, Sumner will oversee all aspects of the organization’s financial function and performance with an eye toward the company’s long-range strategic goals.

Sumner brings to the role years of experience as a leader in creating smart, straightforward financial strategies for a number of organizations ranging from education technology and real estate, to architecture and financial services.

“Bryceon is a strategic leader with a track record of successfully leading companies’ financial functions through periods of growth and change,” said John Parrott, President and CEO of Foss Maritime. “His financial leadership experience will be a key component of Foss’ success as we continue forward and grow our service lines.”

Prior to joining Foss, Sumner served as COO and CFO for public and private companies, family offices and as a senior financial officer of a $60 billion government banking insurance fund. Most recently, he was Chief Financial Officer of Academic Partnerships, a Dallas-based educational technology provider focused on developing online classroom tools for nonprofit colleges and universities.

Sumner’s strong background and expertise in the areas of corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, operations and as a certified public accountant has helped provide valuable leadership and support to many companies and boards. He began his career at Ernst & Young working on several IPOs, including a banking tech IPO that was later sold for $3.9 billion.

“I’m thrilled to join Foss in this CFO role and I think my experience in a number of different industries will bring a unique perspective to Foss,” said Sumner. “The maritime industry is fascinating to me and I’m looking forward to learning and growing with the knowledgeable leaders at Foss, to help strengthen our finances and support the important work we are doing.”

Sumner graduated from the University of Georgia with a BBA in accounting and the University of Texas at Austin with an MPA in accounting.

Foss Maritime Ships Hundreds of Utility Trucks to Help Restore Power in Puerto Rico

January 4, 2018

5 Barges Head Out This Weekend on 10-Day Voyage

SEATTLE, Wash. – At the Port of Virginia in Norfolk and the Port of Lake Charles in Louisiana, Foss Maritime is loading hundreds of utility trucks onto barges bound for Puerto Rico this week. It’s all part of the on-going effort to restore power to nearly half of the population who are without electricity.

Last Friday, Ricardo Rosselló, governor of Puerto Rico, announced that 1.5 million Puerto Ricans are still without power 100 days after Hurricane Maria hit Sept. 20. As part of the on-going power restoration effort, Foss is working with a coalition of 19 U.S. electric companies to deliver between 500 and 600 utility trucks, including bucket trucks, line trucks, pickups, aerial lifts, CAT skid-steer loaders, digger derricks, and pull trailers.

The electric companies are members of the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) that have pledged mutual assistance to support the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to restore power throughout the island.

The voyage from the U.S. mainland to Port of Ponce in Puerto Rico will take roughly ten days, with the trucks scheduled to arrive between January 16 and January 18. Hundreds of line workers and other personnel from participating electric companies will fly to meet the trucks and work on restoring power.

“This movement of hundreds of utility trucks is part of a comprehensive mobilization effort to get needed equipment to the island so utility crews can begin restoring power for the people of Puerto Rico,” said Will Roberts, Foss Chief Commercial Officer. “Foss is proud to be part of those efforts and continues to be at the ready as needs arise.”

In addition to the company’s current project shipping utility trucks, Foss has been helping support relief and rebuilding efforts in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for several months.

Under contract with FEMA, Foss arrived at the island on October 19, 2017 with three accommodation vessels, an ocean-going tug and more than 100 personnel to provide warm meals and “floating hotels” for hundreds of first responders, including workers from the U.S. Department of Defense, FEMA and AmeriCorps. The company has also shipped a load of power equipment and three loads of water to the island.

Foss vessels remain in the region to assist as needed through continuing recovery efforts.

Joseph Boivin appointed new president of Young Brothers

December 28, 2017

Boivin, former executive of the Gas Company, will assume leadership duties effective January 22, 2018

Honolulu – Young Brothers, Ltd has announced the appointment of Joseph Boivin as the company’s new president effective January 22, 2018. As president, he will be responsible for the company’s strategy, execution and overall operations.

Boivin most recently served as senior vice president of The Gas Company, headquartered in Honolulu. Under his tenure, he helped drive the company into new markets in gas technologies and renewable energy, shape state energy policy and achieve regulatory and financial goals. Previously, he also served as vice president of operations at the company, overseeing its workforce of 230 people on all major islands managing propane fuel supplies, propane barging, ground transport services, customer service, harbor storage facilities and over 1,000 miles of natural gas pipeline infrastructure. He will replace Glenn Hong who is retiring to take on a new role at Saltchuk, Young Brother’s parent company.

“Joe’s management experiences in utilities, transportation, and customer service as well as his knowledge of Hawaii’s business community and regulatory processes make him an ideal fit for Young Brothers,” said John Parrott, President of Foss Maritime, which oversees Young Brothers in the Saltchuk family of companies. “Under his leadership, Young Brothers’ will continue its ongoing commitment to serving our customers, employees and investors at the highest possible level.”

“I am truly honored by the opportunity to help advance the nearly 120-year legacy of Young Brothers,” said Boivin. “As the leading interisland cargo carrier in Hawaii, I recognize we have an important responsibility to serve as the lifeline for goods between the islands. I look forward to finding new and better ways to serve our community into the next generation.”

