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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 Maritime Committed to Relief and Recovery Efforts in Puerto Rico
September 27, 2017
TOTE Maritime Terminal in San Juan with more than 2700 containers of cargo for the island
Jacksonville, FL – TOTE Maritime is working around the clock to ensure that relief and recovery supplies are available to the people of Puerto Rico. In the last few days, TOTE Maritime and sister company Tropical have discharged three vessels. As of last night, more than 2750 FEUS (forty foot equivalents) of cargo, including ice, water, fuel, generators and canned/dried food, will have arrived at the Port all intended to assist with the short and long term needs of the island.
TOTE Maritime is working directly with the American Red Cross and FEMA as well as various local churches and smaller local organizations to prioritize the most critical items. In addition, TOTE is coordinating with these organizations and the island to ensure future sailings contain key items for the communities of Puerto Rico.
TOTE Maritime’s Perla del Caribe docked in San Juan on Sept. 26, 2017
“We are committed to playing a central role in supporting Puerto Rico during this time and ensuring that all Puerto Ricans have access to basic necessities such as clean water and food as the relief and recovery efforts begin” noted Tim Nolan, President of TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico. “Our ships have significant capacity and we want to use our resources to support the island. Just one ship can carry the same amount of goods as nearly 2000 passenger planes – and we want to make sure every shipment, every ton, every container counts and helps the people of Puerto Rico.”
TOTE Maritime is on-hiring additional equipment to ensure continuous flow of cargo to the island with the upcoming sailings.
TOTE Maritime will continue to engage with appropriate parties to ensure the needs of the island are being met over the coming weeks and months.
TOTE Announces Plans to Establish New U.S. Mainland to Hawai’i Shipping Service
August 17, 2017
Terminal space in Honolulu key to TOTE’s plans to bring new environmentally advanced containerships to Hawai’i trade in 2020
Honolulu, HI – TOTE announced today its intention to establish a new domestic shipping service to Hawai’i. The company is working with Philly Shipyard to construct four new environmentally advanced containerships, custom built for the trade. This week began conversations to secure the new deep water Kapalama Container Terminal (KCT) in Honolulu for TOTE, a critical step in making the new service a reality.
For more than 40 years, TOTE and its operating companies have provided dedicated service to Alaska and Puerto Rico. As part of its commitment and stewardship of the communities it serves, the company has invested more than $600 million to convert its ships to run on natural gas, making its fleet the most environmentally friendly in the U.S.
“TOTE is excited to bring our best-in-class service to the people of Hawai’i,” noted Anthony Chiarello, President and CEO of TOTE. “TOTE’s presence on the islands will provide market stability and introduce new environmentally advanced vessels that will greatly benefit the islands.”
Timing is critical for construction of new ships for Hawai’i and a commitment for terminal space in Honolulu is needed to move the new venture forward. New environmental regulations taking effect in 2020 necessitate replacement of aged ships currently operating in the trade. As planned, the new vessels from Philly Shipyard will enter service in early 2020 and 2021, just in time to meet the deadline and maintain trade capacity.
“TOTE’s commitment is to provide superior service for our customers as well as the communities we serve, ensuring that goods arrive on time week in and week out,” noted Chiarello. “TOTE will bring the same commitment to our Hawai’i operations to ensure maritime transportation is industry leading.”
About TOTE
TOTE is a leading transportation and logistics company, overseeing some of the most trusted companies in the U.S. domestic trade. TOTE Maritime Alaska and TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico bring a focus on reliability and service to their respective markets. TOTE Services offers crewing and technical services to meet the needs of commercial, privately owned and U.S. Government vessels. TOTE owns and operates the most environmentally friendly cargo fleet in U.S., including the world’s first LNG powered containerships that serve the Puerto Rico trade.
TOTE Maritime Alaska was recently voted the Top Ocean Carrier in the 2017 Quest for Quality Awards while both TOTE Maritime Alaska and TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico tied for first place in the customer service category.
TOTE is part of the Saltchuk family of companies. Saltchuk transportation and distribution companies operate throughout North America and have served the communities of Hawaii for more than 18 years. Saltchuk companies serving Hawaii include Aloha Air Cargo, Aloha Tech Ops, Foss Maritime, Young Brothers, Hawaii Petroleum, Minit Stop and Ohana Fuels.
For more information on TOTE please visit www.toteinc.com.
For more information on the Saltchuk family of companies please visit www.saltchuk.com.
