History of Crowley - Crowley Maritime Corporation

Corporate History

~At the~

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Thomas Crowley

1875-1970

Crowley launched the company with an $80 purchase of a second-hand Whitehall boat. In his first decade of business, Crowley established a philosophy of reinvesting earnings back into the business, continually seeking improvements in equipment and methodology, and attracting hard-working employees--a practice that created the foundation for Crowley today. When he died, the San Francisco Chronicle wrote, "He began his life as a Whitehaller...and he ended it controlling most of the tugs between San Diego and Alaska."

1890-1900

1892

Founder Thomas Crowley purchased one 18-foot Whitehall boat to provide transportation of personnel and stores to ships anchored on San Francisco Bay.
In a few years, the one Whitehall was joined by two others serving the Bay 24-hours a day.
In the mid-1890s, the business was incorporated under the name Thomas Crowley and Brothers.
Crowley purchased his first 36-foot motor launch vessel shortly followed by a second 45-foot vessel, then a third 28-footer.
Within a few years, services broadened to include bay towing and ship-assist services.

1900

Crowley continued to build new or buy used gasoline launches, expanding both the fleet and the type of work the company could perform.
The company also acquired and operated small barges to transport steel to Oakland and barrels of oil, ice, and other supplies to ships in the Bay.

1906

Crowley's fleet played a significant role in ferrying passengers and their belongings out of San Francisco following the great earthquake.
Operations incorporated under the name Crowley Launch and Tugboat Company. Stockholders were Thomas Crowley and his two half-brothers.

1908

Crowley expanded into tugboats to tow the scow schooners through the Bay
Crowley vessels handled the transportation of nitrate from South America and coal transport for government operations.
Tom Crowley became recognized as an expert in the most efficient ways to handle and transport marine cargoes.
Crowley purchased tugs of his own and entered competition with Shipowners and Merchants Tugboat Company, operators of the Red Stack tugs.
With a diverse fleet of vessels, the motto "Anything, Anywhere, Anytime on Water" was adopted.

1912

To manage the growing fleet, Crowley built a marine railway, a dock and a woodworking mill in 1912 and named it Crowley Shipyard.

1913

Crowley became the general manager of and later purchased the Red Stacks.

1914

Crowley dedicated personnel and equipment to the Panama Pacific International Exposition.

1915

Crowley purchased Paradise Park and transported people into the park from their private yachts.
Crowley acquired several small derrick barges outfitted with A-frames and booms for lifting cargo onto and off lighters.
During the First World War, the company built and added to its fleet a large, heavy-lift derrick barge which could perform 100-ton lifts.
During World War I, Crowley raised the laid-up coal barge City of Panama, repaired her and converted her to a five-masted schooner, which was renamed Crowley.
Crowley began transporting coal and other commodities to Australia and South America.
Crowley entered a partnership with fellow vessel owner Andrew Mahoney that operated two steam schooners and three steel ships.
Four 150-foot wooden tugs with steam engines were constructed.

1923

Crowley expanded into Puget Sound with lighter services and established a tugboat service in San Pedro.
The Company provided tug, launch and barge services in San Francisco Bay along with heavy-lift and derrick barge services.

1930

Between 1930 and 1932 three water taxis were constructed.

1934

Crowley undertook a conversion program to convert from steam to diesel.

1935

Crowley's shipyard operation became a separate company under the Crowley name.

1937

Crowley entered a new partnership to perform dredging, marine construction, heavy-lifting and other derrick barge services in the Los Angeles, Long Beach and San Diego harbors.

1938

Crowley designed a 148-foot, 7,000 bbl. gasoline barge capable of moving refined bulk petroleum.
The 7,000 bbl. barge was shortly joined by a 9,000 bbl. barge, and then an 11,000 bbl. barge.

1939

Crowley won a concession to operate two passenger services from Treasure Island to the newly constructed Golden Gate Bridge.
Crowley purchased the oil barging equipment from Shell Oil to operate the petroleum transport in both the Bay Area and Southern California.
Crowley's dry dock and repair company began building ships for the government in support of World War II.

1945

Crowley began to build and operate terminals to improve the efficiency of petroleum-distribution.
The first terminal was built at Alviso at the extreme southern end of San Francisco Bay.

