TOTE Maritime

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As we close the books on another great year serving Alaska, I want to say thankyou for your partnership and dedication.

I’m incredibly proud of the work we have done with our team, Key Partners, and customers in 2022. Through the unforeseen challenges of weather delays, fuel costs, and the conversion, we have made it through this year with an even stronger grasp on how much we can accomplish working together.

It is an exciting time at TOTE and completing the commissioning of M/V Midnight Sun is a great way to end the year. This was no small feat. It took the culmination of over a decade of planning from a small, dedicated team, as well as thousands of manhours from partners across the globe and the support of our customers.

As M/V North Star continues her progress in the shipyard, our team will continue working to ensure as little impact as possible during single-sailing. We look forward to the completion of this project next year and beginning a new chapter operating the most environmentally friendly fleet in the world.

As always, we could not do any of this without our incredible customers and the dedication of our team and partners. Thank you for another great year serving Alaska with TOTE.

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Happy Holidays!

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Alex Hofeling

President, TOTE Maritime Alaska

The Night Before Ship Day

A Christmas Story at the Port

‘Twas the night before “Ship Day”, and all through the port,

Not a worker was thinking their day would be short;

The trailers were parked in long rows with care,

In hopes that the North Star soon would be there;

The gatehouse was nestled all snug at the gate,

The ramps they were ready, the ship crew did wait.

Dispatch was geared up and ready to work,

Waiting for things to just go berserk.

Then, out on the Inlet there arose such a clatter,

Billy sprang from his desk to see what was the matter.

Away to the window, Jessica flew like a flash,

Then out through the doors, the duo did dash.

Gave the luster of mid-day to the water and so…

When what to the waiting duo should appear,

But a big blue ship pulling up to the pier.

With a little old captain, so lively and quick,

They hoped for a moment it might be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles the longshore they came

And tied up the ship, and unloaded the same.

Now, Reefers! Now, Insuls! Now Flatbeds with chains,

On Linehaul, On UFAT, On Weaver, On Trains!

From the top of the ship to the top of the world,

Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!

While drivers hooked trailers and checked out their load,

And the trailer with holiday mail hits the road;

To Anchorage and Fairbanks the truckers they drive,

While customers patiently wait for their freight to arrive.

And then, in a twinkling, the unloading was done,

And Linehaul prepared for their long Fairbanks run;

Then as Billy pointed north, and looked out to the sound

Down the main ramp one last load came with a bound!

The loads were all ready, with no room to spare

Customers in Fairbanks were waiting for freight to get there!

Christmas trees and toys in a trailer for Sears,

Soda for Odom and even some beers.

And so…in a frenzy, the crew at the port

Surrounded the load and the facts they did sort,

What was this strange cargo, and where was it bound?

George inspected the load and Santa he found!

A man dressed in Red, from his head to his foot,

His clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot (a possible claim here)

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

He looked like a peddler just opening his pack (does rates know about this?)

His eyes—how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! (KFF could have helped his condition)

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was a white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke of it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook when laughed like a bowlful of jelly. (Good ship cook!)

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, (Kully in disguise?)

And dispatch laughed when they saw him, in spite of themselves

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon let them know they had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the main ramp he rose. (Does he need a CDL to do this?)

He sprang to the deck, to the captain gave a Whistle,

And away they all sailed like the down of a thistle.

But as they heard him exclaim, as he sailed out of site,

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!’

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Originally written by Caroline Higgins

McKinley Research Alaska Outlook Report

Katie Berry from McKinley Research Group joined TOTE Maritime Alaska for the first in-person/virtual Customer Town Hall at the new 909 office in Tacoma. You can watch the full video here, looking at key economic indicators happening right now in Alaska.

TOTE Wins Company of the Year from TCT

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On November 14, 2022 the Transportation Club of Tacoma announced TOTE Maritime Alaska as the winners of their 2022 Company of the Year Award. The award recognizes organizations for their work in the community, support of the TCT, and investments in the long-term success of transportation in the PNW. Bill Crawford, VP of Commercial, accepted the award

Bean's Cafe and TOTE Provide Safety Vests for Vulnerable Community Members

Bean's Cafe andTOTE Maritime Alaska partner to provide safety vests for homeless andvulnerable community members.

2022 Adopt-A-Family

Team members in Tacoma and Anchorage came together to support a wonderful Christmas memory for two families in Tacoma and Anchorage. The toys, clothing, bedding and books were wrapped and delivered for the families to enjoy. According to Milena Sevigny, Community Relations Program Manager,

"This was by far the most impressive turnout from our team and you all helped us go above and beyond to provide our families!"

Team TOTE Packs 2600 lbs. of Food for EFN

Just in time for the holidays, volunteers in Tacoma spent their afternoon packing over 2600 lbs. of pasta for the Emergency Food Network. Thank you to Brandi Anderson for coordinating the event and to everyone who came out!