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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 .Employee celebrations mark Tropical Shipping joining Saltchuk family of companies
September 19, 2014
Palm Beach, Florida – Steel drums and a traditional Bahamian Junkanoo dance troop entertained a crowd of more than 325 Tropical Shipping employees as they celebrated the 51-year old company and its subsidiaries officially joining the Saltchuk family of companies, the sale was finalized September 2.
Tropical Shipping employees celebrated the closing of the sale of the 51-year old company and its subsidiaries to Saltchuk Resources.
Three gatherings were held last week in Palm Beach and Miami, bringing together more than 550 of the company’s 1,000 employees. “It was important that this be about our employees. It was an opportunity for them to meet our new owners and to celebrate this next chapter in our company’s story,” said Mark Chapman, Tropical’s Vice President of Organizational Support .
Tropical Shipping CEO Rick Murrell, who has been with the company more than 40 years, shared enthusiasm for the transaction that brought Tropical and Saltchuk together.
“We have known about the Saltchuk organization for many years and have always believed we would make a great team. Now it is a reality,” wrote Murrell in an email to employees. “I believe this is a historical moment for Tropical Shipping. Furthermore, I can’t express enough gratitude to the AGL leadership and organization for their stewardship and thoughtfulness in positioning Tropical and its employees for a long and successful future.”
Saltchuk, a family of nationally recognized transportation and distribution companies, welcomed Tropical as its sixth business unit. Tropical, along with its sister companies TOTE, Foss, North Star Petroleum, Northern Aviation Services and Interstate Distributor, brings Saltchuk’s portfolio to nearly $3 billion in annual sales and more than 7,500 employees nationwide.
Tropical CEO Rick Murrell presents a scale model of the company’s flagship, the Tropic Unity, to Saltchuk primary shareholders Nicole Engle and Denise Tabbutt, Saltchuk Chairman Mark Tabbutt and President Tim Engle (not pictured).
Denise Tabbutt, one of the three sisters who are primary shareholders of Saltchuk welcomed employees. “My sisters and I are so proud to welcome you to the Saltchuk family. I have never met more enthusiastic and happy people. You are an inspiration to us,” she said. “Thank you for everything you do to make Tropical such an amazing company.”
While the ownership transition is a significant event, the company doesn’t expect any change in day-to-day operations of the Caribbean Shipping Line.
“Today we celebrate, and tomorrow it’s business as usual,” said Murrell. “We will continue to serve our customers with the best service possible and will begin planning for a future supported by a parent company which brings a broader scope of opportunity to serve our customers. We are excited to learn from our sister companies who are implementing LNG (liquefied natural gas) as a transportation fuel. We believe there’s great things ahead for Tropical.”
Aloha Air Cargo launches Los Angeles to Honolulu roundtrip flight
September 17, 2014
Honolulu, HI– Aloha Air Cargo (www.AlohaAirCargo.com), Hawaii’s largest all-cargo carrier, is expanding their air cargo service with the addition of a direct, wide-body Boeing 767-300F aircraft from Los Angeles (LAX) to Honolulu (HNL). The new, five-times weekly roundtrip flight is scheduled to begin service October 23, 2014 adding needed capacity into and out of Los Angeles, CA. The new air cargo service will be geared toward freight forwarders, consolidators, passenger carrier partners, and businesses looking to sync up with Aloha’s existing interisland network, for seamless movement of through cargo shipments to the Neighboring Hawaiian Islands.
Aloha Air Cargo will be operating a Boeing 767-300F, with a maximum payload of 125,000 pounds, from Los Angeles International Airport on a Tuesday through Saturday rotation, departing at 2 am PST, and arriving into Honolulu International Airport at approximately 5 am HST. Return flights will operate Monday through Friday, departing Honolulu at 2:30 pm HST and arriving into Los Angeles at approximately 10:45 pm PST.
