Crowley Maritime Corporation: The People Who Know the Industry

US-owned and operated, Crowley Maritime Corporation is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. The company is primarily family and employee-owned and is known for providing transportation and logistics services in the US as well as several international markets. Their services are deployed through their six operating lines of business: Puerto Rico/Caribbean liner services; Latin American liner services; marine contract solutions; logistics; deep sea petroleum transportation; and last but not the least, petroleum transportation, distribution, and sales in Alaska. The company supports all of its business segments by maintaining centralized corporate operations that cover human resources, information technology, purchasing, training, public relations, advertising, and facilities development, among other processes.

Crowley’s six lines of business offer various primary services. Some of these are shipping and logistics, vessel management, ocean towing, engineering, naval architecture, and project management. They also offer petroleum and chemical transportation, harbor ship assist and tanker escort, as well as marine salvage, wreck removal, and emergency response. Clients in need of heavy lift barge transportation and OPA 90 compliance, as well as project logistics and global freight management can also consult Crowley Maritime for efficient and high quality services.

Crowley was founded by Thomas Crowley in 1892. The founder, who is the grandfather of the company’s current CEO Thomas Crowley, Jr., started the business with his purchase of an 18-foot Whitehall boat to be used as transport for personnel and supplies to the ships anchored on the San Francisco Bay. After a few years, the company has expanded to provide other services. They have also acquired more, larger vessels.

The company was incorporated in Delaware as Crowley Maritime Corporation on December 1, 1972. As of 2012, Crowley was reported to be made up of 5,300 employees, with revenues amounting to $1.8 billion. They also maintain strong partnerships with numerous companies from various industries.