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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 Alaska Receives Governor’s Safety Award of Excellence
May 24, 2022
ANCHORAGE– TOTE Maritime Alaska, LLC, (“TOTE”) received the Governor’s Safety Award of Excellence last week during the Alaska Safety and Health Conference for outstanding achievement in safety, health, and environment for 2021.
The Governor’s Safety Award of Excellence is presented to organizations demonstrating distinction in the safety and health of their personnel, stewardship for the environment, and a demonstrated commitment to corporate citizenship. Awards are based on safety and environmental systems and performance metrics, reviewed from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety data.
“We are honored to be recognized by the Alaska Safety Advisory Council for our safety performance and our commitment to environmental stewardship, ethical business practices, and the communities we serve,” said TOTE Maritime Alaska President Alex Hofeling. “I’m incredibly proud of our Alaska team and congratulate all the organizations that were recognized this year.”
Since 2019, TOTE has strategically focused on programs to support a safe and healthy workplace. These include adding QR codes and signage for fast and efficient “near miss” reporting, new sanitization stations throughout their terminals, regularly scheduled zone audits and third-party inspections, as well as a robust “Speak Up/Take Action” program to promote a culture of transparency, trust, and compliance throughout the organization.
TOTE Maritime Alaska is committed to excellence in safety and service, maintaining internationally recognized certifications for Corporate Social Responsibility (MVO 8000), Occupational Health and Safety (ISO 45001), Quality Management (ISO 9001), and Environmental Management (ISO 1400).
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About TOTE Maritime Alaska
TOTE Maritime Alaska, LLC belongs to the TOTE Group family of companies, a leading transportation and logistics company, overseeing some of the most trusted companies in the US. TOTE Maritime Alaska, LLC and TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico, LLC bring unmatched reliability and service to their respective markets. TOTE Services, LLC offers crewing and technical services to meet the needs of commercial, privately owned and U.S. Government vessels. TOTE Group is part of the Saltchuk family of companies. www.totemaritime.com
New Bedford Foss Terminal Opening to Support Offshore Wind
March 23, 2022
New Bedford, MA – The Port of New Bedford will add another base of operations and terminal logistics facility to support offshore wind projects off Massachusetts and the northeastern coast seaboard.
The former Sprague/Eversource site was selected for its proximity to offshore wind blocks located approximately 15 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket islands. The site will undergo redevelopment over the next year and be renamed the New Bedford Foss Marine Terminal. The terminal, slated to open in March 2023, will provide storage and laydown yards for equipment and materials, berth facilities for tug and barge operations, and host crew transfer vessel (CTV) and service operation vessel (SOV) support services. It will create new office space for project teams and a marine coordination center for technicians involved in offshore wind projects.
Foss is partnering with key local investors of New Bedford’sCannon Street Holdings LLC (CSH) to develop the 30-acre site. Andrew Saunders, local commercial offshore marine industry attorney with Cannon Street Holdings, will serve as President of the New Bedford Foss Marine Terminal.
“Today marks a big day for the Port of New Bedford and the City as a whole,” said Saunders. “The repurposing of this facility to support offshore wind has been a vision for many and it is great to see this project now begin to materialize”. “This day was the result of a lot of support from the many key local and state government stakeholders as well as industry stakeholders and we would not have gotten to this point without this support. Both Sprague and Eversource also helped greatly in bringing this day to reality. Thank you to all involved”.
“The New Bedford Foss Marine Terminal is perfectly situated to support offshore wind projects on the East Coast,” said Jason Childs, President and CEO of Saltchuk Marine. “We appreciate the vision of the City and Port of New Bedford and the vital role they are playing in making this project a success,“ added Childs.
New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell lauded the announcement. “We are thrilled to welcome Foss to the Port of New Bedford. The new terminal will solidify the Port’s status as the East Coast’s leader in offshore wind, complement our fishing industry, and create opportunities for our residents,” Mayor Mitchell said. “I congratulate Andrew Saunders and Foss’s parent, Saltchuk Marine, for their skillful and persistent effort to close this important deal.”
