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TOTE Group’s operating fleets to be certified by Green Marine

April 19, 2023

Jacksonville, FL – TOTE Group, an industry leader in U.S. transportation and logistics, is enrolling its TOTE Maritime Alaska and its TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico fleets in Green Marine, the leading voluntary environmental certification program for North America’s maritime industry.

With a special fleet of roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) cargo ships, TOTE Maritime Alaska serves the maritime route between Tacoma, WA, and Anchorage, AK. Its highly efficient and dependable custom-built cargo ships for this route are part of TOTE’s commitment to Alaska, its communities and environment since 1975.

TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico routes cargo from across the continental United States through Jacksonville, FL to Puerto Rico and elsewhere in the Caribbean, offering critical services to the islands where reliable delivery of goods and supplies are vital. TOTE introduced the world’s first two LNG-powered containerships in 2015, specifically for this Puerto Rico trade.

“TOTE’s use of alternative fuels such as LNG dramatically reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on a tank-to-wake basis, offering a pathway to decarbonization in the shipping industry,” said TOTE Group President & CEO Tim Nolan. “By utilizing the cleanest, most readily available fuel for shipping today and into the future, TOTE is creating positive outcomes for those we serve and the coastal communities in which we operate.”

Green Marine’s President David Bolduc salutes TOTE’s environmental vision: “It is with great pride that we welcome such a sustainability pioneer and leader within our certification program,” he said. “I look forward to us learning from each other’s experience.”

Bolduc also noted that the Green Marine program is a good fit for a multi-faceted company such as the TOTE Group. “We are very pleased with TOTE’s intention to enroll its terminal operations into the certification process in due course,” he said. “Our program is unique in its certification of both ship activities and landside operations.”

To achieve Green Marine certification, TOTE will assess the environmental performance of its operating fleets through key performance indicators that address such issues as greenhouse gases, ballast water discharge, air emissions, oily water, waste management, underwater noise, and ship recycling. The certification process is rigorous and transparent, with results independently verified every two years, and each participant’s individual performance made public annually.

Green Marine Overview

Founded in 2007, Green Marine’s North American environmental certification program is celebrating its 15th year as a voluntary effort by the shipping industry to go beyond regulations. There are currently more than 175 ship owners, port authorities, terminal operators, and shipyard managers throughout Canada and the United States participating in the program. A pivotal element of Green Marine’s success from the outset has been the active support from environmental stakeholders, the scientific community, and governments. Many of the more than 90 Green Marine supporters take part in reviewing and shaping the environmental program. In 2020, Green Marine collaborated with Surfrider Foundation Europe to export the environmental certification program to France and give birth to Green Marine Europe. More details are available at www.green-marine.org.

About TOTE Group

TOTE Group is an industry leader in transportation and logistics, overseeing the deliveries of some of the most trusted U.S. companies with the highly reliable services that it provides to the customers and communities that it serves. Its maritime business line has a team of logistics professionals dedicated to providing shipping solutions for service throughout the Lower 48 to Alaska and Puerto Rico. Its terminals business line provides world-class stevedoring and cargo services. Other TOTE Group services include vessel construction, ship management and top-to-bottom technical consulting for ships that range from cargo to military vessels. As the owner and operator of independently managed operating companies, the TOTE Group upholds four pillars in all its enterprises: safety, customer satisfaction, operational excellence, and colleague experience.

Young Brothers Appoints Two New Board Members

April 19, 2023

Grant Chun and Emily Porter join the company’s executive board

PORT OF HONOLULU, HAWAI‘I – Young Brothers announced the appointment of Grant Chun and Emily Porter to its board of directors. Chun and Porter join the board as local business and community leaders who will help oversee Young Brothers’ strategic direction and mission. ​

“Both Grant and Emily are talented Hawai‘i-grown leaders who bring a new level of depth and vision to our board,” said Jay Ana, president of Young Brothers. “Their unique perspectives and knowledge will help us navigate challenges and seize opportunities as we continue to serve the people and businesses of Hawai‘i.”

