Message in rememberance of Piper Cameron. Photo featuring Katie Wixom, Pacific Maritime Institute student, on the tug Lauren Foss in the Gulf of Mexico in 2009 (courtesy Katie Wixom).
Recently, I received an email from Tom Summers, Engineer at Foss Maritime in Southern Calif., in response to the article in November’s edition of MarineNews, “Women on Workboats.” I think it should be shared with all of you here:
“I want to tell you about my friend and former shipmate, Piper Cameron. When I saw the photo of Katie [Wixom] on the back deck of the Lauren Foss I was overcome with feelings. You see, Piper lost her life on the tug Emma Foss almost three years ago, on almost the same spot that Katie is standing. She was folded over the bulwark by a tow bridle attached to a barge that became caught under the tug during hand off. Another shipmate was crippled when he came to her rescue and was hit by the same bridle when it came free and snapped back. My coworkers and I at Foss in Southern California will never forget Piper. And I say that not just because she was a beautiful young lady, but also because she was a dedicated, professional and enthusiastic shipmate and employee, who was well on her way to the wheelhouse. Her friends, family and coworkers miss her a lot. I'm certain she would have been included in your article if she were still with us. In a way I know she is when I see the other ladies in your story and think of some of the other women not featured. There is surely no doubt that these women have a place in our industry."
Keep your emails about MarineNews content (good, bad or indifferent) coming.
Raina Clark
rainaclark@marinelink.com