Crowley restores twice-weekly box service between Florida, Haiti

The following is the text of a press release issued by Crowley Maritime Corp.:
 
(FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.) — To better meet the needs of customers shipping to Haiti from the Dominican Republic and South Florida, Crowley Maritime Corp. has enhanced its liner container shipping services by renewing its second fixed-day sailing to Port-au-Prince from Rio Haina and Port Everglades starting this week.
 
After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Crowley reduced its twice-weekly service to Haiti to a single port call on Mondays due to infrastructure damage and resulting deterioration in the port’s service capabilities. Now that the infrastructure has been repaired and those capabilities have been restored, customers once again will have the valuable option of having cargo delivered to Haiti from the Dominican Republic or South Florida on Fridays in addition to Mondays – an advantage that allows shipments to arrive in stores when they are most needed.
“Crowley is very proud of its early role in helping to restore ocean-freight service to Haiti so soon after the earthquake,†said Crowley’s Tony Otero, vice president, Dominican Republic/Haiti and Cuba liner services. “Now we are committed to delivering a first-class twice-weekly service again for our customers as the market continues to recover.â€
The reestablishment of this sailing also makes Crowley the only carrier with twice-a-week shipments directly from the Dominican Republic to Haiti. This advantage will benefit the many Dominican Republic businesses that deliver products to support Haiti’s growing market and reconstruction efforts by providing a safe and reliable alternative to trucking products across the countries’ borders.
The additional sailing to Haiti is aptly timed with the start of the country’s annual mango season. Last year, Crowley shipped nearly 400 loads of mangoes during the peak season.
“Though the country still has a long way to go in terms of recovery since the earthquake, business is improving,†said Otero. “Mango growers are predicting another successful season and shipments from the Dominican Republic are on the rise. Haiti continues to be a key market for Crowley.â€
With two Lift-on/Lift-off (Lo/Lo) container ships and a broad range of quality equipment, Crowley is equipped to meet the various needs of these diverse markets.
The new schedule calls for a vessel to depart Port Everglades for arrival in the Dominican Republic. From the Dominican Republic, the vessel will arrive in Haiti, and the final stop is in Port Everglades, where the rotation begins again.
Jacksonville-based Crowley Holdings Inc., a holding company of the 119-year-old Crowley Maritime Corporation, is a privately held family and employee-owned company. The company provides marine solutions, 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: liner container and break-bulk shipping; logistics; contract towing and transportation; harbor ship assist and tanker 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