From left to right: Grant Chun and Emily Porter

Grant Chun has extensive leadership experience in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, having held prominent positions at A&B Properties Inc. and the County of Maui. He is the executive director of Hale Mahaolu, a nonprofit dedicated to developing and managing safe, accessible housing and providing supportive services for low to moderate-income seniors, families and individuals in Maui. He has also served on the board of directors for numerous nonprofit organizations, such as A Keiki’s Dream, Alexander & Baldwin Foundation, Maui Economic Opportunity and the Legal Aid Society of Maui Economic Development Board. Grant is an alumnus of the University of Southern California and the University of California, Hastings College of Law (now known as UC Law San Francisco).

As Chief Operating Officer at MacNaughton, a Hawai‘i-based real estate investment and development firm, Emily Porter brings expertise in organizational development, strategic planning, corporate governance, legal and risk management, operations, and corporate social responsibility. She serves on several nonprofit boards, including Child and Family Services, Punahou School, Oahu Transit Services, Inc., and Outrigger Canoe Club. A distinguished alumna of Punahou School, Princeton University, and Harvard Law School, Emily has been recognized as a Pacific Business News Woman Who Means Business and Hawaii Business Magazine’s 20 for the Next 20, among several other honors.

Media Kit (Courtesy of Young Brothers)

About Young Brothers

Young Brothers, LLC is Hawai‘i’s trusted interisland freight company. Founded more than 120 years ago, Young Brothers is responsible for transporting 100% of all ocean cargo that originates and ends in Hawaiʻi and is the only water carrier to serve Lāna‘i and Moloka‘i. The publicly-regulated company offers 12 weekly sailings between the ports of Nāwiliwili, Honolulu, Kaumalapau, Kaunakakai, Kahului, Kawaihae, and Hilo. Around 380+ highly skilled employees move what matters most for Hawai‘i using state-of-the-art shoreside equipment and a fleet of eight barges and eight tugboats, including four fuel-efficient Kāpena-class tugs. Young Brothers is an independently managed subsidiary of Foss and part of the Saltchuk family of companies. For more information, visit www.youngbrothershawaii.com and connect via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Coast Guard adds Young Brother’s Jay Ana to Board of Trustees

February 15, 2023

Twelve new trustees have joined the board of the Coast Guard Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to strengthening the U.S. Coast Guard community and service by supporting members and families. The additions bring the total number of active trustees and directors to 80.

Jeremiah “Jay” Ana, Charles “Skip” Bowen, Christopher Chandor, Naresh Copeland, Steven Jowett, Christian Lee, Michael MacDonald, Augustine Rietsema, Luis Romero, Tim van Oppen, retired Navy Rear Adm. Jesse Wilson Jr. and Graciela Yokana will each serve three-year terms. The board is led by Chairman Thomas Allegretti.

The Coast Guard Foundation is governed by a voluntary board of trustees and directors whose members contribute their time and energy to the foundation. The board also promotes the foundation’s mission of support to the Coast Guard.

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome our latest inductions into our board of trustees and directors,” said Susan Ludwig, president, Coast Guard Foundation. “These accomplished individuals have established a lifetime of dedication to the Coast Guard and we are confident that their experience of public service will benefit the foundation in our mission to support the Coast Guard community.”

The new trustees:

• Jeremiah “Jay” Ana is president of Young Brothers, Hawaii’s leading inter-island freight handling and transportation company. Ana was born and raised in Mililani, Oahu, and is a graduate of the Shidler College of Business from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. In addition to more than 13 years of public accounting, Ana’s experience spans private industry finance, human resources, sales, and operations management.

