Crowley and Hamburg Sud Discussing Combining Expertise, Resources, Services and Operations in the U.S. – South America Trades

(JACKSONVILLE, FL; July 29, 1999) Crowley American Transport, Inc. (Crowley) and Hamburg Suedamerikanische Dampfchifffahrtsgesellschaft Eggert & Amsinck (Hamburg Sud) have announced that they have entered into discussions to consider the synergies related to combining their expertise, resources, services and operations in the United States – South America trades in order to better serve their respective customers. Crowley and Hamburg Sud anticipate concluding discussions during the third quarter of 1999.

HAMBURG SD The Shipping Group is a member of the Oetker Group of Companies, with headquarters in Bielefeld, Germany. The Oetker Group itself comprises about 200 firms with an unusually broad diversification. In addition to the core business of foodstuffs, the activities of the Oetker Group range from breweries to sparkling wine producers, from merchant banks to an insurance company and from top European hotels to shipping. Hamburg Sud is parent company to Columbus Line, which provides marine transport and services linking North America and Australia, New Zealand and both coasts of South America. Additional information may be found on the Internet at http://www.hamburg-sued.com.

Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, Crowley American Transport provides cargo common carrier services between Canada, the United States and countries in Central America, South America and the Caribbean. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Oakland-based Crowley Maritime Corp., founded in 1892.