Crowley transports ESPN Production Equipment For Historic USA and Cuba World Cup Qualifier Game

(Jacksonville, Fla.; Sept. 5, 2008) – ESPN viewers will get the chance to see history this weekend when the U.S. national team plays the Cuba national team in a 2010 World Cup qualifying game in Cuba.

The event, which marks the first time the U.S. national team has played on the island since 1947, will be covered thanks to the teamwork of Crowley Maritime Corporation’s liner services personnel in Jacksonville, Guatemala, Barbados, Port Everglades and Cuba, who were responsible for the successful transportation of the ESPN television production equipment for LeBlanc Enterprises, a transportation and logistics company specializing in the media and entertainment fields.

“I have and will continue to be a loyal client of Crowley because when the chips are down, Crowley is there at every level ensuring the job is done right,” said Larry LeBlanc, of LeBlanc Enterprises. “I’ve been blessed to have this partnership with Crowley. Crowley has truly been instrumental in the success of my company.”

The transportation of ESPN’s equipment to Havana is the third in a series of moves Crowley has handled for coverage of the 2010 World Cup qualifying games. In June, Crowley transported the production equipment, which includes a 40-foot state-of-the-art mobile production trailer and a 20-foot container filled with generators and other support equipment needed for complete coverage of the games, to Barbados; last month the equipment was transported to Guatemala and then returned to Port Everglades in anticipation of the Cuba trip.

The equipment arrived in Cuba on Wednesday. The qualifying game is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 6.

“We are pleased to be involved in the successful transportation of these production units and equipment to Cuba,” said Jay Brickman, Crowley’s vice president of government services. “Our longstanding relationship with Cuban officials, plus the innovative work of our employees, allowed Crowley to have the opportunity to play a role in such a historical event.”

LeBlanc Enterprises was contracted by ESPN to handle the move. The company then contracted Crowley. LeBlanc credited the entire Crowley staff for the successful move but noted that liner services Breakbulk Specialist Karla Ruiz was “monumental” in coordinating transportation efforts. Ruiz is part of Crowley’s specialized project cargo team.

“Karla Ruiz was the overwhelming force in coordinating transportation efforts,” LeBlanc said. “She’s a true professional.”

Jacksonville-based Crowley Maritime Corporation, founded in San Francisco in 1892, is a privately held family and employee-owned company that provides diversified transportation and logistics services in domestic and international markets by means of six operating lines of business: Puerto Rico/Caribbean Liner Services, Latin America Liner Services, Logistics Services, Petroleum Services, Marine Services and Technical Services. Offered within these operating lines of business are the following services: liner liner container shipping, logistics, contract towing and transportation; ship assist and escort; energy support; salvage and emergency response; vessel management; vessel construction and naval architecture; government services, and petroleum and chemical transportation, distribution and sales. Additional information about Crowley its subsidiaries and business units may be found on the Internet at www.crowley.com.

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