“As all-cargo specialists, Aloha recognizes that our customers have been interested in additional lift options since passenger carriers have increasingly shifted from wide-body to smaller, less cargo conscious, narrow-body airframes over the last few years,” said Pat Rosa, Chief Operating Officer for Aloha Air Cargo. “Not only is this lane expansion a momentous step towards growth for Aloha, but we anticipate the lane will stimulate the market, spurring other carriers to explore repurposed shipping routes through LAX and thereby reducing cargo transit times for customers globally – not only for Hawaii-bound freight, but those moving onward to South Pacific and Asian destinations.”
The flight will significantly increase Aloha’s domestic capacity between North America and the Pacific region, and improve service reliability and frequency for onward shipments into Kailua-Kona (KOA), Kahului (OGG), and across the State of Hawaii. Likewise, the wide-body capability will further strengthen the platform and service performance that the Aloha network offers customers and carriers shipping from Asia to the Americas.
Benefits for Customers
The new flight brings several benefits for customers both operationally and commercially. Aside from the full cargo, wide-body format that will accommodate a solid mix of ULD configurations, to include LD7s (PAGs and PMCs), AADs, LD2s, LD4s, and LD8s, cargo can fly on a single airway bill to the Neighbor Islands instead of terminating in Honolulu and being re-cut for interisland movement. Likewise, as an all-cargo operation, the acceptance of unknown shipper cargo will open up opportunities for small businesses and consumer shipping. With earlier arrival times into Honolulu, freight forwarders can enjoy a quick release of their inbound shipments, allowing their customer distribution networks to operate more efficiently. Aloha will continue to provide their core cargo services, such as online tracking and special cargo handling, to include hazardous materials, oversized cargo, live animals, human remains, military goods, and perishable freight commodities.
For more information and how to secure space on the new LAX-HNL-LAX lane please contact Aloha Air Cargo toll free 888-94-ALOHA (25642), via email at www.AlohaAirCargo.com for further details.
About Aloha Air Cargo
Headquartered in Honolulu, Aloha Air Cargo,www.AlohaAirCargo.com, delivers fast, economical and reliable transport of goods between the Hawaiian Islands of Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Island of Hawaii. It became an independent cargo operator after the closure of Aloha Airlines passenger services in May 2008. Aloha Tech Ops is a division of Aloha Air Cargo and provides maintenance and engineering services to airlines in the State of Hawaii. Aloha Air Cargo is owned by Seattle-based Saltchuk, which has been doing business in Hawaii since 2000 when it acquired Young Brothers/Hawaiian Tug & Barge. Committed to the welfare of Hawaii and strengthening the local economy, the company also acquired Hawaii Fuel Network, Maui Petroleum and Minit Stop Stores in 2006.
World’s first LNG containership receives ME-GI engine
September 15, 2014
San Diego, CA – Late last month, NASSCO engineers placed the world’s first dual-fuel slow speed engine into the World’s First Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) powered containership.
The ME-GI engine represents the next generation of technology that will open the door to a cleaner and safer shipping industry, particularly in the United States. Doosan Engine built the 8L70ME-C8.2GI under license from the designer MAN Diesel and Turbo. The engine weighs 539 tons.
TOTE Shipholdings, Inc., a subsidiary of TOTE, is the first company to use these engines in their vessels. The two new Marlin Class ships, being built by General Dynamics NASSCO’s shipyard in San Diego will be used in the Puerto Rico trade and are expected to enter the trade in late 2015 and early 2016 respectively.
“This large slow speed (two stroke) dual fuel engine is the first of its kind in the world” noted Phil Morrell, Vice President of Commercial Marine Operations for TOTE Services, the division of TOTE that is responsible for ship’s technical management and crewing. “Using this engine in our new Marlin class vessels will not only drastically reduce our SOx, NOx, particulate matter and greenhouse gas emissions as a result of using liquefied natural gas, but it will also improve our efficiency meaning these ships will require less energy to travel the same distance and help preserve the environment.”
