John Ara Awarded the 2000 Thomas Crowley Trophy, Crowley Maritime Corporation

(Houston; April 18, 2001) – John L. Ara, sales manager, contract services, Crowley Marine Services – East Coast & International, was awarded the 2000 Thomas Crowley Trophy, Crowley Maritime Corporation’s highest honor, at ceremonies held in Houston last week. It was the second of two trophies to be awarded this year.

Created over a decade ago, the Thomas Crowley Trophy award honors employees with outstanding performance, whose dedication, leadership, initiative and productivity most clearly reflect those of the companys founder. The trophy, a limited edition, bronze sculpture depicting young Thomas Crowley as he ferried goods to and from ships on San Francisco Bay in the early 1890s, is a tribute to the founder of the company as well as the winners of the award.

Tom Crowley Jr., president, chairman and CEO of Crowley Maritime Corporation, presented the award at the ceremony, which was attended by Crowley’s Houston employees.

“John is a tireless worker who understands our customers and brings to them the highest levels of customer service,” Crowley said. “His enthusiasm, knowledge and commitment has helped the company secure new business and foster long-term mutually beneficial relationships with our customers. He is very deserving of this award.”

And recently, as project manager for the Chevron LL652 platform and topside installation project in Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela, Ara helped bring Crowley’s full complement of services to the job, including logistics, marine engineering analysis and transportation and installation. He expanded the scope of the project and was able to bring multiple groups together to ensure the project was completed on time and within budget.

Ara is currently the project manager for the Hovensa (Hess) Refinery Project, moving modules from Maracaibo, Venezuela, to St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“Receiving the Thomas Crowley trophy is a tremendous honor,” Ara said. “There are many people here at Crowley deserving of this award, including many people who have worked with me over the years. This special recognition would not have been possible without their support.”

Ara joined Crowley in 1978 as a messenger in the company’s Los Angeles/Long Beach office, and a year later became a tug dispatcher. He worked his way up in the organization to become manager of dispatch services in 1990 and manager of customer service in 1994. Later that year, he was promoted to sales manager in Crowley’s Puerto Rico office where he was responsible for the company’s oil transportation and ship assist work. While there, Ara played a key role in the oil cleanup of the Morris J. Berman barge spill near San Juan.

He was transferred to Houston in 1997 and assumed his present position as sales manager, contract services for Crowley’s East Coast and International group. His responsibilities include marketing and sales for towing, ship work and OPA 90 services.

Oakland-based Crowley, founded in 1892, is primarily a family- and employee-owned company primarily 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. Additional information about Crowley its subsidiaries and business units may be found on the Internet at www.crowley.com.

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