Marine Link
Thursday, March 28, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Gary Faber News

12 Oct 2015

Foss Maritime Opens Houston Office

John Tirpak will lead the Houston office (Photo: Foss Maritime)

Foss Maritime has opened a new office and the formed a project management group aiming to support its customer base headquartered in Houston. John Tirpak of Foss has been appointed Vice President of Business Development & Contract Services and will be relocating to Houston to develop business in the region and lead the business development function of the entire Marine Transportation division from the new office. There he will oversee domestic and international business development, sales and marketing.

23 Dec 2014

Oil Spill Response: USCG, CCG & Foss Team

Barbara Foss and Simushir

Canadian, U.S. Coast Guards and Foss Maritime coordinate a textbook response operation. Robust response trumps the need for later salvage. In the early hours of Friday, October 17, the crew of the Russian cargo ship Simushir attempted to repair a broken oil heater. On its way to Pevek in the Russian Far East, the vessel suddenly lost propulsion and began drifting toward the nearest land, which in this case was the archipeligo Haida Gwaii. Just off the coast of northern British Columbia…

20 Oct 2014

Simushir Under Tow by Barbara Foss

Foss Maritime's ocean-going tug, the Barbara Foss, is towing the Russian cargo vessel, Simushir, which lost power late Thursday night off the west coast of Haida Gwaii. The Barbara Foss is currently traveling at 5.5 knots and is expected to arrive at the Port of Prince Rupert, BC with the Simushir in tow at approximately 10:00 p.m. Pacific Time tonight, where two assist tugs and a pilot will be on hand to help the ship dock. "We've been working very closely with the Canadian Coast Guard and the Joint Rescue Coordination Center to successfully manage this situation," said Gary Faber, Senior Vice President of Foss Maritime. "At this point, the ship is riding well behind the tug, and the weather and sea conditions are not posing concerns.

15 May 2014

Foss Honors Newbuild POLB Fireboat

Photo courtesy Foss

The first of two new fireboats built by Foss Maritime for the Port of Long Beach (POLB) was dedicated in a blessing ceremony on Thursday, May 1 at Foss Maritime's Seattle Shipyard, the company said. The vessel, named Fireboat 20, is being readied for service and is slated for delivery to Long Beach, Calif., this summer. Gary Faber, Foss Senior Vice President, made opening remarks and praised the hardworking men and women who helped construct the vessel. Peter Forsythe, POLB Deputy Chief Harbor Engineer spoke with excitement about the forthcoming delivery…

15 Apr 2014

Foss Meets Growing Modular Business with New Barge

Image: Foss

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.

17 Mar 2014

Foss Orders Newbuild Modular Barge

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, Oregon 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. 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.

03 Dec 2013

ARO and Foss Begin Joint Venture

AES' Nikiski Marine Terminal

ASRC Energy Services Response Operations, LLC, a leading offshore spill response operator in Alaska, and Foss Maritime Company, one of the nation's largest coastal tug and barge operators, have formed a joint venture to together pursue marine services opportunities throughout Alaska. The joint venture, called AES-Foss Marine, LLC, will be headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska. The venture will build upon the strengths of each company to provide marine services throughout the state.

02 Jul 2013

Foss Unifies Operations Under Single Name

Paul Stevens, President and CEO of the unified Foss Maritime

American maritime holding companies Foss Marine Holdings announced that effective immediately it will merge all of its operations and resources under a single name: Foss Maritime Company. Today, Foss Marine Holdings' wholly owned subsidiaries - Foss Maritime, AMNAV, Young Brothers, Hawaiian Tug & Barge and Cook Inlet Tug & Barge - operate what they say is the country's largest coastal tug and barge fleet. Effective immediately, Foss Marine Holdings will merge with Foss Maritime, whose lines of business include two shipyards, harbor services, ocean towing, marine engineering and others.

03 Apr 2013

Foss Maritime Expanding Ocean Tug Fleet

Responding to new oil and gas industry opportunities, Foss Maritime Company is building the first three tugs in an innovative Arctic Class of tugs, a fleet expansion that broadens its capacity to take on large projects in extreme environments. Construction on the first tug starts in early 2013 at the Foss’ Rainier, Oregon shipyard, which will be expanded by an additional 10,000 square feet, and will require additional staff, in part to accommodate this project. The delivery date for the first hull is December of 2014, with the second to follow in December of 2015, and the third, a year later in December of 2016. Glosten Associates is Foss’ naval architecture partner on the project.