1947

Construction of the company's first sea-going oil barge, Barge 11, was completed in 1947.
Crowley undertook the first coastal transportation from San Francisco to Coos Bay, Oregon, of bulk petroleum by barge.
After the war, the Company replaced all of its surviving steam tugs with war surplus diesel equipment.
Additional surplus vessels were purchased in the late 1940s, such as miki-class wooden hull, 1200-h.p. tugs, and flatdeck and other barges.
The Company began the tow of the U.S. battleship Oklahoma from Hawaii to Oakland after it was bombed at Pearl Harbor.

1950

In the early 1950s, Crowley began hauling gasoline southward to Mexico and brought molasses northward on the return trip.

1953

Crowley Pioneered transportation of railcars loaded with bails of dissolving pulp on a 125-mile water link between railroad tracks at Ward Cove in Ketchikan, Alaska, and Prince Rupert, British Columbia.
Crowley acquired the Matinolich shipyard in Oakland.

1955

Crowley initiated its long commitment to arctic transportation with an agreement to resupply the U.S. Government's distant early warning radar and communication system on the Alaska coastline.

1958

Regular container transportation services to Alaska from the contiguous 48 were initiated.
Four new steel barges capable of carrying 300 containers were introduced to the fleet along with 600 containers and terminal cranes.
Crowley completed the first penetration of the Artic by commercial tug and barge.
Four million board feet of lumber was transported by barge on the West Coast.
The San Francisco Bay passenger services were expanded between 1954 and 1958.
In the mid-1950s, Converted barges undertook the hauling of hot (350 degrees) paving-grade asphalt.

1960

In the 1960s, Crowley was called on by oil industry officials to help tame the waters of Cook Inlet, Alaska, by rafting tugs together to supply the necessary horsepower to set the oil exploration platforms and furnishing a supply boat and crew boat services.

1968

Between 1968 and 1970, five new tugs were designed and built with simplified engine rooms to lessen the number of crewmen required from 12 to eight.
Crowley completed the first Arctic sealift of oil industry cargo around the perimeter of Alaska to Prudhoe Bay.

1970

Crowley's transport of 187,000 tons of cargo to Prudhoe Bay was the largest commercial sealift in maritime history.
In May, Crowley initiated services to ferry passengers across the San Pedro channel.

1971

Crowley expanded oil industry support operations to Singapore to work in the Indonesian oil patch.
A weekly roll on/roll off freight service between Miami, Florida, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, and from the U.S. Gulf to Puerto Rico was developed.

1973

The Company continued its support of the oil industry in Alaska as Crowley hauled more of the pipe for the 800-mile pipeline than any other company.

1974

Jacksonville, Florida, was added as a mainland port of call for cargo bound for San Juan, Puerto Rico.

1975

Crowley Maritime Corporation was formed.
Crowley acquired a fleet of all-weather, all-terrain Rolligons, which are vehicles that use large low-pressure rubber air bags to traverse unpacked snow, summer tundra, sand, or marshland initiating the birth of CATCO.
Personnel were dedicated to salvage and emergency response including oil spill cleanup, dock and vessel booming, design and installation of protective facilities, contingency planning and consulting.

1977

Aleyska selected Crowley to provide vessel assist and tanker escort services at Valdez for tankers loading crude oil for transport to the mainland states.
Between 1974 and 1977, 25 Invader-class tugs and nine 450-series petroleum barges were built for the Company.

1978

The Company developed the world's largest roll-on/roll-off barges for the mainland/Puerto Rico service. By the end of the 1970s, Crowley had become the largest RO/RO carrier in the Caribbean trade operating out of the U.S. Southeast and Gulf.

1980

New terminals were constructed to handle the new triple-deck barges including those in Lake Charles, Louisiana and Petty's Island near Philadelphia.
In the early 1980s, Crowley built three ships to bring containerization to the Latin America trade.

1984

Conversion of five triple deck barges was undertaken in 1984 to stretch the barges from 400-feet to 730-feet increasing the capacity of each vessel by 78 percent.

1985

Crowley continued its emphasis on services in Alaska by establishing means to store, transport and sell petroleum products from tank farms at Nome, Kotzebue, and Captain's Bay.

1986

New operating units in 1986 and early in 1987 further internationalized Crowley's marine operations by expanding cargo ship operations to Central America, the entire Caribbean, and both coasts of South America.

1989

On March 24, when the 987-foot tanker Exxon Valdez went aground, Crowley tugs were first on the scene to take up position alongside the stricken tanker. Crowley was the principle contractor of equipment and personnel to provide marine support for the spill cleanup.

