Shipping Company Expands
Local Operations
Published: Nov 30, 2006
TAMPA - OSG America picked up Wednesday where Maritrans left off the day before when Maritrans shareholders approved the company's acquisition by Overseas Shipholding Group of New York.
Although Tampa lost a local corporate headquarters, Overseas Shipholding established OSG America in Tampa, which will serve as a headquarters of its U.S. shipping operations.
The company said it added 13 jobs to increase local employment to 78. The company also replaced seven Maritrans employees with employees from its New York office, said Jonathan Whitworth, senior vice president of Overseas Shipholding and head of OSG America.
All of the company's local positions are office jobs, as were the local Maritrans jobs.
OSG America will continue Maritrans' shipping operations at the Port of Tampa and is the largest shipper of gasoline, jet fuel and petroleum products into the Port of Tampa. The shipments come from Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.
"It's a win-win-win situation except for the employees who lost their positions," said Whitworth, who was president and chief executive of Maritrans.
He cited the 47 percent premium Maritrans shareholders received on their stock, which sold Tuesday for $37.50; the expansion of the Tampa staff; and OSG's growth prospects.
OSG operates 136 vessels worldwide. Its U.S. flag fleet carries dry bulk commodities and cars in addition to petroleum products.
Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817 and tjackovics@tampatrib.com.
