March 15, 1999

On one of the only sunny days in the last three months, Total Terminals Inc. (TTI) invited clients, port officials, truckers and ILWU representatives to attend a presentation ceremony for its International Standards Organization (ISO) 9002 Registration Certification for stevedore and terminal operations at Terminal 46, Seattle.

TTI’s certification for Terminal 46 is a significant event. It is the first terminal to be ISO approved in the Port of Seattle as well as the first in the entire Puget Sound Area. H. K. Kim, TTI president, and Lynn Conatser, TTI terminal manager, accepted the accreditation on behalf of its staff.

"It was a great team effort in completing the strict requirements," said Conatser. "We must recognize the people behind the scenes that made this happen: Keiko Wesley, Rick Blackmore, Tom Clay and Rich Norris."

In reference to Terminal 46’s current ranking as the "Most Outstanding Terminal in the Northwest" and "Top 20 in the Nation" from a national survey of terminals developed by the American Trucking Association, Conatser continued his acknowledgements.

"Our thanks also go to the ILWU for making T-46 the most efficient terminal in the PNW, if not the West Coast." Conatser added.

TTI’s Seattle site is the first of their locations for be ISO approved. The next terminal to undergo this registration process will be Long Beach, California. Having its ISO processes in place at these two locations gives TTI the advantage to provide efficient and seamless service covering the West Coast.

Doug Tilden, Total Terminals Inc. vice president, explained the value of the ISO 18-step process of written procedures that are now incorporated and institutionalized into the company.

"The ISO 9002 is universally recognized as a symbol of unified effort and demonstrates this to our customers in writing," said Tilden. "And although it is about a written process, at the end of the day it’s about people. Our most valuable resource is the people working for us. The ISO process provides our people with the added tools to provide the best quality service to our customer community."

ISO 9002 registered companies are required to pass multiple inspections and tests, 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.

Paul Raymond, managing director of Worldwide Quality Assurance, 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.

"I have visited many terminal operations, but I am particularly impressed with the TTI staff an organization for using the quality system to benefit not only themselves but their clients," said Raymond. "TTI already had a quality service in place and high professionalism. This ISO certification demonstrates TTI’s commitment and guarantee to their customers that they will continue to receive the finest service."

Opened in 1994, Total Terminals Inc.’s current customers at Terminal 46 in Seattle include Hanjin Shipping Company, Cho Yang Line, DSR-Senator Lines and the trucking community that hauls the containers to and from the facility. The terminal encompasses 60 acres, processes around 236,000 gate moves per annum, and has six gantry container cranes that annually handle approximately 175,000 vessel lifts.