61 Foss Maritime Company Vessels Honored for Environmental Excellence
Susan Hayman, vice president for environmental and regulatory affairs for Foss parent company Foss Marine Holdings, accepted the CSA award. With her are Coast Guard Rear Adm. Joseph A. Servidio, assistant commandant for prevention policy, and Charles W. Parks of Tesoro Corporation, vice chairman of CSA.
Vessels Have Gone Two Years or Longer Without Environmental Incidents, Winning Chamber of Shipping Honor
WASHINGTON, DC – Nov. 19, 2012 – Sixty-one tugs and tank barges owned by Foss Maritime Company have been recognized by a major maritime organization for their environmental safety records.
The Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) announced the awards honoring the Seattle, WA-based Foss’ environmental achievements on November 13, 2012 in Washington, D.C.
Altogether, the 61 Foss vessels recognized by CSA have gone a combined 543 years without an environmental incident. For a handful of Foss vessels, the awards marked 20 years of operation without an environmental accident.
“When we talk with our customers, safety and the environment are the first things they bring up,” said Gary Faber, Foss’s president and COO. “To be honored by the Chamber of Shipping for our environmental record is something that underscores all our efforts at Foss. It is part of our corporate culture.”
U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Joseph A. Servidio, Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy, participated in the awards ceremony and congratulated the great work performed by the industry.
Charles W. Parks of Tesoro Corporation and Vice Chairman of CSA said, “the great record evidenced by the ships and vessels is due to the dedication of the seafarers working on board and the support of shore operating personnel.”
Joseph J. Cox, President of CSA said, “These awards celebrate the dedication to environmental excellence of our seafarers and the company personnel shore-side who operate our vessels to the highest standards. In today’s world, it seems our industry only gets front-page news when spills or other environmental problems occur. It is encouraging to see how many vessels go for years achieving environmental excellence It should be clear to the American public that we in the maritime industry take our stewardship of the marine environment very seriously.”
A list of the vessels that received the 2012 Environmental Achievement Award is posted on CSA’s website www.knowships.org. Click on “Press Releases”.
The Chamber of Shipping of America represents 30 U.S. based companies that either own, operate or charter oceangoing tankers, container ships, dry bulk vessels engaged in both the domestic and international trades and companies that maintain a commercial interest in the operation of such oceangoing vessels. Current members include companies that own or operate U.S. flag or foreign-flag ships. A company owning or operating only foreign-flag tonnage must have an office in the United States to qualify for membership.