“Landing the world’s first low speed, dual fuel engine on the lead Marlin Class ship signifies a shift into a new era of green ship technology. NASSCO is proud to partner with TOTE to construct these cutting edge ships” stated Parker Larson, Director of Commercial Programs for General Dynamics NASSCO.
Hull 495, the first of the two Marlin-Class vessels being built by NASSCO will be completed in early 2015.
Saltchuk expands leadership team, welcomes Betsy Seaton as new SVP of Operations
September 10, 2014
Seattle, WA- Saltchuk Resources welcomes Betsy Seaton as Senior Vice President of Operations.
Seaton brings a wealth of experience in both operations and business leadership to the Saltchuk family of companies. She began her career at the Boston Consulting Group and has spent the last 22 years at Weyerhaeuser in a variety of roles, centered around strategic planning, enterprise resource planning, P&L leadership and improving operations. For the past six years she held the role of VP Strategy and Corporate Development.
As SVP of Operations, Seaton will work with Saltchuk leaders to improve operations and increase collaboration between the company’s six business units.
Seaton is a graduate of Princeton University and earned a J.D. / M.B.A. from the University of Chicago. She is a member of the California Bar. In addition to strategy and finance leadership, she has more than ten years of experience as a Board member and advisor to a wide range of organizations, including Columbia Bank, Liaison Technologies and Planned Parenthood.
Domestic American Maritime Industry Booming
September 10, 2014
Industry Contributes Nearly $100 Billion to Economy, Supports Almost 500,000 U.S. Jobs & Is Meeting Demands of U.S. Energy Production
WASHINGTON – The U.S. House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation today heard first hand about America’s booming domestic maritime industry from Mark Tabbutt, Chairman of the Board of Saltchuk, one of the country’s most recognized transportation and distribution companies, who was testifying on behalf of the American Maritime Partnership (AMP). Tabbutt told Subcommittee Chairman Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) and Ranking Member Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.) that American maritime, supported by the Jones Act, is strong, vibrant, and growing.
Tabbutt testifying before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, September 9, 2014
“Our industry is experiencing an extraordinary renaissance and its contributions to America’s economic, national and homeland security have never been more important,” said Tabbutt. “The largest sector of our domestic marine transportation industry supports our energy infrastructure with the movement of crude, refined petroleum products, and chemicals and has seen dramatic growth as a result of the shale oil revolution. This is driving record levels of new vessel construction orders and deliveries in American shipyards.”
Tabbutt updated the subcommittee on the growth in domestic vessel construction and noted that the American shipyard sector is seeing a significant resurgence in construction for all types of vessels including containerships, roll-on/roll-off vessels, dredges, offshore supply vessels, large articulated tug-barges, and tankers. Tabbutt also noted that the state-of-the-art vessels being built are more productive, energy efficient, and environmentally friendly. America’s maritime industry is also reaching out to hire more veterans, Tabbutt said, through its Military2Maritime program with recent job fairs in Jacksonville, FL and Houston, TX.
Tabbutt talks with Committee Chairman Hunter
“The American domestic maritime industry is doing its part to help address the transportation changes. There are 22 new large tankers and articulated tug-barges under contract, not including options for future construction.” Tabbutt said. “We have inland shipyards in this country that are building and launching, on average, almost a new barge every single day of the year. New tugs and towing vessels are also being built to handle that increased demand.”
“We are very grateful for the opportunity to testify before the subcommittee to share the good news of America’s vibrant maritime sector,” said AMP Chairman Tom Allegretti. “This is an industry that is investing heavily in vessels, personnel and practices to ensure its continued ability to safely and efficiently meet the demands of its customers, as well as the nation’s transportation needs. This is an exciting time to be a part of a very dynamic industry.”
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American Maritime Partnership is the voice of the U.S. domestic maritime industry, a pillar of our nation‘s economic, national, and homeland security. More than 40,000 American vessels built in American shipyards, crewed by American mariners, and owned by American companies, operate in our waters 24/7. For more information, please visit www.americanmaritimepartnership.com