John Parrott News

Foss Maritime announced the keel laying of the first of its new class of ASD 90 tugboat, to be built at Nichols Brothers Boat Builders in Freeland, Washington.Nicole Engle, one of the principals of Foss’ parent company, Saltchuk, made the first ceremonial weld of her initials into the keel, assisted by journeyman welder Justina Mackie.Speaking after the ceremony, John Parrott, President and CEO of Foss Maritime, said "The new tugs are designed to upgrade our fleet and improve the company’s ability to provide timely harbor and port services to a variety of customers.

Cook Inlet Tug & Barge (CITB), an independently managed subsidiary of Foss Maritime Company, entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Crowley Vessel Sales Group and completed the purchase of all of Crowley’s Prudhoe Bay, Alaska assets – including tugs, barges, heavy machinery and other vehicles and equipment.“These assets are already positioned on the North Slope,” said John Parrott, President and CEO of Foss. “They are operationally ready to perform shallow draft tug and…

5,000 HP workhorse to enter Alaska service this month.The Bering Wind, a powerful Dolphin Class tugboat, is being transferred from the Foss fleet in Long Beach, California to Cook Inlet Tug & Barge in Anchorage. The tug, formerly known as the Campbell Foss, is scheduled to begin service in Anchorage this month.The vessel was renamed in October of this year and is scheduled to enter service in Alaska in approximately November 15, 2018. “The addition of the Bering Wind to our Anchorage based fleet of tugs will improve our current level of service in the Port,” said Ben Stevens, president of Cook Inlet Tug and Barge. “It will also ensure…

Foss Maritime will centralize fleet management and operations with Helm CONNECT. The announcement comes as Foss progresses to better organize and streamline operations across core business units and wholly-owned subsidiaries along the U.S. West Coast, and in Hawaii and Alaska.As part of the agreement with Helm Operations, Foss will centralize its vessel dispatching, billing, maintenance, compliance and personnel management in the Helm CONNECT software platform.“At Foss, we’re constantly looking at new ways to improve our business.

Foss Maritime and Netherlands-based Damen Shipyards have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to produce and market the Damen ASD 2813 tug. The tug design has been modified to meet the unique demands of the U.S. tug assist and escort market. The first four of a series of at least 10 tugs will be constructed at the Foss Rainier, Ore., Shipyard, with delivery planned for 2019. While Foss will construct the tugs to supplement and enhance their fleet, tugs of this build series will be available for purchase by other U.S. tug operators.

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…

Nicole Foss, the final of Foss’ three new state-of-the-art Arctic Class tugs designed to operate in the extreme conditions of the far north, was christened last week at the Foss Waterway Seaport in Tacoma, Wash. The vessel was built at the Foss Rainier, Ore. shipyard and will enter service this summer. Foss president and CEO John Parrott made opening remarks, praising the hard work and dedication of the people, designers, and customers that made the project possible. Scott Merritt, chief operating officer of Foss also spoke, praising the team at the Rainier Shipyard.

John Parrott assumed the role of President and CEO of Foss Maritime on January 1, 2017, after completing a four-month transition announced last July. Parrott joined Foss in January 2016 as Chief Operating Officer; in August 2016 he assumed the role of President from retiring President and CEO Paul Stevens. Parrott completed a "listening tour" in early 2016, which included visiting Foss employees at work throughout the company. He visited with mariners on workboats in the Gulf of Alaska…

With a combined 843 years without an incident, 74 Foss Maritime and subsidiary companies' tugs and tank barges have been recognized by a major maritime organization for their environmental records. The Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) announced the 2016Environmental Achievement Awards honoring the Seattle-based company's work on Nov.2, 2016, in Washington, D.C. Foss and its sister companies have 37 vessels with 10 or more years without an environmental incident, with 11 of those vessels achieving 20+ years of environmental excellence. The Wedell Foss and the Stacey Foss are just two of the Foss Maritime vessels that have been free of environmental mishaps for more than 20 years.

American Maritime Safety recognized Foss Maritime's efforts in building and maintaining a strong culture of safety by awarding the company the American Maritime Safety Award for the implementation and management of zero-tolerance drug and alcohol policy. Foss will be presented with the award at the 2016 Annual Membership Meeting and Safety Awards Luncheon on Thursday, October 13. "Foss has a long history of leading the industry in safety and innovation, and we are honored by this recognition of our drug and alcohol policy," said Foss President John Parrott. "Our primary concern in all that we do is to keep our employees, equipment and the environments in which we operate safe.

