Foss Maritime Company started in 1889 when Andrew (a carpenter) and Thea (a Norwegian immigrant) Foss purchased a used rowboat for little more than five dollars. The Fosses fixed up the newly acquired rowboat and sold it for a profit. The buying and selling trend continued until enough profit allowed them to keep a few boats to rent for recreational rowing. Now Foss operates one of the largest fleet of tugboats on the West Coast and provides a range of marine transportation services including harbor services, ocean towing, and shipyard and terminal services. Foss Maritime Company is based in Seattle, Wash., but operates locations in Portland, Ore., Long Beach/Los Angeles and San Francisco.