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Carlile Transportation Systems, Inc., has named Todd Alllen Vice President of Human Resources

March 19, 2014

ANCHORAGE, AK – Carlile Transportation Systems, Inc., has named Todd Allen as their new Vice President of Human Resources. Todd will provide leadership over the Human Resources Department for Carlile.

Todd is a seasoned professional with more than 15 years of leadership experience providing human resource solutions and expertise to organizations in diverse industries. He has been involved with strategic restructuring, HR process transformation and re-engineering of organizations in Alaska, the L-48 as well as internationally. Todd has extensive experience in the design and implementation of HR processes and programs and is a recognized expert in compensation and benefit administration.

Todd has an undergraduate degree in Employee and Labor Relations from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. He holds a lifetime Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and is a certified compensation professional (CCP) with WorldatWork. He has taught a number of WorldatWork certification classes, and currently provides editorial reviews for WorldatWork articles prior to publication.

In support of local and state-wide SHRM chapters and the development of human resource professionals, Todd also provides instruction on the compensation and benefits sections of the PHR/SPHR certification study program as well as being an invited speaker at various human resource seminars.

Todd is actively involved with many community service and non-profit organizations and recently completed an eight-year term on the board of directors for the Alaska SeaLife Center, in Seward, AK.

About Carlile Transportation Systems- One of Alaska’s largest trucking companies, with over 350 tractors, Carlile offers a full range of transportation and logistics services including project logistics and supply chain management, freight consolidation and multi-modal transportation. Carlile owns and operates terminals that serve Alaska from Anchorage, Fairbanks, Kenai, Kodiak, Prudhoe Bay and Seward, as well as Seattle, WA, Houston, TX, Blaine, MN, and Edmonton, AB.  www.carlile.biz

Foss Meets Growing Modular Business with New Barge

March 17, 2014

Maiden voyage, Alaska’s North Slope

SEATTLE – Foss Maritime is building a new ocean-going barge that will give the company an additional asset to transport large modules both domestically and internationally. The new vessel will be Jones Act qualified. Its anticipated maiden voyage from South Korea to Alaska’s rugged North Slope will take place in 2015.

The 360-foot long by 120-foot wide by 20-foot deep barge will soon be under construction in the Portland, OR shipyard of Gunderson Marine. Delivery is expected in late 2014.

“This barge will further connect us to the shallow draft regions of the Arctic,” said Gary Faber, Foss’ president of global services. “It allows us to move modules and cargo, more safely, almost anywhere in the world; which adds tremendous value to our existing fleet.”

The barge’s first Foss job is expected in early 2015, when the company will perform a second sealift of oil and gas infrastructure to Point Thomson on Alaska’s North Slope. The barge will likely be towed from South Korea by the first of three Arctic-class tugs that are being constructed at the company’s Rainier, OR shipyard.

“With increased activity on the North Slope we continue to add to our Alaska capabilities,” said Faber. “Along with our new Arctic-class Tugs, this barge will add yet another valuable asset.”

Foss Maritime Joins with Prestigious National Laboratory on Promising Hydrogen Fuel Research

February 26, 2014

 Scientists looking to tap potential for cleaner air and lower fuel costs, commercialize technology

SEATTLE, – Foss Maritime and one of America’s most prestigious national research laboratories are joining in a project aimed at producing cleaner air, less costly fuel and a healthier environment.

Seattle-based Foss and its Hawaiian subsidiary, Young Brothers Ltd., are partnering with hydrogen researchers at Sandia National Laboratory. They are building a portable, self-contained hydrogen fuel cell for testing at the Port of Honolulu beginning in 2015 for six months. The prototype can be installed on barges, provide power to refrigerated containers on the dock or be transported to wherever it is needed to generate electricity.

“The hydrogen fuel cell is exciting new technology,” said Paul Stevens, CEO and President of Foss Maritime. “It underscores once again our company’s willingness to innovate and find solutions to decrease emissions from our operations. The entire maritime industry stands to benefit from the work we’ll be doing with Sandia’s hydrogen researchers.”

Last year Sandia scientists completed a study confirming hydrogen fuel cells’ ability to provide additional power to docked or anchored ships. The unit will be designed and built to comply with U.S. classification society and regulatory requirements.

“No one has ever built this kind of custom unit for this purpose,” said Sandia’s Joe Pratt, who led the previous study and serves as project manager. The unit, he said, will fit inside a 20-foot shipping container and consists of four 30-kilowatt fuel cells, a hydrogen storage system and power conversion equipment.

The completed system will be deployed by Young Brothers, Ltd., which ships goods throughout the Hawaiian Islands. The unit is undergoing detailed engineering and design through mid-2014 and, after construction and an additional month of training for Young Brothers operators, will be operational in a six-month test phase in early 2015.

Glenn Hong, Young Brothers President, welcomed the partnership with Scandia: “Environmental stewardship is an important aspect of Young Brothers’ business, so we’re pleased to be part of this clean-energy initiative.”

The Hawaii project is jointly sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD). Two other companies are involved in the project: Hydrogenics Corp. will build the prototype unit and provide fuel cells; and, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute will provide assistance with the availability of hydrogen.

Armed with optimistic results from the 2013 study of various west coast ports, Sandia followed up with an analysis that looked in more detail at Young Brother’s shipping operations. Like many operators, the company often uses diesel generators to provide auxiliary power.

“We compared the efficiencies of their diesel engines versus fuel cells, studied hydrogen costs and tried to pinpoint the cost savings and reductions in emissions that would be realized if they were to convert to a fuel cell-centered operation,” said Pratt.

Following the six-month deployment of the fuel cell system, Pratt said the project team will carefully analyze the project’s successes and challenges. “Lessons learned” might range from key technical issues related to the system itself, or operational findings that won’t be known until the deployment is completed.

