Page 74: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2016)

WORKBOAT ANNUAL

Photo: McAllister

Steven J. Kress is the Vice President of Operations for

McAllister Towing and Transportation, a venerable New York company with a history spanning more than 150 years.

By Greg Trauthwein ing services to the USCG Towing Safety anything else that moves on the water. With and far larger bollard pulls while also

How did you ? nd your way to the VP

Advisory Committee representing the tug 65 tugs operating out of 12 ports along the putting in place an aggressive internal of Ops for McAllister?

(After graduating SUNY Maritime in and barge industry, Chairman of the New eastern seaboard and San Juan Puerto Rico, audit system with a living and grow- 1979) with an Unlimited Tonnage Third York Harbor Tug and Barge Committee McAllister can answer the call relatively ing safety management system that the

Mates License in hand, I was recruited and the New York Maritime Association quickly no matter the request. oil majors demanded of tugs towing oil by Interlake Steamship Company and as a Director along the way. barges and that our trade organization,

How has the ? eet (and the compa- proceeded to Toledo, Ohio to receive an the American Waterways Operators,

McAllister Towing & Transportation ny) evolved over the past ? ve years?

“Open Waters” endorsement for the Great highly recommended. ISO/ISM certi? - is of course well known, but can you

Lakes so I could sail and gain the neces- McAllister has always been on the cation and SIRE inspected boats became give us an overview of operations?

sary trips to sit for my Unlimited Ton- leading edge of innovation in tug design, the rule rather than the exception and nage First Class Pilots License. With the McAllister annually assists more than from kort nozzles and ? anking rudders McAllister stayed in the forefront.

First Class Pilotage from Duluth to Buf- 21,500 vessels which involve more than to elevating wheelhouses to the ? rst East

What have been the driving factors falo and everyplace in between, I sailed 46,000 tug assists for global customers, in- Coast tractor tug, and the last ? ve years in this development?

mainly on the M/V John Sherwin until her cluding some of the world’s leading oil and are not any different than the last 150. layup, eventually growing weary of being gas companies, cruise lines, shipping com- As shippers bring in newer and larger Top priority for McAllister has always away from home. On a winter break I in- panies and the United States Navy. Our ships and barging companies switch to been crew safety followed by customer terviewed at McAllister for a dispatchers towing ? eet provides coastal services to all modern double hull barges, McAllister demand for timely services and as Director position. Since then I have worked my the major oil barge companies while also began building tractor tugs with higher of Operations I am proud to say that we are way up to my current position, volunteer- towing dead ships, container barges and EPA tiered engines, higher horsepower accomplishing our goals in these regards.

74 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • NOVEMBER 2016

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