Cosgrove Awarded Thomas Crowley Trophy

Cole Cosgrove, director of contract operations for Crowley’s Puerto Rico and Caribbean Services, was awarded the 2001 Thomas Crowley Trophy, Crowley Maritime Corporation’s highest honor, at ceremonies held last week in Jacksonville. Cosgrove, who is based in Jacksonville and works for the corporation’s liner services segment, is the second trophy winner this year. Craig Tornga, general manager of Oil Industry Services for Crowley in Alaska, received the first trophy presented in late May. Tornga is a member of Crowley’s Energy and Marine Services group. The Thomas Crowley Trophy honors employees with outstanding performance, whose dedication, leadership, initiative and productivity most clearly reflect those of the company’s founder. Tom Crowley, Jr., chairman, president and CEO of Crowley Maritime Corporation, presented the award at the ceremony, which was attended by about 100 Crowley employees.

“Cole is driven and willing to work 12-hour days, seven days a week to achieve anything he sets out to accomplish,” said Crowley. “His leadership, dedication and perseverance have helped build and maintain an impressive record of service and schedule integrity for our Puerto Rico and Caribbean liner services vessels, as well as for the eight U.S. Maritime Administration Ready Reserve Force vessels we manage. Cole helps set the standard for teamwork and commitment at Crowley and we are proud to work with him.” Cosgrove is responsible for the marine operations of Crowley’s Puerto Rico and Caribbean services fleet, which includes 11 Invader-Class tugs and nine triple-deck barges in the Puerto Rico Service; two container ships in the Virgin Islands/Eastern Caribbean Service and one RoRo ship in the Bahamas Service. Management of these vessels involves everything from operations to vessel crewing and training, to identifying and implementing new technologies for improved overall performance. In addition, Cosgrove took the initiative to pursue contracts with the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) for the management of eight Ready Reserve Force (RRF) vessels, which the company was able to secure. RRF vessels support the rapid, massive deployment of military supplies in support of U.S. armed forces and humanitarian operations. MARAD, which owns the ships, contracts with Crowley to manage and maintain the vessels with U.S. Seafarers. Cosgrove continues to directly manage the MARAD contracts while retaining his other duties, and has built a strong cross-functional team of engineering and accounting professionals to service the contracts without having to make major additions to staff.