Crowley Recognized with 2009 Company Award by NOAA and National Weather Service

(JACKSONVILLE, Fla., October 13, 2010)–Crowley Maritime Corporation has been selected as a 2009 Company Award Winner for the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service’s Voluntary Observing Ship (VOS) program.
 
The selection was based on Crowley’s 38 vessels providing 15,798 highly accurate and timely weather observations for the U.S. VOS program in 2009. Particularly impressive was Crowley’s Resolve, a pusher tug residing in Alaskan waters, whose crewmembers alone made 1,738 observations last year, ranking her the fourteenth-highest highest reporting vessel in the entire program.
 
The VOS program, which was established in 1853, relies on volunteer crewmembers on nearly 1,000 ships around the world to monitor the weather at their locations and submit the observations to national meteorological services. This data is used to create marine weather forecasts and is archived for future use by climatologists and other scientists. “Our vessels’ crewmembers have been contributing first-hand weather data to VOS for decades,” said Ed Burdorf, manager of marine operations for Crowley. “Crowley is proud of our history with the program and we are committed to continuing to support it. We see the impact it has each day on our own vessel operations, and we are very appreciative of this recognition.”
 
Weather forecasters in the United States rely upon Crowley’s reports heavily. These observations are used to produce the daily weather forecasts, charts, warnings, coastal-marine warnings and tropical-prediction forecasts which are distributed by NOAA’s National Weather Service forecast offices, including the Tropical Analysis and Forecast branch, the Storm Prediction Center and the National Hurricane Center. Observations are also sent to all World Meteorological Organization partner countries to help produce global weather charts, advisories and forecasts imperative for the safe movement of private and commercial shipping.
 
“The invaluable work that Crowley ships do to collect and disseminate weather and oceanographic observations during their voyages is greatly appreciated by weather forecasters and oceanographers around the world,” said Robert Luke, U.S. VOS program manager. “Your crews’ hard work and dedication has reflected good credit upon your company and the seafaring community. It really does make a world of difference.”
 
Jacksonville-based Crowley Holdings Inc., a holding company of the 118-year-old Crowley Maritime Corporation, is a privately held family and employee-owned company. The company 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 container shipping, logistics, contract towing and transportation; ship assist and escort; energy support; salvage and emergency response through its TITAN Salvage subsidiary; vessel management; vessel construction and naval architecture through its Jensen Maritime subsidiary; 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
By Professional Mariner Staff