Crowley Participates in MARAD Celebration of 25th Anniversary of Ready Reserve Force

MARAD Recognizes Crowley as Successful Strategic Sealift Partner

(Jacksonville, Fla. Nov. 20, 2001) – Crowley Liner Services joined U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta, military, state and local officials, and maritime union representatives recently in Baltimore for a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Maritime Administrations (MARAD) Ready Reserve Force (RRF). In addition, MARAD formally recognized Crowley and other strategic sealift partners in the RRF program for their support.

Crowley was presented with a certificate of recognition for the successful completion of its deck expansion of the Cape Wrath at North Florida Shipyard in Jacksonville. Crowley serves as ship manager for the Cape Wrath and eight other MARAD vessels. A total of 76 MARAD Ready Reserve vessels provide reliable, cost-effective sealift support for the nations armed forces.

Mineta stressed the importance of partnerships with industry and labor in keeping the fleet ready to serve the nations armed forces during ceremonies held aboard the 697-foot Cape Wrath. The vessel is one of five Ready Reserve Force (RRF) ships home berthed in Baltimore; a sixth, the Cape Washington, is currently being upgraded by Crowley at North Florida Shipyard in Jacksonville. Other RRF ships are located along the U.S. Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific coasts with some stationed overseas.

“Our industry and labor partners make the Ready Reserve Force a reliable, cost-effective source of sealift,” Mineta said. “We are proud of its accomplishments, confident of its capabilities, and determined to continue its record of service and success.”

Created in 1976 during Americas bicentennial year, the RRF supports rapid, massive movement of military supplies in support of military and humanitarian operations. There are 76 ships in the RRF. Military equipment such as tanks, trucks, jeeps, and humvees can be driven or towed onboard the Cape Wrath and 30 similar ships. Other RRF ships also have special capabilities valuable to the military, such as the ability to pump fuel to inland points up to four miles away or to unload goods from its cargo holds and those of other ships without the help of equipment on shore. MARAD, which owns the ships, contracts with private ship operating companies to manage them, using seafaring union members as crew. When activated for military missions, the ships are under the operational control of the Navys Military Sealift Command (MSC).

Crowley Liner Services, headquartered in Jacksonville, is a subsidiary of Oakland-based Crowley Maritime Corporation. Crowley, founded in 1892, is primarily a family- and employee-owned company engaged in worldwide logistics, liner services, contract towing and transportation, energy support services, ship assist and escort services, vessel management and petroleum and chemical marine transport. The company has approximately 5,000 employees worldwide, and operates more than 300 vessels in more than 35 countries and island nations. Additional information about Crowley, its subsidiaries and business units may be found on the Internet at www.crowley.com.

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