Oil Patch Bits: Foss Maritime honored for hurricane relief

A year after Hurricane Sandy struck America’s East Coast the federal government has honored Foss Maritime Co. for its part in critical relief work.

Vice Admiral Mark D. Harnitchek, director, Defense Logistics Agency, presented the award to the Seattle-based company during a ceremony at the agency’s headquarters, citing its ability to quickly move personnel and equipment to devastated, hard-to-reach locations in New York and the New Jersey shore.

Foss Maritime’s John Tirpak was on hand to accept the honor. “Foss is proud to have done its part in Sandy’s aftermath,” he said. “We were able to respond quickly because of our peoples’ unique skills and their on-the-ground experience in disaster areas.”

“Foss was contacted during Sandy in part because of the work we’d done in Haiti in partnership with the U.S. government,” said Robert Wagoner, who oversaw Foss’ role in helping deliver tens of thousands of tons of food to the earthquake-torn country and rebuild the island-nation’s main port. “The United States Transportation Command and the Defense Logistics Agency were well aware of Foss’ capabilities in the face of a natural disaster.”

“When our country calls, Foss stands at the ready,” added Tirpak.