May 25, 1999

Total Terminals, Inc. (TTI) General Manager Larry Bennett recently welcomed port officials; clients representing Hanjin Shipping, DSR-Senator Lines and Cho Yang Line; and other invited guests at its presentation ceremony celebrating the first Port of Long Beach container terminal to be registered ISO 9002 Certified for stevedore and terminal operations.

Bennett acknowledged the tremendous efforts of the entire TTI staff in accomplishing this important achievement, which began six months ago as a process to validate the systems of quality standards used by documenting and internally auditing every procedure and set of work instructions in each department.

"The ISO 9002 certificate is a direct result of the TTI employees’ effort and is something each of them should be proud of achieving," Bennett said. "Each of their names are listed here on a banner which will hang as a permanent acknowledgement their on-going commitment to providing our clients with the world class service levels they require and deserve."

Douglas Tilden, TTI vice president – operations, addressed why they chose to use the ISO process.

"We chose the ISO 9000 process because of its internationally accepted and recognized standards for service industries like ours," Tilden explained. "More important as an organization is the process used to qualify for the certificate. It is a complex process involving the commitment of everyone in our organization to ensure the best possible practices are in effect to the benefit our shipping line clients, trucking companies, customs brokers and freight forwarders, who rely on an efficient operation. Because, at the end of the day, our terminal is about service."

Paul Raymond, managing director of Worldwide Quality Assurance (WQA), the registration body, presented the certificate. WQA, based in the United Kingdom, certifies companies from various industries to ISO 9000 standards, including maritime, chemicals, hazardous liquid bulk and medical industries.

"It is a pleasure to present this ISO 9002 certificate to TTI and its hard-working staff," said Raymond. "TTI passed the inspection the first time around, which is quite an accolade; not all terminals accomplish it on the first try. I travel throughout the world performing ISO registrations and inspections, and I can honestly say I have a very high level of confidence in how this terminal is run and clearly recognized the staff’s dedication to maintaining this registration."

Raymond also presented certificates to several TTI employees for completing a special two-day training course in International Quality Auditing.

ISO 9002 registered companies are required to pass multiple inspections and tests, which are reviewed annually, and undergo internal and external audits four times a year. All functions within the organization, such as payroll, purchasing, operations, marketing, safety, and even scheduling, are defined and documented for procedures and must meet international quality standards.

TTI-Long Beach provides contracted stevedore and terminal operation services for the Hanjin Shipping terminal, located at Pier A, Berths A90-94, in Long Beach, Calif., handling all types of dry and refrigerated container cargo. The terminal experienced tremendous growth through the United Alliance and other slot-charter customers, reaching the annual volumes of 550,000 vessel lifts and 750,000 gate transactions, which are performed using six post-Panamax gantry cranes, an on-dock, 20-acre rail complex, a 29-computer pre-gate system which controls the entry and exit lanes, and 13 computerized load scales. TTI’s state-of-the-art technology allows real-time shipping information and container tracking 24 hours-a-day through its Voice Response Unit (VRU) and event notification via its Web site: www.ttilgb.com. For additional information on terminal operation, visit TTI’s Web site or call the TTI offices at (562) 951-2550.