Baldwin Named Director of Business Development, Harbor Services
Barry Baldwin has been named the new Director of Business Development, Harbor Services for Foss Maritime Company. Baldwin, previously Regional Director, Southern California and an 18 year veteran of Foss will be based in Long Beach and report to Steve Scalzo, President and CEO of Foss Maritime Company. “Baldwin’s in-depth experience and knowledge of the Harbor Services market will significantly augment the development and expansion of current and new Harbor Services opportunities,” said Scalzo. Dave Selga has been promoted to Regional Director, Southern California to replace Baldwin. Selga, previously Marine Superintendent, has held various positions within the company over the last 20 years.
Foss Crews Help Extinguish Blaze
Two Foss crews assisted firefighters from the Valero and Benicia Fire Departments to put out a fire on the Benicia Industry Dock on September 5. The Foss crew, trained in shore-side incident response, reacted quickly and joined the professional firefighters at the scene. “I am very proud of the individual and team effort demonstrated by our vessels and staff,” said Scott Merritt, regional director, San Francisco Bay. At 5 p.m., a fire broke out at the dock. By 11:30 p.m. it was still burning and threatening to collapse the Coke Loader and the old Huntway Dock operated by Valero. The Andrew Foss was standing by the dock when the crew noticed the flames and reacted by notifying the fire department and spraying water on the fire.
Senate Salvages Shipbuilding Cash
The Hilll is reporting that the Senate narrowly defeated an effort to strike $500 million in hurricane-recovery funding for defense giant Northrop Grumman from a $106.5 billion emergency supplemental spending bill, voting 47-52 to reject an amendment by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.). The provision is said to promise a point of contention in a House-Senate conference because the House-passed version would make $250 million available to Navy shipbuilders on the Gulf Coast, including Northrop Grumman. Source: The Hill
Lawmakers Push for Thorough Review
Last Monday, a $6.8 billion dollar deal put the operation and control of the major New York and New Jersey ports in the control of a firm in the United Arab Emirates and owned by the Government of Dubai, Dubai Ports World. Today, Senators Chuck Schumer, Tom Coburn, Frank Lautenberg, and Chris Dodd are being joined by Reps. Chris Shays, Vito Fossella and Mark Foley in sending a letter to Treasury Secretary John Snow urging him to review the deal immediately. The deal allows the UAE company to take control of most operations at six ports on the East Coast, including: New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia.
Lawmaker Wants Review of Cruise Ship Deal
A top House Democrat called on federal officials to justify their decision to sign a $236 million deal with Carnival Cruise Lines for Hurricane Katrina housing, saying the six-month contract is overpriced. In a letter, Rep. Henry Waxman of California asked Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to release documents indicating how the price was calculated. Waxman said he had Carnival documents from 2002 showing the company normally earns revenue of $150 million over six months. "A comparison of this information to the federal contract raises serious questions about whether the Carnival contract is a responsible use of taxpayer funds," Waxman wrote.
