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Foss celebrates 125 years

Emily Reiter 4695 Views ,  , 
Docked Foss tugboat "Carolyn Dorothy" at sunset

Anniversary gala in Seattle, Foss history book will highlight company’s 125-year celebration

By Bruce Sherman – This article first appeared in the April 2014 Issue of Towbitts, the official publication of Foss Maritime.

When Norwegian immigrant Thea Foss started renting rowboats from her floating home in Tacoma in 1889, she hardly could have imagined that her small business venture would become one of the world’s leading tug-barge operators.

From its humble roots, Foss Maritime has grown into a marine transportation and harbor services company that moves cargo all over the world and has domestic operations on all three U.S. coasts as well as Alaska and Hawaii. The company also operates two shipyards.

That growth, which has accelerated over the last few years, has been built on a reputation for innovation and service to customers while Foss has consistently strived to live up to its motto – “Always Safe, Always Ready.”

“We have great and strong traditions here at Foss, and the hard work and creative thinking of our employees has propelled us to where we are today,” said Paul Stevens, President and CEO.  “And the future looks just as bright to us. We are looking forward to the next 125 years with both enthusiasm and excitement.”

A committee of Foss employees led by Human Resources Director Lisa Sulock has put together a plan for a yearlong anniversary celebration, highlighted by a “125th Anniversary party, to be held in Seattle. Plans for the party are still being developed. The celebration also will include:

  • Anniversary events at all Foss locations.
  • Use of a special anniversary logo on company communications and promotional materials, including Tow Bitts, web sites and the company calendar
  • A complete update and redesign of the book on the company’s history.
  • Articles in each of the year’s six issues of Tow Bitts highlighting the company’s decades of growth.

“Our theme is to pay tribute to our past while looking to and preparing for a great future for our company,” Sulock said. “We have a very rich history at Foss, which gives us a great foundation to move forward.”

As the year progresses, Sulock said, the company will be reaching out to customers, vendors and friends to join in the anniversary celebration.

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