1991

During the Persian Gulf Crisis in late 1991, Crowley chartered three RO/RO vessels and a tug and water barge to the U.S. Military Sealift Command in support of the United Nations' various military transportation and supply services.
In March, Crowley was awarded a contract from the Saudi Arabian Government as a prime contractor in the first phase of an environmental cleanup of 450 Kilometers of oil-polluted shores in the Persian Gulf.
Crowley was the first in the industry to establish a data input program accepted by the Federal Maritime Commission.

1992

In August, all Crowley companies offering liner cargo and related services to Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America became part of Crowley American Transport, Inc. All other diversified marine contract and logistics services became part of Crowley Marine Services, Inc. Crowley Maritime Corporation operated as a holding company, maintaining full ownership of these two companies.

1994

Crowley played a leading role in the cleanup of the barge Morris J. Berman's major oil spill off the beaches of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

1994

Thomas B. Crowley, Jr., was unanimously elected to the position of Chairman of the Board, President and CEO following the passing of his father.

1995

Crowley formed two joint ventures, Marine Response Alliance (1994) and Clean Pacific (1995) to efficiently provide emergency services according to the requirements of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990.

1997

Crowley launched a new, weekly Gulf Express service linking Houston with Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia and Panama.
Crowley became one of the first companies of its kind to launch a website. Within years, the site was made interactive so customers could track their cargo, make bookings, obtain rate quotes, print Internet bills of lading in their own offices applications, etc..

1999

Crowley sold its South America liner business and the name Crowley American Transport to Hamburg Sud. The remaining liner business was renamed Crowley Liner Services, Inc..
Prince William Sound-class tugs Nanuq and Tan'erliq are designed by Crowley and put to use assisting and escorting tankers in Valdez, Alaska and Prince William Sound. Offering "Best Available Technology" these 153-foot, 10,192-horsepower tugs are among the most powerful and nimble propulsion tugs in the world.

2000

Three 140-foot, 10,000-horsepower Prevention and Response Tugs (PRTs)--ALERT, AWARE and ATTENTIVE--are delivered for use by Alyeska Pipeline Service Company's Ship Escort/Response Vessel System in Valdez, Alaska.

2001

Crowley acquired all of the outstanding shares of Marine Transport Corporation, a U.S.-flag petroleum and chemical tanker company and folded its business activities into Crowley Petroleum Transportation. Marine Transport Corporation continues to provide ship management services for MARAD.
On Dec. 16, Crowley made the first licensed commercial cargo delivery directly from the United States to Havana, Cuba in nearly 40 years.

2002

Crowley acquired Miami-based Speed Cargo Service, a transportation services provider, adding the company to its growing logistics operations.
Tom Crowley, Jr., was awarded the coveted AOTOS Mariners Award for his lifetime of dedication and commitment to the maritime industry.
In April, Crowley christens its first Articulated Tug Barge (ATB) - the 9,280 HP-tug Sea Reliance and 155,000-barrel barge 550-1. It was the first ATB in a newbuild program consisting of 17 tug-barge combinations spanning more than a decade.

2003

Crowley expanded its international presence with the formation of Crowley Far East Services in Sakhalin State, Russia, in support of the oil and gas industry there.
Crowley Online Services debuts as dedicated platform for electronic shipment processing and customer service, powered by GT Nexus software and infrastructure.
Crowley acquired Apparel Transportation, Inc., a Miami-based apparel transportation services provider.
Crowley transported more than 400 head of cattle, plus sheep and bison, from the United States to Havana, Cuba, the first shipments of livestock direct from the U.S. via ocean transport in more than 40 years.
In December, the fourth and final 550-Class ATB is christenined - the 9,280-horsepower tug Coastal Reliance and 155,000-barrel barge 550-4.

2004

After providing ship assist and tanker escort services in the San Francisco Bay Area from the early 1900s to 1996. Crowley returned its tugs and service to the Bay in the Port of Oakland with two high horsepower tugs--the Tioga (Z drive - 4400 horsepower) and the Sea Robin (twin screw - 5000 horsepower).

