Young Brothers Ltd News

The provider of shipbuilding services Conrad Shipyard christened the oceangoing tug Kāpena Bob Purdy for Young Brothers Ltd, of Honolulu, Hawaii, a subsidiary of Foss Maritime Company.During the ceremony, which was held at Conrad Amelia in Amelia, Louisiana, Gary Lipely, Conrad Director of Sales and Marketing serving as master of ceremonies, introduced Joseph Boivin of Young Brothers, Will Roberts of Foss Maritime, and Julia MacDonald, Ship’s Sponsor.Father Clyde Mahler of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Morgan City conducted the christening, said a press release from the company which designs, builds and overhauls tugboats, ferries, liftboats…

Young Brothers, Ltd president Glenn Hong will retire at the end of the year to undertake a new leadership role with parent company Saltchuk, focusing on Hawaii business initiatives effective January 1, 2018. Hong began at Young Brothers in 1991 as vice president of finance and government affairs, coming from Hawaiian Electric Industries. In 1992, he assumed the presidency and immediately set to work to infuse the organization with a customer-driven mindset. Hong joined the Saltchuk organization in 1999…

Conrad Shipyard held the Keel Laying Ceremony for the four Damen Stan 3711 Kāpena Class tugs now under construction for Young Brothers, Limited of Hawaii. On hand for the ceremony was Glenn Hong, President of Young Brothers, Ltd; Jonathan Parrott, President of Foss Marine, Young Brothers’ sister company; and, Tim Engle and Mark Tabbutt with Saltchuk, the parent company of both. Also attending and delivering remarks was Kommer Damen, Chairman and CEO of Damen Shipyard, and Jim Watson, President of ABS Americas. A number of local officials were also present, including Morgan City Mayor Frank P. Grizzaffi III, Port Director Mac Wade and Councilman Lou Tamporello. Dan Conrad, Senior Vice President Conrad Shipyard served as moderator.

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…

Hawaiian Tug & Barge, which provides harbor support services in all major ports of Hawaii, has adopted new colors and a new name: Foss Maritime Company. Founded by Young Brothers Ltd., Hawaiian Tug & Barge (HTB) was formed as a sister company to separate harbor operations and charter activities from Young Brothers' inter-island freight operations. HTB has since become Hawaii's leading tug and barge transportation company operating four tugs with 20 employees. Young Brothers and HTB joined the Foss Maritime group of companies in 1999.

Young Brothers, Ltd., and Hawaiian Tug & Barge (YB/HTB) have promoted Gregory R. Patch from Barge Maintenance Superintendent to Marine Maintenance Manager. In his new position, Patch will be responsible for overseeing the daily and long-term maintenance operations for the companies’ 12 tugboats and nine cargo barges, as well as generators and barge ramps. Patch has served as Barge Maintenance Superintendent since May of last year when he joined the company. At YB/HTB, he has overseen the conversion and overhauls of two cargo barges as well as drydocking repairs and maintenance for two additional barges. Prior to joining Young Brothers, Ltd. And Hawaiian Tug & Barge, Patch served in the U.S. Navy for 30 years, with much of that time spent in shipyards and marine repair.

Young Brothers, Ltd.'s tug, the Hoku Ke'a, has returned to service after being fitted with Nautican Research and Development Ltd.'s new Integrated Nozzle and Rudder Units at Foss Shipyards in Seattle. Mark Houghton, Vice-President, Maritime Operations, of Hawaiian Tug & Barge, Young Brothers reports that on the return trip to Hawaii, "the Hoku Ke'a was able to run at reduced r.p.m. and still averaged between 9.5 and 10 knots for the Pacific transit, towing a 340 x 78 ft. barge." This is the first installation of the Nautican Integrated Units on an ocean-going tug. Prior to the conversion, the Hoku Ke'a was fitted with conventional open propellers and rudders. The 108 x 34 ft., 3,900 hp tug's bollard pull went from 88,853 lbs with open propellers to 132,810 lbs with the Nautican Nozzles.

U.S. Barge LLC, a company co-owned by Oregon Iron Works, Inc. (OIW) and Vigor Industrial LLC, has signed a contract for its first order. The company has agreed to build and deliver multiple bluewater, or ocean-going, barges to Young Brothers, Ltd. in Hawaii, with the first barge to be delivered in late September of 2007. U.S. Barge will invest approximately $8m in new equipment on Swan Island and in Clackamas, OR in order to build barges and other watercraft.

Young Brothers Ltd. announced it will spend $186 million over 10 years on a new fleet of barges, tugboats, shipping containers, lifts and other equipment. The 106-year-old company is Hawaii’s largest interisland cargo line. The company's first new barge, a car-carrying roll-on/roll-off barge that can transport 500 vehicles, is scheduled for delivery late this year, sources said. The vessel, which is enclosed to protect cars from sea spray and salt air, is now being designed by Glosten Associates Inc. of Seattle, a naval architecture firm. The company now has 11 barges and eight tugboats, but plans to begin retiring some of those in the coming years. The new fleet of eight barges and six tugboats will replace the old vessels with more efficient ones.

Hawaii's largest provider of interisland cargo transportation is planning a major multi million-dollar upgrade. Young Brothers Ltd. said it will invest $186m over the next 10 years on everything from new barges and tugboats to a revamped information system that will allow customers to book online and track their cargo. Young Brothers said the investment is needed because of the company's aging fleet and because increased demand has the cargo company stretched to capacity right now. The investment includes eight new barges that can carry 40 percent more cargo and six new tugboats that are faster than the current fleet and use less fuel. (Source: Hawaii Channel.com)

Hawaiian Tug & Barge and Young Brothers, Ltd. announced the appointment of Mark Houghton as Vice President of Maritime Operations. He succeeds Mark Cohen who moved to the mainland. Houghton is responsible for overseeing the maritime operations of both companies. Houghton was formerly Director of Marine Transportation Sales for Foss Maritime Company in Seattle, Washington, a sister company to HTB/YB. During his 11-year stint with Foss, he also served as an assistant port engineer and Cominco Red Dog Mine (Alaska) manager-lighterage operations. Prior to joining Foss, Mr. Houghton was a chief engineer and assistant port engineer for Crowley Maritime and maritime department manager for Sunmar Shipping. He is a 1982 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York.