Prior to his eight years at The Gas Company, Boivin served as senior associate in the Honolulu office of global management consulting firm, Booz Allen Hamilton. Before that, he served as managing director of the investment firm Washington Capital Partners in Washington, DC; a research staff member at the Institute for Defense Analyses in Alexandria, VA; and a manufacturing engineer at Northrop Grumman’s Dallas, TX facility.

He is also a decorated military serviceman, having served for four years in the U.S. Air Force from 1988 to 1992 as a jet engine mechanic where he earned the National Defense Service Medal for Operation Desert Storm and the Air Force Achievement Medal.

Boivin earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA from the University of Arkansas and is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP), a Certified Energy Manager (CEM®), a Certified Energy Auditor (CEA®) and a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic.

Currently, Young Brothers is undergoing a fleet modernization initiative to meet neighbor island cargo needs into the next generation. By the end of 2018, Young Brothers will have made capital investments of over $180 million in new vessels and shore-side equipment. These investments include four new large 11,700-ton capacity barges as well as a 5,600-ton multi-deck roll-on/roll-off barge for vehicle transportation that is currently in service. In addition, in 2016, Young Brothers commenced construction of four new 6,000 HP American-built tugs that are slated to begin service in the first quarter of 2018. These investments will enhance operational efficiency for the company and improve reliability for Hawaii customers.

TOTE Maritime and Walmart partner to deliver more than 300 Toys to Puerto Rico

December 20, 2017

Toys arrive in San Juan on Dec 1 for the Boys & Girls Club of Puerto Rico

San Juan, Puerto Rico – TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico in partnership with Walmart delivered more than 300 toys for boys and girls of all ages to the Boys and Girls Club of Puerto Rico today.

The toys will be distributed to children and their families later this week in time for Christmas and the upcoming holidays.

This is part of TOTE Maritime’s ongoing commitment to the people of Puerto Rico to do all that it can to provide relief and recovery support following Hurricane Maria. TOTE Maritime has been working around the clock to respond to the impact of Hurricane Maria since September20th. TOTE Maritime employees on the island have worked every day since the storm hit.

The toy drive was led and supported by the employees of TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico as well as TOTE’s employees around the country.

“The Boys and Girls Club of Puerto Rico has been critical to providing food, community programming and safe spaces for the children of Puerto Rico” noted Eduardo Pagan, TOTE Maritime’s VP and General Manager, Caribbean Services. “We hope that these toys will, in some small way, help families enjoy a bit of this holiday season despite the many challenges that families continue to face.”

The Boys and Girls Club of Puerto Rico will be distributing the toys to families and children on December 21.

Cart at Walmart filled with toys ready to be loaded to a TOTE Maritime ship

Foss Provides Meals and Homes for Hundreds of First Responders in Devastated Puerto Rico

December 20, 2017

SEATTLE, Wash.,  – From hearty meals to comfortable sleeping quarters for first responders, Foss Maritime has been supporting the relief and rebuilding efforts in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands following the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria.

Foss Maritime has been working in conjunction with U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide housing and fresh meals to hundreds of first responders.

In the months since the storms hit in September, Foss has used three accommodation vessels as “floating hotels” for hundreds of workers during the recovery work—including workers from the U.S. Department of Defense, FEMA and AmeriCorps—providing food, comfort and a place to sleep after long shifts. Two Foss vessels served as sleeping quarters, while a third was used for food preparation and support. The ocean-going tugs Lauren Foss and Corbin Foss stood alongside to provide additional support, along with Foss employees and subcontractors who provided catering, laundry and cleaning for relief workers’ rooms.

In addition to caring for responders, Foss also produced around 3,000 boxed meals a day. To help support economic recovery, the meals included local ingredients whenever possible. Bread was purchased from local bakeries and meat and other perishables were sourced from nearby businesses. A local milk delivery company was hired by FEMA to deliver the meals throughout the communities.

“We hear stories everyday about the work that is being done, and what still needs to be done—especially in the mountain regions,” said Mike Lauer, Director of Marine Transportation Project Services for Foss. “We’re happy and proud to be part of these efforts. Most of the responders are working non-stop, 12 hours or more a day, every single day. It’s exhausting work, so Foss has focused on making sure everyone is well-fed and comfortable, with a place to rest.”

Ninety-five percent of Puerto Rico’s electrical grid was destroyed in the storms, with the interior most hard-hit. Ongoing rehabilitation of the island, support for its people and the restoration of its economy will take time, but services are starting to return as workers make progress. Puerto Rico’s main energy ports—Yabucoa, Ponce, Guayanilla, and San Juan—have all reopened for business. Communications are coming back online as are cellular networks. Electrical equipment is being delivered to ports so the extensive damage can be repaired.

“This has been an impressive undertaking,” said Lauer from Ponce, Puerto Rico where he was on-hand to assist in operations. “There are an incredible amount of volunteers, through groups like FEMA Core, AmeriCorps and others that are in the communities every day, knocking on doors, educating people about resources, and providing every kind of aid—even cutting trees out of homes. The thing that has made the largest impression on me is just how much our federal government is doing for Puerto Rico. Honestly, being here and seeing this, it makes me thankful to be an American citizen.”

Although FEMA contracts are wrapping up, Foss will remain in the region to assist as needed through continuing recovery efforts.