2005

Salvadoran President Antonio Saca and Crowley held opening ceremonies for the company's new 24,500 square-foot distribution center in the Exportsalva Free Zone in El Salvador.
Crowley acquired marine salvage, wreck removal and emergency response company Titan Maritime, LLC. (Later renamed TITAN Salvage).
Crowley's port terminal operation in Gulfport, Miss. is flattened by Hurricane Katrina. The company was able to resume vessel service there several weeks later. TITAN Salvage was at the forefront of cleaning up the wreckage in the Gulf after the storm. Titan re-floated about 65 vessels in Louisiana with the use of pneumatic lift bags, linear hydraulic pullers and jack-ups. In addition to the work in Louisiana, Titan is the U.S. Coast Guard's contractor in Mississippi and Alabama and re-floated another 13 vessels.
Crowley acquired the assets of Yukon Fuel Company, Northland Vessel Leasing and the stock of Service Oil and Gas, Inc. to expand its fuel distribution enterprise throughout Alaska.

2006

Crowley expands its services in Alaska with acquisition of Columbus Distributing, Inc, a fuel-distribution business.
Crowley deployed theCrowley Alliance, the company's first Russian flagged and crewed vessel serving the offshore oil industry near Sakhalin Island, Russia. The ship�UT 708 design 12,000 BHP AHTS that is Lloyds Ice Class 1A Super�has the hull strength and power to break first-year ice up to one-meter (approximately 39.37 inches) thick.
Crowley christens the first of ten new 185,000-barrel Articulated Tug-Barges (ATBs) - the 9,280 HP-tug Pacific Reliance and barge 650-1.

2007

After about two years as a public reporting company, Crowley once again became a private company on May 5 with the acquisition of all outstanding shares.
Crowley christened the Marty J, the first of nine heavy-deck-strength 455 Series barges in a newbuild program. Measuring 400 feet by 105 feet, the barges provide both the capacity and deck strength needed to accommodate larger drilling and production units used for deepwater offshore energy exploration and development.

2008

Crowley satisfies a customer's need for a larger barge, widening the barge 455-3, from 105 feet to 130 feet and renaming her the Julie B.
Crowley acquires Customized Brokers, a Miami-based company specializing in the customs clearance of fresh produce into the U.S.
Crowley acquires Seattle-based Jensen Maritime Consultants, a naval architecture and marine engineering firm with more than 45 years experience designing and engineering a variety of different commercial vessels.

2010

Crowley and TITAN Salvage respond to the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti, reestablishing cargo delivery in the port and reopening the port to other government and commercial traffic over a period of several weeks.
Crowley announces that it would design, build and operate four new Ocean Class tugs by the end of 2012. The new generation of tugs feature 10,880 horsepower and are designed for endurance towing.
Crowley begins construction of three larger, Jones Act qualified ATB's known as the 750-Class. Each tank barge will have 330,000 bbls capacity and are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2012.
In August, Titan opens a new salvage base in Australia, further expanding its worldwide presence.

2011

Crowley and TITAN Salvage respond to the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti, reestablishing cargo delivery in the port and reopening the port to other government and commercial traffic over a period of several weeks.
Crowley acquired Houston-based Jarvis International Freight, Inc., a freight forwarding, export packing and logistics company primarily serving the energy, oilfield and mining industries.
The Vision/650-10, the last of 10 articulated tug barges (ATB's) began transporting petroleum products between U.S. West Coast ports.
Crowley established a new Houston-based business, under the name solutions, to bundle company-wide capabilities and assets with world-class project management skills to provide complete turnkey marine solutions for customers with multifaceted marine and offshore construction-related projects.
In November, Crowley christened its largest articulated tug-barge (ATB), the Legacy/750-1, in New Orleans. The barge can carry up to 330,000-barrels of petroleum products.
Crowley sold its fleet of company-owned CATCO® Arctic All-Terrain vehicles and related assets to Peak Oilfield Services Company.

2012

In April, the tender and removal of the Costa Concordia wreck was awarded to company subsidiary TITAN Salvage and partner Micoperi. The job is reported to be the largest maritime wreck removal project ever undertaken.
Crowley towed the USS Iowa, a historic, retired Navy battleship from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
TITAN Salvage was awarded a contract to serve as the commercial marine salvage and engineering support contractor for the Navy.
In August, Jensen Maritime, a Crowley company, opened its third office in New Orleans.
Crowley expanded its logistics services to include Less-than-Containerload (LCL) ocean and air cargo lifts along with Customs brokerage services to Cartagena, Colombia.
Crowley christened the Legend/750-2, the16,000-horsepower tugboat and 330,000 barrel tank barge in Tampa, Fla. The articulated tug-barge (ATB) and will be used to transport petroleum products between the U.S. Gulf and East Coasts.
In October, Crowley christened the first two ocean class tugboats, the Ocean Wave and the Ocean Wind in New Orleans.
Crowley merged its Houston-based, freight forwarding, export packing and logistics company, Jarvis International Freight, Inc., into the logistics team.
In November, the crew of Crowley's tugboat, the Guard, performed a heroic rescue of a man who was struggling to stay afloat in the waters outside of San Francisco Bay.
In December, TITAN Salvage opened its fourth facility in Cairns, Australia.