Read the full article in Professional Mariner

Seaside LNG Acquires LNG Bunker Barge Clean Jacksonville from TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico 

February 9, 2023

Polaris and TOTE Services Sign Additional Long-term Service Contracts

Jacksonville, Florida – Seaside LNG announced the acquisition of the liquefied natural gas fueling barge Clean Jacksonville from TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico, LLC, a subsidiary of TOTE Group, LLC.

Seaside LNG’s maritime transportation company, Polaris New Energy, has contracted to continue fueling TOTE’s Marlin Class LNG-powered container ships and other commercial customers with its fleet of LNG bunker barges. The Clean Jacksonville recently reached a significant milestone having successfully completed her 300th bunkering at the Port of Jacksonville.

Seaside now has the largest fleet of LNG barges operating in the United States. “Seaside continues to expand its ability to bring environmentally-friendly LNG to the shipping industry with our partnership in JAX LNG and our investments in growing the LNG barge fleet,” said Tim Casey, CEO of Seaside LNG. “Use of LNG as a maritime fuel delivers substantial environmental and public health benefits by dramatically lowering emissions of NOx, SOx, CO2 and particulate matter. By purchasing the Clean Jacksonville, our team gains not only a new customer and valuable operating partner, but also the opportunity to expand our fleet operations geographically.” 

In addition, Polaris entered a long-term contract with TOTE Services, LLC, a separate subsidiary of TOTE Group, to continue serving as the technical manager of the Clean Jacksonville. The Clean Jacksonville complements the bunkering services of Polaris’ 5,500 m3 Clean Canaveral that operates along the coast of the southeastern U.S. and is the largest bunker barge in the Jones Act market. Polaris also has a second 5,500 m3 barge, the Clean Everglades, under construction which is scheduled for delivery by end of 2023. 

“TOTE Services’ experience in bringing LNG to the maritime sector is the most extensive in the industry. By working across every aspect, from vessel construction to ship management and technical expertise, we help our customers achieve their business and environmental objectives,” added Jeff Dixon, President of TOTE Services. “We look forward to continuing to operate the Clean Jacksonville safely and reliably for years to come.” 

The LNG for Polaris’ vessels is loaded at the Jacksonville dock of JAX LNG, an LNG production facility and joint venture between Seaside LNG and Pivotal LNG. 

New Bedford Foss Marine Terminal reaches demolition milestone

January 30, 2023

New Bedford, MA – Demolition continues at the New Bedford Foss Marine Terminal in preparation to support offshore wind projects off Massachusetts and the U.S. Northeast seaboard.

As part of the demolition of the Power Station building, the New Bedford Foss Marine Terminal reached a demolition milestone with the smokestack implosion last Friday morning, January 27.

“There has been a significant amount of work to get us to this point, and we could not have gotten here without the support of the people in the neighboring community and government officials on both the local and state level.  The implosion of the smokestack symbolizes a point of cleaning up this site and transitioning to clean energy,” said Andrew B. Saunders, President of the New Bedford Foss Marine Terminal.

The terminal, slated to open in Spring 2023, will provide storage and laydown areas for equipment and materials, berth facilities for a range of vessels such as crew transfer vessels (CTV) and service operation vessels (SOV) as well as Foss tugs and barges. It will also house new office space for project teams, crew marshaling facilities, workspaces, and a marine coordination center for technicians supporting the Massachusetts Offshore Wind Industry.

“The demolition of the Cannon Street Station marks an important milestone in New Bedford’s effort to become the East Coast leader in offshore wind energy as the new Foss Terminal will be able to serve a variety of maritime support functions. We are rapidly modernizing the Port of New Bedford, and we are grateful that Foss will be a major part of the Port’s future,” said New Bedford’s Mayor Jon Mitchell

“Progress is being made at the terminal and the implosion of the smokestack serves as the milestone as we prepare to serve the offshore wind market,” said Joel Whitman, President of Foss Offshore Wind.  “The repurposing of this facility to support offshore wind has been a vision for many in this community and it is great to see the project continue to take shape,” added Whitman.

(Video courtesy of Anchor QEA)