“Congratulations to Andrew, John and Lou at CSH and Foss for acquiring the Sprague and Eversource sites and building a marine terminal there to support the offshore wind companies. Today’s announcement of the acquisition for a new marine terminal brings New Bedford another step closer to realizing the economic and environmental benefits of the offshore wind industry and the city’s role within it. This is an exciting day for New Bedford and the SouthCoast region, and the role our city will continue to play in offshore wind development and renewable energy.” said local State representative Antonio F.D. Cabral (D – New Bedford) whose district includes the property.
“Re-dedication of this local port facility in New Bedford to provide support services for the coming Massachusetts wind renewable industry will provide jobs and economic growth while complementing the existing fishing, shipping and recreational maritime users in the harbor”, said local Representative Bill Straus (D-Mattapoisett), whose district includes both port communities of New Bedford and Fairhaven. Rep. Straus is the House Chair of the legislature’s Transportation Committee.
“Congratulations to Foss and the City of New Bedford for continuing to build on the momentum that the emerging offshore wind industry is gaining in our community. This project is another opportunity to spur economic development in the region,” said local Representative Christopher Hendricks (D-11th Bristol).
“The people of New Bedford should be very excited that a private company has decided to make such a huge investment in our community. This type of private investment in our city should be an example of how important offshore wind will be to our community over the next generations. Very proud that a native of New Bedford was able to put this all together. Hats off to Andrew and the team at Saltchuk.” said local State Representative Christopher Markey (D-Dartmouth) of the 9th Bristol District which includes New Bedford.
“Foss’s investment in New Bedford is a great example of how the emerging offshore wind industry, led by the Vineyard Wind 1 project, can have a meaningful impact on the community,” said Vineyard Wind CEO Klaus Moeller. “The agreement will not only expand Foss’s operations in Massachusetts but also create opportunities for local residents. We’re proud to work with Foss and look forward to the positive effect their presence will have in the City of New Bedford.”
“We are happy that we supported Foss in its development of this terminal as we believe that this is an example of creating added value in the development of offshore wind along the Northeast US coastline. It shows that cooperation, long term relationships and trust between companies and people creates opportunities for multiple parties and leads to local job creation”, said Jan Klaassen, director of DEME Offshore US.
The seller, Sprague Massachusetts Properties, is wholly owned by Axel Johnson Inc. which is a private operating company with a mission to invest in and help grow great industry-leading businesses over the long term. Until mid-2021, Axel Johnson was the majority owner of Sprague Operating Resources with Sprague utilizing the New Bedford facility as a petroleum marketing location. In the near term, Sprague will continue to service the New Bedford petroleum market from its nearby Providence, Rhode Island distribution terminals via truck.
“We’re proud of our continued partnership with the City of New Bedford and the work that has already gone into the waterfront site over the past several years,” said Eversource Executive Vice President for Corporate Relations and Sustainability Jim Hunt. “Redeveloping the property will bring environmentally responsible economic development opportunities to the area as our region becomes a leader for offshore wind, which aligns with our work creating a more sustainable future.”
A groundbreaking ceremony will be held later this year, in conjunction with the One SouthCoast Chamber of Commerce.
Media Contacts:
Mark Grantor
206.448.5868
Andrew Saunders
508.264.6230
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ABOUT FOSS MARITIME
Founded in 1889, Seattle-based Foss Maritime offers a complete range of maritime services and project management to customers across the Pacific Rim, Europe, South America, and around the globe. Foss has one of the largest fleets of tugs and barges on the American West Coast. The company has harbor services and transportation operations in all major U.S. West Coast ports, including the Columbia and Snake River system, Hawaii, and Alaska. Foss offers worldwide marine transportation, emphasizing safety, environmental responsibility, and high-quality service. See www.foss.com for more information.
ABOUT CANNON STREET HOLDINGS
Cannon Street Holdings was established in 2021 to acquire and develop the Sprague/Eversource site into an offshore wind staging facility. Its principals are Louis A. Cabral, John A. Lees Jr., and Andrew B. Saunders. Each of the three principals are local members of the community and bring extensive experience to the project. In Early 2021, the project signed a public private partnership with the City of New Bedford which committed the development objective be focused on an offshore wind staging facility.