Thomas Crowley

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1875-1970

Thomas Bannon Crowley Sr.

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1914-1994

Tom Crowley, Sr., began his career at his father's company by scraping barnacles off of hulls and applying paint. After two years at Stanford University, Crowley left to become a deckhand on the Red Stack tug, Sea Scout. Shortly after taking over the company, he consolidated all of the company's holdings into today's Crowley Maritime Corporation, Inc. Crowley increased company services in Alaska and turned the company into a worldwide entity with expansion to Singapore, Central America, the entire Caribbean, and both coasts of South America. He said of his time at the company, "My proudest achievement over six decades is keeping the company thriving, growing, and willing to meet customer needs in a very difficult industry with very different and changing circumstances."

Thomas Crowley Jr.

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1967-

Tom Crowley, Jr., began his career with the company as a ticket collector for the company's San Francisco passenger service, the Red and White Fleet. He graduated from the University of Washington and worked his way through Crowley's management program until 1994, when Tom Crowley, Sr., passed away and he became CEO at 27. Heading into the 21st Century, he has focused on growth as it relates to the company's expertise on water, while leveraging new business areas and maintaining a portfolio approach to the business.

History

For more than a century, Crowley has set the standard for dependability and innovation.

We’ve grown from a one-man operation, armed with nothing more than one Whitehall rowboat and a vision, to a worldwide marine, transportation and logistics services provider by consistently delivering for our customers. To accompany us on this 120+ year journey, explore the Interactive Timeline here.

Two Men at the Helm

This book chronicles the company's first 100 years from 1892-1992.

PDF Download (28.5 MB) (PDF)

50 Years in Central America: A Celebration of Leadership, Growth and Sustainability

2011 marks the 50th anniversary of ocean cargo transportation service between the U.S. and Central America for Crowley and its predecessor CCT. During this anniversary year, Crowley reflects on its history of faithful service to the people and ports of Central America and looks forward to the next 50 years of growth and opportunity.

Read about Crowley's history in Central America (PDF)

Crowley Subsidiary Jensen Maritime Celebrates its 50th Anniversary

2011 marks the 50th anniversary of naval architecture and marine engineering excellence for Jensen Maritime. For 50 years, Jensen has been a recognized leader in these fields, designing and modifying virtually every type of vessel and providing on-location marine consulting wherever needed. As Jensen reflects on its history of innovative design and service, it also sets its sights on another 50 years of growth and success.

Read about Jensen's history of innovative design and service (PDF)

In 2004, Crowley Celebrates 50 Years of Service in Puerto Rico

In 2004, Crowley celebrated its 50th anniversary of service to the people and businesses of Puerto Rico. Over the years, Crowley has continuously served the needs of people shipping cargo between Puerto Rico and the U.S. mainland, transporting an estimated three million units in the first half-century of service. Crowley looks forward to another 50 years of success and prosperity in Puerto Rico.

Read about Crowley's history in Puerto Rico (PDF)

In 2003, Crowley Celebrates 50 Years of Service in Alaska

In 2003, Crowley celebrated its 50th anniversary of service to the people and businesses of Alaska. Over the years, Crowley has consistently provided unique solutions to Alaska’s logistics and marine transportation challenges. As Crowley reflects on its history of service in business development and protecting the Alaskan environment, it also sets its sights on another 50 years of growth and success.

Read about Crowley's history in Alaska (PDF)

Crowley Oral Histories

Thomas Crowley: Recollections of the San Francisco Waterfront

Crowley Maritime Corporation's founder provides an oral history of his memories growing up and building a company on the San Francisco waterfront.

The digital version, housed at the University of California, Berkeley's Bancroft Library, can be accessed here.

Thomas B. Crowley: San Francisco Bay Tugboats to International Transportation Fleet

A look at the continued growth of Crowley Maritime Corporation from the perspective of Thomas B. Crowley, whose oral account takes off where his father's left off in Recollections of the San Francisco Waterfront.

The digital version, housed at the University of California, Berkeley's Bancroft Library, can be accessed here.

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