Steve Frailey V.P. of Pacific Tugboat Services: A Stand-Up, Class Act

Tugboat assigned the task of towing CGC Storis 

Earlier today Scott Abgekurtz posted the name of the tug company on Facebook that has contracted to tow the Storis to Mexico. I had intended to lump them in with the Storis owners and immortalizing them on this blog. I wrote an email to the tug company and copied it to every person listed on their site. I also copied it to the greasy owner of the Storis, Mark Jurisich. Shortly after I got a response from Steve Frailey, V.P. of Pacific Tugboat Services. It was actually sent to Scott and forwarded to me but, the email quickly changed my mind and I wanted to pass it along to the group as I think it would change other people's opinions as well. I sent him a reply to ask for his permission to publish his email on my Storis blog and he got back to me with his permission to post it.

The email he sent with his permission to publish his email was actually more impressive than the email seen directly below. I have posted his follow up email following the one below. I highlighted part of it in bold text.
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From: Stephen Frailey [mailto:steve@pacifictugboats.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 24, 2013 11:55 AM
To: Scott Abgekurtz; tstrat002-facebook@yahoo.com
Cc: grant@pacifictugboats.com; steve@pacifictugboats.com; bob@pacifictugboats.com; deno@pacifictugboats.com; tom@pacifictugboats.com; pat@pacifictugboats.com; jim@pacifictugboats.com; wayne@pacifictugboats.com; ralph@pacifictugboats.com; jessica@pacifictugboats.com; keith@pacifictugboats.com
Subject: Re: US Coast Guard Cutter Storis

Good morning Scott,

I appreciate your letter and the moving story behind it. The pictures are priceless and the video is breathtaking. I too am a veteran (US Navy) so I can relate to your bond with the Storis as a fellow sailor. My first ship out of boot camp was USS Lewis B. Puller, FFG-23. She was still under construction and the crew was hand-picked when I got orders to report for duty. I and my shipmates became proud plank-owners as we commissioned "Chesty" Puller and ran her through her paces. It was a formative time in my life and one that created strong bonds and fond memories. Years later I sadly attended the de-commissioning ceremony in San Diego and the transfer to the navy of a middle-east ally. To me this meant a disrespectful name change and certain decline toward slow death for a very special vessel and namesake. 

I still have my plank-owner certificate framed on the wall at home. Now I am a member of the USS Lewis B. Puller Facebook page and I have pictures, hats and my memories that keep the ship and her crew as spiritually ready for action as we were in reality back then. Since I now work with the Navy as part of job I see the ships of the fleet often. I even see sister ships to "Chesty" and wonder why they were spared when my beloved ship was not. Also as part of my job I have been involved in successful projects to save ships to become museums. The USS Midway is a fine local example despite many financial, permitting and political obstacles. 

Sadly I have also been part of the last days of storied ships that touched many lives over many years. It is always with a measure of regret that a legend passes from existence. 

You are correct that we have a business to run and commitments to uphold. We are professional, reliable mariners. Fortunately it is rare that we are tasked to tow a vessel on her final voyage. The USCG Cutter Storis is one the few times we have had the honor to tow such a ship. While we have no right or basis to refuse to perform our duty to our customer, we can promise to carry out our duties with respect and to honor the legacy of the Storis on her final voyage. 

Economics and time are impersonal forces that cause the demise of great ships. I hope that you and your shipmates can continue to celebrate the many lives that were made better having been touched by the Storis. It's the steel and paint that are passing, not the stuff that made her and her crews a legend. If during our upcoming voyage we can take pictures or conduct any particular honor please let me know.  We would also be happy to pass along your sentiments to our customer if you wish.   

Respectfully,

Steve Frailey

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I sent a reply to Mr. Frailey to ask permission to publish the email (posted above) and I got a reply from him that was to me personally and I was even more impressed with what he said to me in the second email (posted below).

Here is the 2nd email I received from Steve Frailey,V.P. Pacific Tugboat Services.

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Mr Watkins, Jim if I may,

You have permission to use my e-mail as you see fit. Further, if you wish to call me my mobile number is: (619) 840-**** (edited by JW).
We are a small business. We all know each other like family and our maritime community is an extension of that family. I wish we had not been contracted to this job having now learned the story leading up to it. Now that we have been contracted and are bound to our duty, I hope that we can fulfill this obligation in a manner that does the Storis proud.  
I have left our captain a voice mail and I hope to hear from him this evening as he gets into cell range. As I was unaware of the nature of this tow assignment until today I am very limited in my ability to change the situation. I can and will however convey to our captain and his crew our intent to conduct ourselves as professional mariners, privileged to see this voyage through safely, with dignity and respect for the Storis and those whose lives have been changed by her for the better.
This day and these circumstances remind of a poem that I would like to share with you, although you may know it already, I think it fits:
 The Unknown Shore by Bishop Brent
"A ship sails and I stand watching till she fades on the horizon and someone at my side says She is gone. Gone where? Gone from my sight, that is all. She is just as large now as when I last saw her.Her diminished size and total loss from my sight is in me, not in her. And just at that moment, when someone at my sidesays she is gone, there are others who are watching her coming over their horizon and other voices take up a glad shout -There she comes! That is what dying is. An horizon and just the limit of our sight. Lift us up O Lord, that we may see further."
Steve
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Stephen FraileyVice President/PrincipalPacific Tugboat Service(800) USE-R-TUGwww.pacifictugboats.com