ABOUT SALTCHUK MARINE
The Saltchuk Marine family, with the tugboat as the center of our services, is steeped in a rich and storied history of innovation and service. With a keen use of technology, Saltchuk Marine companies: Foss Maritime, Young Brothers, Cook Inlet Tug & Barge, AmNav Maritime, and Starlight Marine continue to lead the industry in harbor services and marine transportation solutions, with safety and the environment leading our principles. Visit www.saltchukmarine.com for more information.
ABOUT EVERSOURCE
Eversource (NYSE: ES), celebrated as a national leader for its corporate citizenship, is the #1 energy company in Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Responsible Companies for 2021 and recognized as one of America’s Most JUST Companies. Celebrated as a national leader for its corporate citizenship, Eversource transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas and supplies water to 1.8 million customers throughout Massachusetts, including approximately 1.45 million electric customers in 142 communities, 635,000 gas customers in 110 communities, and 8,700 water customers in five communities. Eversource harnesses
the commitment of approximately 9,300 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. The #1 energy efficiency provider in the nation, the company is empowering a clean energy future in the Northeast, with nationally recognized energy efficiency solutions and successful programs to integrate new clean energy resources like solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles, and battery storage, into the electric system. For more information, please visit eversource.com, and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more information on our water services, visit aquarionwater.com.
Montana-based Fuel Company Joins NorthStar Energy
March 18, 2022
With the addition of CityServiceValcon, NorthStar Energy expands its operational reach into Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Eastern Washington, and beyond.
NorthStar Energy, a business operating unit of the Saltchuk family of companies focused on the energy sector, announced this week that CityServiceValcon, based in Kalispell, Montana, and with operations in multiple states throughout the Plains, Rocky Mountain, and West Coast regions, will be joining its family of companies.
“Throughout the history of our company, it has always been our vision to grow and expand our business through honesty and integrity, maintain a strong capital foundation, provide a great environment for our employees, and give back to our communities,” said Tim O’Neal, president of CityServiceValcon. “Becoming part of the NorthStar Energy family helps us achieve this vision and we look forward to this partnership.”
CityServiceValcon was founded in 1932 and has a 90-year history of exemplary customer service. The company’s mission is to create a safe and healthy environment for its employees while providing innovative and high-quality products to its customers. As one of the major logistics and delivery industry leaders in the United States, CityServiceValcon touches businesses and residents in 20 states and operates in regions where fuel supply remains fragmented, yet fuel consumption is increasing along with population providing attractive growth opportunities.
“We are excited that CityServiceValcon will join the NorthStar Energy family,” said Bert Valdman, president and CEO of NorthStar Energy. “Our two companies are a strong cultural fit. We align well in terms of operating philosophy and customers served.”
CityServiceValcon is a market leader in fuel distribution across multiple product lines offering wholesale ground and aviation fuel programs from top national brands and independent refiners. Commercial products including propane, proprietary card lock, bulk fuel, and lubricants are distributed from its multiple locations across Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. The company serves customer needs in aviation, trucking, agriculture, mining, construction, government, and residential homes. CityServiceValcon’s experienced and long-tenured management team is committed to optimizing the business and has a track record of successful growth.
NorthStar’s current operating companies distribute fuel and lubricants throughout Alaska, Hawaii, and California. Its companies include Delta Western Petroleum, a highly respected petroleum and lubricant distributor in Alaska; Northern Oilfield Solutions, serving the North Slope of Alaska; Inlet Energy, Alaska’s premier lubricants distributor; Alaska Petroleum Distributing, the largest home-heating oil distributor in Fairbanks, Alaska; Hawaii Petroleum, the leading independent fuel marketer on Maui and the Big Island; and The Jankovich Company, a full-service marine and land fuel and lubricants specialist in Los Angeles and San Diego. The Jankovich Company, a family-owned business with a strong local brand, joined NorthStar in early 2021.