21 Nov 2012

61 Foss Maritime Company Vessels Honored

Gary Faber

Vessels Have Gone Two Years or Longer Without Environmental Incidents, Winning Chamber of Shipping Honor. Sixty-one tugs and tank barges owned by Foss Maritime Company have been recognized by a major maritime organization for their environmental safety records. The Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) announced the awards honoring the Seattle, WA-based Foss' environmental achievements on November 13, 2012 in Washington, D.C. Altogether, the 61 Foss vessels recognized by CSA have gone a combined 543 years without an environmental incident.

23 Oct 2012

Insights: Gary Faber

Gary Faber brings more than 30 years of experience in the maritime industry to the position of president and COO of Foss Maritime Company. His extensive experience in marine engineering, vessel operations, salvage and project management in extreme environments extending from the arctic regions of Alaska all the way to the southern extremes of South America frame perfectly the diverse workload of this Seattle-based marine services firm. His notable accomplishments include recognition for the U.S.

28 Aug 2012

Foss Maritime to Expand Ocean Tug Fleet

Tug and barge operator to build three new Arctic Class deep-sea tugs at Northwest shipyard. Responding to new oil and gas industry opportunities, Foss Maritime Company will build the first three tugs in an innovative Arctic Class of tugs, a fleet expansion that broadens its capacity to take on large projects in extreme environments. Construction on the first tug starts in early 2013 at Foss' Rainier, Ore., shipyard, work which will bring additional jobs to the growing Columbia River facility. "At Foss we innovate," said Gary Faber, Foss' President and Chief Operating Officer.

28 Aug 2012

Ocean Tugboat Fleet Expansion by Foss Maritime

A Foss Maritime Tugboat: Photo courtesy of Foss Maritime

Tug and barge operator, Foss Maritime, to build three Arctic Class deep-sea tugs at Northwest shipyard. Responding to new oil and gas industry opportunities, Foss Maritime Company will build the first three tugs in an innovative Arctic Class of tugs, a fleet expansion that broadens its capacity to take on large projects in extreme environments. Construction on the first tug starts in early 2013 at Foss’ Rainier, Oregon shipyard, work which will bring additional jobs to the growing Columbia River facility.

19 Jan 2012

Second Foss Hybrid Tug Headed to SOCAL

Foss Maritime's Second Hybrid Tug: Campbell Foss

Tug retrofitted to use patented hybrid technology. A second Foss Maritime Co. hybrid tug will soon be working the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. Foss once again partnered with Aspin Kemp and Associates (AKA) to retrofit the Campbell Foss with this proven, patented hybrid technology. The tug is the first vessel to be retrofitted with motor generators, batteries and control systems at Foss' Rainier, Ore. shipyard. The Campbell Foss will join its award-winning hybrid sister…

05 Jan 2012

Foss, State, Tribes to Build Columbia River Ferry

Partnership to create jobs; bring modern vessel to vital transportation link. Foss Maritime Company is joining with Washington state and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation to build a state-of-the-art replacement for an aging 63-year-old ferry that's been a vital cross-Columbia River transportation link. The unique partnership between Foss and the Washington State Department of Transportation includes the Confederated Tribes whose members will participate in the vessel's final assembly work. Faber added that Foss is looking forward to working with the Confederated Tribes.

08 Dec 2011

Foss Tows Drilling Rig to AK Winter Harbor

Jackup drilling rig successfully navigated through Cook Inlet. Foss Maritime Co. tugs Justine Foss and Jeffrey Foss have completed a successful tow of a jackup drilling rig to its winter harbor in Port Graham, Alaska. The Spartan 151 jackup drilling rig was moved from its drill site at Nikiski, in the Cook Inlet, which becomes choked with ice during the winter. Gary Faber, president and COO of Foss Maritime, said the successful tow underscores the company's competence in navigating…

