Foss Maritime Co., which says it is poised for a surge in new vessel construction, has announced two key
additions to its directors' team: Hap Richards has been promoted to Director of
New Construction while Jon Hie has been named Director of Shipyard Operations.
In Richards' new post he will have responsibility for new
construction strategies for all of Foss' vessel construction projects. Hie will
have responsibility for the operations of Foss' shipyards, oversee commercial
vessel repair and maintenance work, and support Foss' fleet engineering
requirements.
The appointments come as Foss embarks on a significant
expansion of its tug and barge fleet, Foss says.
The company starts work in 2013 on the first of three new
Arctic-class deep-sea tugs built for customer service in the booming oil and
gas industry, Foss says, while continuing to serve the maintenance and repair
needs of commercial and recreational vessels at its Seattle and Rainier yards.
“Foss is entering a new construction phase that will
emphasize safety, efficiency and the environment,” said Gary Faber, Foss
Maritime’s president and COO, in a company press release. “Those are our
customers’ paramount concerns. They are at the core of Foss’ corporate culture.
It is why Foss is turning to an industry veteran like Hap Richards to focus
exclusively on new build projects, while seasoned operations director Jon Hie
maintains and grows our core repair business.”
Richards brings more than three decades of maritime
experience to his position, Foss says. Prior to joining Foss in 2003, Richards
had oversight over new construction projects at Whidbey Island-based Nichols
Brothers Boat Builders, where he served on the company’s board of directors. He
has had positions of increasing responsibility, including foreman, yard
superintendent, project manager and production manager. He has worked at both
of Foss' shipyards at Rainer, Ore., on the Columbia River, and in Seattle,
where he has been production manager at the company’s Ballard facility since
2006.
Hie comes to Foss Maritime from Hawaii, where he was a Kirby
Corp. division manager in the islands. A 1990 graduate of the California
Maritime Academy, Hie has a degree in marine engineering. He has been employed
both on shore and ship-board in a variety of positions on the East Coast, the
Gulf Coast and the Caribbean.
“Foss Maritime has a well-earned reputation for innovation
and a culture that stresses safety and the environment,” Hie said. “It doesn’t
matter what coast you’re on: People are talking about Foss’ commitment to
excellence.”
Foss’ shipyards serve United States government vessels, the
petroleum and timber industries, fishing fleets, high-speed passenger vessels
and private yachts for dry dock maintenance and repair.