Containership Loses Engine Power Off California Coast
A Singapore-flagged containership went adrift after losing engine power off the coast of California, the U.S. Coast Guard said.The crew of the 564-foot Wan Hai 176 told Coast Guard Sector San Francisco watchstanders that the ship started drifting as the result of mechanical problems on Friday. The ship has 21 people on board, and no injuries have been reported. The Coast Guard, California Department of Fish and Wildlife Office of Spill Prevention and Response and Marin County…
74 Foss Maritime Vessels Recognized for Environmental Excellence
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.
Thirty-Four Foss Vessels Win Safety Awards
The Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) presented the Foss vessels with Jones F. Devlin Awards at the Annual Safety Awards Luncheon held this year in New Orleans, Louisiana. The awards are given to self-propelled merchant vessels that have operated for two full years or more without a crew member losing a full turn at watch because of an occupational injury. Altogether, the Foss ships achieved the equivalent of 144 years without a lost-time injury. Foss Devlin vessels honored (and the number of years the ships have been injury free) were: American River (three years)…
Barge Removed from Beach
The barge Kivalina was safely removed from a beach near Red Dog port late last night and is now being towed to a buoy offshore where divers will inspect it for damage. The 22,000 gallons of diesel fuel on board the barge will be offloaded once it is secured to the buoy and stabilized. “We’re extremely pleased with the results of last night’s activities to remove and stabilize the barge,” said Capt. Ron Morris, U.S. Coast Guard. “The team conducting the salvage did an excellent job and I commend them. Officials at Foss Maritime, owners of the barge, stated that its tug, Stacey Foss, began towing the barge to the buoy at approximately 10:45 this morning. The buoy lies approximately one mile offshore. It is used frequently to moor barges.
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.