Foss Maritime Company chief operating officer John Parrott will take over the role of president of Foss Maritime, assuming responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the company as of August 1, 2016. Current president and CEO, Paul Stevens, will remain CEO of Foss until the end of 2016. He will then move to Foss' parent company, Saltchuk, where he will serve as senior vice president and managing director. Parrott, who came to Foss as COO in January of this year from sister company TOTE Maritime, takes the helm with more than 28 years of maritime experience, both at sea and ashore.

The second of three new state-of-the-art Arctic Class tugs, the Denise Foss, was christened June 1, 2016 at the Foss Waterway Seaport in Tacoma, Wash. Built at the Foss Rainier, Ore. Shipyard, the Denise is designed to operate in the extreme conditions of the far north, and will enter service this summer. Foss COO John Parrott conducted opening remarks. Parrott applauded the hard work and dedication of the people, designers, and customers that made this project possible. He also introduced Denise Tabbutt…

TOTE Maritime Alaska announced that Michael Noone will assume the role of President, January 1, 2016. Noone joined TOTE Maritime Alaska as Chief Operating Officer in August 2013, bringing 28 years of experience in the shipping and logistics field. As COO, he has been responsible for creating strategic and operating plans for sales, pricing and operations. Noone received his bachelor’s degree from Wagner College and is certified by some of the nation’s top executive programs in Logistics…

Foss Maritime announced that John Parrott will join the Foss executive team as Chief Operating Officer (COO). Parrott comes to Foss from sister company, TOTE Maritime Alaska, where he has served as President for sixteen years. In his new role as Foss' COO, Parrott will be responsible for overseeing key operating divisions, developing and delivering on strategic plans, and optimizing day-to-day operations through implementation of best practices throughout the organization. After 10 years sailing aboard a wide range of vessels in trade routes around the world…

Totem Ocean Trailer Express announced that it has signed a contract with Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd, wholly owned subsidiary Keppel Shipyard Ltd for the conversion of  the  Midnight Sun to dual fuel liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion. This is the world’s first major conversion of a large RO/RO vessel to LNG. The work will begin in December and is expected to be completed in 90 days. Once complete, the Midnight Sun will emit fewer air and greenhouse gas emissions, reducing emissions of particulate matter by 91 percent, NOx by 100 percent, SOx by 90 percent and carbon dioxide by 35 percent. Her sister ship, the North Star, is expected to be converted in the 2016/2017 time frame. Totem Ocean will be the first in North America to begin the conversion to natural gas.

The U.S. continues to lead the push towards "LNG as Fuel" in the commercial shipping sector, as these 'historic' announcements are now becoming more routine. Totem Ocean Trailer Express (Totem Ocean) announced that Wärtsilä will supply main engines, generators and integrated LNG storage and fuel gas handling systems (LNGPac(TM)) for the largest LNG conversions ever undertaken in North America. In making this decision John Parrott, President of Totem Ocean, cited Wärtsilä's proven technology as a deciding factor in selecting the company.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood today announced the appointment of 29 members to the new Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council (MTSNAC), established to advise the Department on matters relating to marine transportation. “Shifting some of our freight from the highways to open inland waterways is a fuel-efficient, cost-effective way to move goods and reduce roadway congestion,” said Secretary LaHood. The Department will task the MTSNAC with developing recommendations on establishing new marine highway services and port infrastructure development, among other issues. “The experience brought to bear by this diverse panel is impressive,” said Maritime Administrator David Matsuda. “These maritime experts have a lot to contribute.

Legendary maritime and Pierce County community leader, Robert P. Magee, was honored September 21, 2011 with the naming of Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc’s Tacoma terminal in his memory. The Robert P. Magee Terminal dedication ceremony at Port of Tacoma was attended by about 150 industry and community leaders, extended family members, TOTE customers and employees who gathered to pay tribute to a man many described as visionary. After Bob’s death in November 2009, TOTE employees rallied around the idea of honoring Bob’s memory with a tribute.

John Parrott, President of Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc. (TOTE), was honored earlier this month by his alma mater, the US Merchant Maritime Academy, with the 2011 Outstanding Professional Achievement Award. The Outstanding Professional Achievement Award is given to the USMMA graduate “who best exemplifies the finest tradition of the Corps “Acta Non Verba” (meaning Act, don’t talk) by attaining personal achievement in their chosen field and thus lending honor and prestige to the USMMA.” Parrott graduated from the USMMA…

EPA and USCG facilitate a move by Totem Ocean Trailer Express (TOTE) to convert its vessels to alternative fuels. Totem Ocean Trailer Express (TOTE) has received a permit providing a conditional waiver from the current Emissions Control Area (ECA) fuel sulfur content requirements of MARPOL Annex VI regulation 14.4 while the company pursues conversion of its vessels to alternative fuels. The permit was issued by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) under authority provided in Regulation 3 of Annex VI.