July 2012 - Foss

NORTH KOREAN ADVENTUREFour Tractor Tugs, Skilled Operators Make HTBHawaii’s Leading Harbor Services ProviderHawaiian Tug & Barge (HTB) isthe state’s leading harbor servicesprovider, performing ship assists andother work at the Port of Honoluluand the ports of the neighbor islands.The company operates five Z-drivetractor tugs, including two state-ofthe art Dolphin-class tugs built atFoss Rainier Shipyard on theColumbia River.“The Dolphins are recognized asthe cream of the ship assist markethere in Hawaii,” said HTB PresidentGlenn Hong, who is also presidentof sister company Young BrothersLimited.HTB has two competitors forharbor work, but Hong said hiscompany has “by far the majority ofthe market.” He attributes that edge toHTB’s 24-7 dispatch service, the highquality of its vessels and equipmentand its “highly capable crews.”“All together, that means we providequick, responsive and highly capableservice,” Hong said. “As a result, theindustry knows that HTB is the bestoption, and that is reflected in the factThe Pi’Ilani is one of two dolphin-class tugs operated by Hawaiian Tug and Bargethat we have a majority of themarket.”In addition to ship assists, HTBoffers contract towing, constructionsupport and other harbor services.Young Brothers performed harborservices until 1959, when HTB wasformed to handle that part of thebusiness, leaving Young Brothers as acommon carrier. Saltchuk Resources,parent company of Foss MarineHoldings, bought HTB and YoungBrothers in 1999. Since then, the twocompanies have been operated as one,with two distinct lines of business.MUSICAL CHAIRS UNDERWAY FOR HTB/YB EXECUTIVE TEAMThe executive team at HawaiianTug and Barge/Young Brothers willbe engaged in a sort of “managementmusical chairs,” from July throughNovember of this year.Glenn Hong, president of bothcompanies, said the three vicepresidents will trade jobs, returningto their regular positions after thefive-month exercise.“We’re doing it to broaden theexposure and experience of keyexecutives in the company, so at theend of this assignment, they will havea greater depth of understanding ofthe company,” Hong said.Under the temporary assignments:Young Brothers Vice President andGeneral Manager Matt Humphrey willmove to human resources; HumanResources Vice President Dean Kapoiwill move to government affairs; andVice President for Strategic Planningand Government Affairs Roy Catalaniwill manage Young Brothers.FMH SELLING SOUTHAMERICAN HOLDINGSFoss Marine Holdings recently soldthe Paraguay and Uruguay operationsof Mercusor Shuttle Group (MSG) toParaguay’s main port operator Puertosy Estibajes S.A., “Puerto Fenix.”MSG will continue to operate in theHidrovia Parana Paraguay under itsnew ownership. Foss Marine Holdingsalso is in the process of selling itsother South American operations.10 • Foss Tow Bitts • ALWAYS READY • July, 2012