Arctic Taskings for the Coast Guard
On January 30, 2014, the White House released the Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for the Arctic Region. The purpose of the Implementation Plan is to put flesh on the bones of the May 10, 2013 National Strategy for the Arctic Region. The National Strategy had identified three lines of effort to address challenges posed by the changing Arctic environment. The Implementation Plan sets forth the methodology, process, and approach for executing the Strategy. Most importantly…
Foss is Upbeat on the Arctic
Foss Maritime Builds New Ice-Class Tugs as it embarks on a new Arctic Challenge. To support growing Arctic business, Seattle-based Foss Maritime Company is building three ocean-going tugs at its Rainier Shipyard in Oregon on the Columbia River. These 132 feet-long, Ice Class vessels will have strengthened hulls designed to withstand the harsh, Arctic climate conditions into which they will eventually be deployed. Work on the tugs began in July, and the first in the series will be delivered in December 2014.
Port of Red Dog: Bulk Carriers' Call of the Wild
The UK P&I Club issue information for members whose vessels call at the remote Alaskan port on the Arctic Circle. Red Dog is a port established specifically to support the associated Lead and Zinc mine. It is a very remote location of Alaska and there are no services, including no provisions, repairs, freshwater or bunkers, available. Red Dog is situated in Lat. 67 34'42" North, Long. 164 03'30" West; Northeast of The Bering Strait near the small town of Kivalina, Alaska. As the ocean vessel loads outside the three statute mile limit…
King River Class by Foss & Cruz Marine
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.
Houghton Joins Hawaiian Tug & Barge/Young Brothers
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.
Storm Grounds Barge with 22,000 Gallons of Fuel
Foss Maritime working with federal, state and local agencies are making preparations to remove more than 22,000 gallons of diesel oil from a barge grounded near the Red Dog mine port about 90 miles northwest of Kotzebue. Foss, owner of the barge, has sent salvage and environmental experts to the site to assess the best ways to stabilize the barge and remove the diesel fuel from it. The barge went aground yesterday. The team is scheduled to arrive at the remote site later this afternoon. According to Foss, the barge is intact on the beach, despite heavy seas and stormy weather. The tug Stacey Foss was towing the barge Kivalina Tuesday morning when severe weather caused the towline to part. Winds gusting to 60 knots and seas reaching 20 feet in height pushed the barge onto the beach.
