Foss Maritime is an industry leader in safety and compliance, U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral J.R. Castillo said after the company's San Francisco Bay Area-based tug group became the first to complete voluntary examinations for all of the vessels in its Northern California group.
Company officials say the rest of Foss' fleet will soon pass the voluntary exam, which the Coast Guard and federal government consider a bridge to mandatory towing vessel regulations in the future.
Rear Admiral J.R. Castillo, who commands the Coast Guard's 11th District, lauded Foss personnel in a letter to Regional Operations Manager Bob Gregory:
"The success you have achieved is due in no small part to the investment Foss Maritime has made in safety management ... This is an impressive accomplishment for (the company) and will certainly pay dividends as forthcoming towing vessel inspection regulations are enacted.
"I know your crews and customers will be well served by Foss Maritime's commitment to towing vessel safety," the admiral wrote.
The Richmond, CA-based northern California group was the first in the nation to complete the voluntary towing safety examinations. Captain Igor Loch, Foss Maritime's director of marine assurance, said all of the company's regional operations are participating in the voluntary effort and that 36 tugs nationwide have passed. Completion is pending for two others.