Crowley Promotes John Ara

Crowley Maritime Corporation announced that John Ara has been promoted to vice president with responsibility for the company's Atlantic/Gulf Coast commercial and marine operations business. He will remain domiciledin Houston and will report directly to John Douglass, senior vice president and general manager. Ara, who most recently held the position of director, marine operations, will now have commercial responsibility for contract services as well as Gulf Coast marine operations. Ara is a 30-year Crowley veteran who began his career working as a dispatcher in San Pedro, Calif. He has held positions of increasing responsibility and high visibility throughout his career with Crowley, including time spent in San Juan, Puerto Ricoas sales manager and in recent years he has had a large role in the company's Sakhalin Island and Angola sealift projects. Ara is also the recipient of the 2000 Thomas Crowley Trophy, the company's highest honor.