“NorthStar is now one step closer to becoming the West Coast’s leading fuel supplier,” Valdman continued. “We are well-positioned to support customers through the energy transition as the industry develops alternate fuels with lower carbon intensity.”
“Our aspiration to be the most respected marketer in the region remains the same,” O’Neal concluded, “Joining the NorthStar Energy family of businesses provides us an opportunity to expand and grow together.”
About CityServiceValcon
Established in 1932, CityServiceValcon is a robust full-service lubricants, fuels, and specialty products distributor that strives to provide high-quality, dependable delivery and superior service. We take care of our people by providing a safe and healthy work environment, and in turn, it allows us to serve customers across multiple industries with goods that keep commerce prospering, people comfortable and provide economic stability. Our customers, employees and vendors are the heart of our operations. For more information, visit cityservicevalcon.com.
National Security Multi-Mission Vessel Achieves Construction Milestone with Keel Laying
December 10, 2021
PHILADELPHIA – TOTE Services, LLC, (“TOTE Services”) an affiliate of TOTE, LLC (“TOTE Group”) today marked a significant construction milestone at a keel laying ceremony for the first of up to five new purpose built, state-of-the-art training vessels for America’s state maritime academies at Philly Shipyard, Inc. (“Philly Shipyard”), the sole operating subsidiary of Philly Shipyard ASA (OSE: PHLY). These new vessels – known as National Security Multi-Mission Vessels (NSMVs) – are designed to provide world-class training for America’s future mariners and to support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions in times of need.
“Today’s first NSMV keel laying is a critical milestone in an innovative effort that is producing state-of-the-art vessels in an American shipyard that will both train the next generation of American mariners and provide a new disaster response capability for the Nation,” said Acting Maritime Administrator Lucinda Lessley. “We commend everyone who is working hard to keep this effort on schedule and on budget, and we look forward to the final delivery of the first ship.”
The keel laying is a ceremonial recognition in which the first grand block of the vessel is loaded into the building dock. Keel laying traditions are said to bring good luck to the ship during construction and to the captain, crew and cadets that will sail on the vessel throughout her operating life. The first NSMV is scheduled to be delivered to SUNY Maritime College in 2023.
“As part of shipbuilding tradition, the keel laying ceremony invites good luck in the construction and life of a ship as the first prefabricated block is lowered into the building dock,” said Steinar Nerbovik, President and CEO of Philly Shipyard. “Today, represents a momentous achievement in U.S. maritime education and a significant investment in the local economy and job creation.”
The NSMV is an important investment in America’s shipbuilding industry, which supports nearly 400,000 U.S. jobs. Each NSMV will be built using 7,000 metric tons of steel produced by U.S. mills and fabricated by skilled labor. The first of four main generator engines, manufactured by Wabtec Corp. in Grove City, PA, recently arrived at the shipyard and will be lowered into the hull in the first quarter of 2022.
The NSMV will feature numerous instructional spaces, a full training bridge, and accommodations for up to 600 cadets to train in a first-rate maritime academic environment at
sea. State maritime academies graduate more than half of all new officers each year—the merchant mariners who help keep cargoes and our economy moving. Many also support U.S. national security by crewing military sealift vessels.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) selected TOTE Services to be the vessel construction manager (VCM) for the NSMV program in May 2019 to ensure the utilization of best practices in commercial ship construction. As an industry leader in vessel services, ship management, and marine operations, TOTE Services will oversee the development of these new vessels, which will provide a strong U.S. maritime fleet, crewed by the world’s best-trained merchant mariners. In April 2020, TOTE Services awarded Philly Shipyard a contract to construct up to five NSMVs. These ships will be owned and operated by MARAD.
“TOTE Services’ contract with MARAD demonstrates a new acquisition process to federal shipbuilding, where the government benefits from commercial best practices to design and construct vessels that are built by union labor in a U.S. shipyard with U.S.-made steel and U.S.-made engines,” said TOTE Services President Jeff Dixon. “Our aim is straight – we’re committed to the success of this program and to delivering these vessels for MARAD, so that our future cadets have the modern training platforms they deserve.”