Pratt said the best-case scenario would be continuous, reliable operation of the prototype fuel cell system at the pier and on a barge, an operation which would save Young Brothers money and lower emissions.

The long range goal, he said, is to develop a commercial product that can be widely used at ports worldwide. Hydrogenics Corp., he pointed out, sees a strong market need and desire for a “fuel cell in a box” product, not only at ports but also for other applications such as providing power to users not connected to an electric grid.

“All of the project partners believe in the commercial viability of this work and believe this will become much bigger than a one-off deployment,” Pratt said.

TOTE, General Dynamics NASSCO mark the start of construction for the first LNG-powered containership in the world

February 25, 2014

February 25, 2014 – San Diego, California, U.S.A. – Fireworks marked the first cut of steel in a ceremony last night as construction of TOTE, Inc.’s new Marlin Class, the first liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered containership in the world, began at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, Calif.

“These ships, will be the most advanced, environmentally progressive vessels of their kind,” state Representative Duncan Hunter (R-CA), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation said, “but they also represent $350 million in U.S. investment, 600 American shipyard jobs, and the bright future of the indispensable domestic maritime industry.”

The Marlin class vessels mark a new age in American shipbuilding. TOTE’s back to back announcements in 2012 – converting its existing RO/RO fleet in Alaska and investing in new containerships for the Puerto Rico trade, began what can only be described as a change of tide in the U.S. maritime industry toward LNG as the new maritime fuel. ­

Clean burning, LNG offers unmatched environmental benefits, reducing emissions below even the world’s most stringent standards. The new Marlin class will create a reduction of sulfur dioxide (SOx) emissions by 98 percent, particulate matter (PM) by 99 percent, nitrous oxide (NOx) and carbon dioxide (CO2) by 71 percent over TOTE’s ships currently operating in Puerto Rico.

“The move to LNG fuel is no less significant than the evolution from sail to steam,” said Mark Tabbutt, Chairman of Saltchuk, TOTE’s parent company, “the Marlins represent the start of a new age in American maritime.”

Speakers at last night’s event included Representative Duncan Hunter; Acting Maritime Administrator, Chip Jaenichen; Chairman of Saltchuk, TOTE’s parent company, Mark Tabbutt, and Kevin Graney, General Manager of the NASSCO shipyard.

“We are excited to begin construction of the lead ship on this historic project,” said Fred Harris, president of General Dynamics NASSCO. “All of the stakeholders on this first-of-a-kind program, including NASSCO, our Korean partners DSEC, TOTE, ABS, and the USCG, are completely focused on its success. We are beginning construction at a level of design, planning and material readiness that is unsurpassed.”

The Marlins, which will home port in Jacksonville, Florida, will enter service in late 2015 and early 2016. TOTE recently announced it entered into an agreement with Pivotal LNG and WesPac Midstream to provide LNG to the ships.

More information on TOTE’s LNG project

Click here for video highlights of the steelcutting ceremony

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Totem Ocean chooses Wärtsilä technology for largest LNG ship conversion in North America

February 18, 2014

John Parrott, President of Totem Ocean Trailer Express and Björn Rosengren, President & CEO of Wärtsilä Corporation

February 18, 2014 – Federal Way, WA – Totem Ocean Trailer Express (Totem Ocean) has announced that Wärtsilä will supply main engines, generators and integrated LNG storage and fuel gas handling systems (LNGPac™) for the largest LNG conversions ever undertaken in North America. In making this decision John Parrott, President of Totem Ocean, cited Wärtsilä’s proven technology as a deciding factor in selecting the company. Mr. Parrott emphasized that “maintaining reliable, on time service is critical to Totem Ocean’s customers as well as the economy and citizens of Alaska.”

The contract was signed in the fourth quarter of 2013, and executives from both companies met on February 17, 2014 in Tacoma, Washington to announce the project.

“Today marks the beginning of a long relationship between our two companies,” said Parrott. ”Our relationship will outlast this project to extend over the 35-plus year life of our vessels.”

Totem Ocean’s fleet of two Orca Class roll-on/roll-off cargo ships – M.V. Midnight Sun and M.V. North Star transport about one-third of all the goods required by the inhabitants of Alaska. Cargo includes essential items such as food, household goods, vehicles, construction materials and military supply support.

As a result of the conversion, the Totem Ocean vessels will set new standards for environmental responsibility by reducing sulphur oxide (SOx) emission by 100 percent; particulate matter (PM) by 91 percent; nitrogen oxide (NOx) by 90 percent; and carbon dioxide (CO2) by 35 per cent.

”It is an unprecedentedly exciting time to be in the maritime industry. Economic constraints and the need to comply with environmental legislation have combined to accelerate the switch to LNG fuel. Wärtsilä is uniquely positioned to enable this transition since we have been a leader in developing the appropriate technology for nearly 30 years. We look forward to working with TOTE on converting the Midnight Sun and North Star to LNG so that they can realize the benefits that LNG as a marine fuel can provide,” says Björn Rosengren, President & CEO of Wärtsilä Corporation.

Project Specs

• Each of the vessels will be equipped with four 12-cylinder Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines and generator sets
• Wärtsilä 50DF engines have been designed to give high output combined with fuel flexibility, low emissions, efficiency and reliability
• Engines can be run either on natural gas, light fuel oil or heavy fuel oil
• Wärtsilä also provides the vessels with two 1100 m³ LNG fuel storage tanks and the associated automaton and fuel gas handling systems (LNGPac™)

In addition to the equipment, Wärtsilä is taking responsibility for the design, engineering and integration of the system, and project and site management for its scope of supply.

“We are seeing a transformative change in the marine industry with the switch from oil based product to natural gas,” says Quentin Stewart, Sales Manager, Ship Power, Wärtsilä North America.