News and Media

(Jacksonville, Fla; Oct. 15, 2007) – Crowley Maritime Corporation’s liner services group recently transported the University of Puerto Rico’s solar house from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Jacksonville, Fla. This unusual shipment arrived in Washington D.C. where it is serving as the university’s entry into the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon competition. Crowley was able to accommodate the shipment and its three-axle expandable double drop trailer which together measured 72 feet long, 8 feet 6 inches in width and 13 feet in height. In addition, Crowley also provided two 53-foot trailers to transport parts and components for the house.

“Crowley is a champion of education and a pioneer in environmental stewardship within the maritime industry,” said Rob Grune, Crowley’s senior vice president and general manager, Puerto Rico/Caribbean services. “We are glad that our expertise in moving cargo between the U.S. and Puerto Rico could be utilized by the university as they participate in an awareness campaign about solar power and energy efficiency.”

The solar house was carried aboard one of Crowley’s triple deck barges from San Juan to Jacksonville before it was dispatched for its over-the-road trip to the National Mall grounds in Washington D.C. where the event is taking place from October 12 to 20.

The Solar Decathlon is a competition in which 20 teams of college and university students compete to design, build, and operate the most attractive, effective, and energy-efficient solar-powered house. The Solar Decathlon is also an event to which the public is invited to observe the powerful combination of solar energy, energy efficiency, and the best in home design. Team houses are open for touring everyday, except Wednesday, October 17, when they will close for competition purposes. An overall winner is announced on Friday, October 19 at 2 p.m. For more information, visit: http://www.solardecathlon.org/

Crowley and its predecessor company have been serving the Puerto Rico market since 1954, longer than any other carrier in the trade. The company, with nearly 300 Puerto Rico employees, is also the No. 1 ocean carrier between the island commonwealth and the U.S. mainland with more weekly sailings and more cargo carried annually than any other shipping line.

Jacksonville-based Crowley Maritime Corporation, founded in San Francisco 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 five operating lines of business: Liner Services; Logistics Services; Petroleum Services, Marine Services and Technical 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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