1983-1992

(click photo to enlarge)

• 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. 
• In the early 1980s, Crowley built three ships to bring containerization to the Latin America trade 
• 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 
• In 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 Captains Bay 
• 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 of 1991, 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 
• In the 1990s virtually all Crowley personnel throughout the Americas were linked via VSAT (satellite) to Crowley's state-of-the-art computer systems. 
• Crowley was the first in the industry to establish a data input program accepted by the Federal Maritime Commission 
• In August of 1992, 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 
• On March 24, 1989 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 or equipment and personnel to provide marine support for the spill cleanup.