Hurricane Rita to Delay Crowley

2005-09-23

(JACKSONVILLE, Fla.; September 23, 2005) Crowley announced today that it has delayed the resumption of its liner services over the Port of Gulfport, Miss., by one week. After monitoring the developing path of Hurricane Rita, the company has decided to postpone services until Saturday, October 8. The service will begin with the northbound sailing of the RoRo Gothica, which will bring cargo from Central America including Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador.

Service to the Gulf region had previously been suspended following Hurricane Katrina, which came ashore in the region on Monday, August 29. Shipments have been temporarily rerouted over Port Everglades, Fla.

“After monitoring the status of Hurricane Rita in the Gulf region, we have determined that it wouldnt be prudent to resume services in and out of Gulfport on our previously announced date of October 1,” said John Hourihan, senior vice president and general manager, Latin America service. “We want to be able to provide our customers the uninterrupted, on-time, quality service that they have grown accustomed to and are concerned that in the face of Hurricane Rita that may be questionable. We are dedicated to resuming services as soon as possible but have decided that October 1 is not the best option at this point.”

Following the arrival of the RoRo Gothica on October 8, Crowley will have its next vessel, the Senator call in Gulfport on October 11. Thereafter, Crowley will continue to provide service over Gulfport to and from Central America every Saturday and Tuesday until such time as the company can resume its full schedule of three, weekly, fixed-day sailings.

Crowley has had teams in place in Gulfport since officials deemed it safe to do so. The company originally had a recreational vehicle (RV) onsite where its offices used to stand to serve as a makeshift operations base. They have since ordered and received an office trailer to accompany the RV that will remain onsite until a more permanent structure can be erected.

Oakland-based Crowley Maritime Corporation, founded in 1892, is primarily a family and employee-owned company that provides diversified transportation and logistics services in domestic and international markets by means of four operating lines of business: Liner Services; Logistics Services; Petroleum Services and Marine Services. Other services provided within these business lines include contract towing and transportation; ship assist and escort; energy support; salvage and emergency response; vessel management, 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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