Northern Aviation Services expands fleet
July 5, 2017
Northern Aviation Services, Inc. operates Boeing 737 freighters and provides 767 freighter services under ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) agreements with ATSG’s airline subsidiaries.
Under the agreements, CAM will lease three 767-300 freighters to Northern Aviation Services, Inc. for seven-year terms, beginning with the first lease in October 2017. The agreements also provide for the potential lease of additional 767-300s from CAM in 2018. These long-term lease placements will add to the already greater than 80 percent of CAM’s 767 fleet contracted under multi-year dry lease.
Some of the leased 767-300s will replace CAM-owned 767-200/300s currently operating on an ACMI basis under ATSG’s Wet-2-Dry program, which allows carriers to prove their business case for 767s under ACMI arrangements, then transition to long-term dry lease arrangements.
ATSG President and CEO Joe Hete said, “Our relationship with Northern Aviation Services and its affiliates began in 2015 and is expanding based on the solid relationship the companies have developed over that time. We are pleased that NAS has come to appreciate the advantages of our midsize Boeing 767s and the benefits they can provide to regional air cargo networks like the one that NAS is developing. We hope to provide more details about our continuing role as a provider of reliable midsize freighters to NAS in the coming months.”
NAS President and CEO David Karp said, “We’re pleased to be moving forward with our transition from wet leasing to dry leasing with CAM. Our experience over the past two years has given us the confidence to move ahead with this initiative. We look forward to continued mutually beneficial collaboration with ATSG, CAM, and their family of companies. We have already commenced hiring and training of pilots to accommodate this expansion and our operating companies are excited about providing expanded services to our valued customers.”
About ATSG
ATSG is a leading provider of aircraft leasing and air cargo transportation and related services to domestic and foreign air carriers and other companies that outsource their air cargo lift requirements. ATSG, through its leasing and airline subsidiaries, is the world’s largest owner and operator of converted Boeing 767 freighter aircraft. Through its principal subsidiaries, including two airlines with separate and distinct U.S. FAA Part 121 Air Carrier certificates, ATSG provides aircraft leasing, air cargo lift, aircraft maintenance services and airport ground services. ATSG’s subsidiaries include ABX Air, Inc.; Airborne Global Solutions, Inc.; Air Transport International, Inc.; Cargo Aircraft Management, Inc.; and Airborne Maintenance and Engineering Services, Inc. including its division, PEMCO World Air Services, Inc. For more information, please see www.atsginc.com.
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.
Final of Three Ice Class Ocean Tugs Christened
June 12, 2017
Nicole Foss ready for the Arctic
The Nicole Foss just before her christening at the Foss Waterway Seaport in Tacoma.
TACOMA, Wash., June 12, 2017 – The final of three state-of-the-art Arctic Class tugs, the Nicole Foss, was christened last week at the Foss Waterway Seaport in Tacoma, Wash. Built at the Foss Rainier, OR. Shipyard, the Nicole is designed to operate in the extreme conditions of the far north, and will enter service this summer.
Foss President and CEO John Parrott made opening remarks, praising the hard work and dedication of the people, designers, and customers that made the project possible. He spoke of the service of the first Arctic tugs, the Michele Foss and the Denise Foss, and the vessels to come that will join all of the Foss vessels that are currently “hard at work supporting our customers, our industry and our collective family of companies.”
Scott Merritt, Chief Operating Officer of Foss also spoke, praising the team at the Rainier Shipyard. “As I looked back,” said Merritt, “I realized that this was hull #22. It made me think of what has been accomplished at the Rainier Shipyard and the care that goes into each and every vessel. The craftsman of the men and women at Rainier rivals the best yards in the world, and these vessels reflect their desire to provide a world-class product to the mariners that will sail on them. The Nicole Foss is truly a job well done.”
Nicole, Tim and Emma Engle with the Captain of the Nicole Foss
Nicole Engle, the vessel’s namesake and one of three sisters who are primary shareholders of Saltchuk, the parent company of Foss Maritime, spoke of one of Saltchuk’s core values to reinvest in the family of companies, “seeing this promise become a reality with the three Arctic tugs is truly amazing.”
The Nicole 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 in her first year of operation 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. The Denise has also continued to exceed expectations and will return to the far north this summer.
The Nicole Foss complies with the requirements in the ABS Guide for Building and Classing Vessels Intended to Operate in Polar Waters, including ABS A1 standards, SOLAS and Green Passport. She includes two environmentally responsible Caterpillar C280-8 main engines; a Nautican nozzle and rudder system to provide superior bollard pull and maneuverability; 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 Nicole 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.