08 Dec 2011

Foss: West Coast Icon on Environmental Cutting Edge

Foss Maritime, founded by the matriarch of the Foss family in 1889, is as much a cultural icon on the U.S. West Coast as McAllister or Moran are on the East Coast. Norwegian immigrant Thea Foss began the business when she bought her first row boat in Tacoma, Wash. and painted it the signature green and white. The Foss family grew the business into a launch  service ferrying crew and supplies in the 1910s, then shifted into towing work in the 1940s. Thea Foss is considered the inspiration for Tug Boat Annie…

23 Nov 2011

CSA Honors Foss Vessels

Sixty vessels owned by the Seattle-based Foss Maritime Company are being recognized by a major maritime organization for their standout environmental records. The Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) announced the awards honoring Foss' environmental achievements Thursday, November 17 in Washington, D.C. "Safety and the environment are the first things that our customers bring up when we talk with them," said Gary Faber, Foss's president and COO. "To be honored by the Chamber of Shipping for our environmental record is something that underscores all our efforts at Foss. U.S. Coast Guard Vice Admiral Brian Salerno, Deputy Commandant for Operations, participated in the awards ceremony and congratulated the industry's safety and environmental record. Joseph J.

14 Sep 2011

Foss' Retrofitted Hybrid Tug to be on Display

Campbell Foss

Foss' Retrofitted Hybrid Tug to be on Display Tuesday, September 20 at Company's Rainier, Ore., Shipyard. Who: Foss' second hybrid tug, the retrofitted Campbell Foss, will be open to the media for the first time. What:     The Campbell Foss is sister to the Carolyn Dorothy, which has been bringing cleaner air and fuel efficiency to southern California ports since its 2010 arrival in Los Angeles and Long Beach. When:     10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Where:    Foss Maritime's Rainier, Ore., shipyard / 611 E.

30 Mar 2011

Foss Recieves Safety Award on West Coast

A major maritime employer group has recognized the outstanding safety record of the Foss Maritime workers who tie up and release ships at Puget Sound ports. The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) - whose members include key Foss customers - honored the company's ongoing commitment to safety and accident prevention with four awards. Foremost was the recognition of Foss Line Service for reducing its annual injury rate more than any of its Washington state-based competitors. Foss line-handlers recorded no time lost for injuries in 2010. Gary Faber, President and COO of Foss Maritime, lauded Foss Line Service's achievement:  "Our customers expect this, which is why we appreciate the recognition coming from the Pacific Maritime Association.

19 Nov 2010

Fifty-Nine Foss Vessels Honored for Environmental Excellence

Captain Michael Bohlman, Director of Marine Services for Horizon Line (CSA's Chairman of the Board). Captain Jonathan Wood, Foss Rear Admiral. Brian Salerno, USCG. Mr. David Matsuda, Maritime Administrator. Photo courtesy Foss Maritime

For 18 years, the Drew Foss, a tugboat operated by the Foss Maritime Company, has been free of environmental mishap. So have the Arthur Foss, the Justine Foss and a dozen other Foss vessels. In fact, 59 vessels owned by the Seattle-based Foss are being recognized by a major maritime organization for their standout environmental safety records. Altogether, the Foss vessels feted by CSA have gone a combined 551 years without an environmental incident. "When we talk with our customers, their first concern is safety and the environment," said Gary Faber, the company's president and COO.

21 May 2010

Foss Key Management Assignments

Foss Maritime announced that two marine transportation veterans - one a longtime Foss manager and the other newly hired employee with extensive senior management experience - will take over key assignments at the company. Andy Stephens has been promoted to Vice President, Business and Planning Development, where he will be responsible for developing initiatives for the consolidated business activities of Foss Maritime. Stephens, who joined the company in 1993, will also become chief of staff to Foss Maritime COO and President Gary Faber. Meanwhile, Faber announced the hiring of Mike Magill, who will become Vice President, Technical Services. He will take over responsibilities for Foss' shipyards, purchasing and engineering departments; areas previously managed by Stephens.

12 May 2010

King River Class by Foss & Cruz Marine

Image courtesy Foss Maritime

Foss Maritime and Cruz Marine LLC have partnered to launch the first of the King River class of tug: a shallow draft vessel designed specifically for remote, extreme environments like the north slope of Alaska, the Canadian Arctic and the Russian Far east. Gary Faber, President and COO of Foss Maritime, said "When our customers talk to us about what they need in places like Alaska or the Russian Far East, we listen. That's why we reached out to Cruz Marine, another company with extensive knowledge of extreme environments.