Congress has appropriated funding to replace aging training vessels at SUNY Maritime College, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Maine Maritime Academy, and Texas A&M Maritime Academy, respectively. TOTE Services retains an option for a fifth NSMV for the California State University Maritime Academy if additional funding is appropriated by Congress.
“This historic maritime event is the realization of a vision many years in the making made possible by the partnership between the State Maritime Academy Presidents, the Department of Transportation, the Maritime Administration, and Members of Congress,” said RADM Michael Alfultis, President, the State University of New York Maritime College. “I am grateful to each of them for their efforts and support of this essential program that will shape the maritime industry’s future and improve the education of mariners to come. Our cadets look forward to learning and training on this state-of-the-art vessel.”
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About TOTE Services
TOTE Services, LLC (“TOTE Services”) is a leading U.S.-based ship management company that skillfully and expertly provides crewing and technical services to meet the needs of commercial, privately owned and U.S. Government vessels. Since 2015, TOTE Services has overseen construction and management of the world’s first LNG powered container ships, activated U.S. training ships to support disaster relief and managed many MARAD vessels. TOTE Services, along with TOTE Maritime Alaska, LLC and TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico, LLC, comprise the TOTE group of companies. The TOTE group is part of the Saltchuk family of companies. www.toteservices.com
About Philly Shipyard
Philly Shipyard, Inc. (PSI) is a leading U.S. shipbuilder that is presently pursuing a mix of commercial and government work. It possesses a state-of-the-art shipbuilding facility and has earned a reputation as a preferred provider of oceangoing merchant vessels with a track record of delivering quality ships, having delivered around 50% of all large ocean-going Jones Act commercial ships since 2000. PSI is the sole operating subsidiary of Philly Shipyard ASA. Philly Shipyard ASA is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE: PHLY) and is majority-owned by Aker Capital AS, which in turn is wholly owned by Aker ASA (Aker). Aker is an industrial investment company that exercises active ownership to create value. Aker has ownership interests in oil and gas, renewable energy and green technologies, maritime assets, marine biotechnology, and industrial software, and its portfolio includes companies like Aker BP, Aker Horizons, Aker BioMarine, Cognite, and Aker Solutions. For more information about Philly Shipyard, please visit www.phillyshipyard.com.
About SUNY Maritime College SUNY Maritime College educates dynamic leaders for the global marine transportation industry, shipping business, engineering, energy, facilities management, finance, the armed forces, and public service. Students choose from 11 undergraduate majors including five ABET-accredited engineering programs and two master’s degree programs. Students participate in 17 varsity athletic teams and more than 40 clubs and organizations, ROTC options, and U.S. Coast Guard license programs. The license program prepares students to navigate, power, and operate marine vessels
In 2020, Saltchuk companies gave $4M to the communities we live and work in
November 15, 2021
Giving of time, talent, and treasure in the communities that support our employees and businesses is a value the founding members of Saltchuk shared, and one that has become a cornerstone of our family business.
We are proud that in 2020, during an extraordinary year of challenge for so many, Saltchuk companies provided almost $4M million in grants, in-kind freight transportation, and employee-matching contributions in our communities.
In 2020, Saltchuk matched employee donations of $187,000 and gave another $1.76 million in cash grants through individual operating companies and Saltchuk Regional Giving Committees in Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, and Florida/the Caribbean. Our Regional Giving Program expanded its usual support of youth development and postsecondary education to include emergent needs such as food security, housing, and healthcare insurance related to the COVID-19 crisis. Our companies provided nearly $2 million in in-kind transportation for emergency supplies, recycling, food bank donations, and other community programs. Whether focused on health, the environment, social services, the arts, youth, and/or education, Saltchuk companies intend for their gifts to build capacity and resiliency in our communities.
As shareholders, we set a minimum target for community giving to ensure consistency and accountability to our value of giving back. As we reflect on the last year, we want to express our appreciation and gratitude to the communities and employees who support our family of companies. We hope this report provides a sense of ownership and pride, reflecting the values we share and the commitment we as shareholders feel to our communities.
– Saltchuk Shareholders