Crowley suspends liner shipping operations in the U.S. Gulf

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Crowley announced today that its Gulfport, Miss., port facilities and New Orleans office have been closed until further notice due to damage from Hurricane Katrina.

All sailings,including the company’s thrice-weekly liner shipping service between the U.S. Gulf and Puerto Cortes, Honduras and Santo Tomas, Guatemala, will be handled over Port Everglades, Fla., for the foreseeable future.

“We have developed a sailing schedule that will include port calls in Port Everglades for those shipments that traditionally utilize Gulfport,” said John Hourihan, senior vice president and general manager, Latin America. “In the near term, we plan to sail to Santo Tomas and Puerto Cortez from Port Everglades tomorrow, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and next Thursday." T

Crowley will be updating this schedule on its web site at www.crowley.com and we encourages customers to check it regularly, not only for sailing information, but for other service announcements as well.

Crowley adds it currently attempting to verify the safety and well being of all of its employees in the Gulf, as well as assess their needs. Damage to facilities in Gulfport and Crowley equipment appears to be extensive based on national news reports. Crowley personnel are en route to the area and will survey the situation as soon as it is safe and practical to do so.

Apparel shippers should continue to make their bookings through the company’s apparel desk in Miami at 1-800-835-2807.

All other customers can reach Crowley’s booking and customer service departments by calling 1-800-CROWLEY.

Customers who believe they may have been affected by the hurricane should immediately notify their cargo underwriters. If any information is needed from Crowley, customers may contact Berry Landers or Dwight Menard at 800-874-6769 or 904-727-2229.