Tom Crowley Jr. Receives Honorary Degree From the USMMA

Tom Crowley Jr., Chairman, President and CEO of Crowley Maritime Corporation, received an honorary doctorate degree from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY, at today's commencement exercises. USMMA officials presented the degree to Mr. Crowley for outstanding service to the academy, and to the public, government and industry the academy serves.

In addition to being a staunch advocate for the U.S. merchant marine and the Jones Act, Crowley has supported men and women at the USMMA with scholarships, internships, and jobs after graduation. Through the Thomas B. Crowley, Sr., Memorial Scholarship, which Mr. Crowley established in memory of his late father, the company has awarded tens of thousands of dollars to deserving cadets.

"It is truly an honor and a privilege to be recognized by one of this country's most outstanding and important institutions of higher learning," said Crowley. "I look forward to continuing our relationship with the academy as we work together to strengthen the U.S. merchant marine."

Today, Crowley directs a company with about $1 billion in annual revenues, approximately 3,800 employees and more than 300 vessels around the world. The corporation is engaged in worldwide logistics, liner cargo services, energy and marine services, ship assist and escort services, petroleum and chemical transportation and vessel design/build technical services. During the past nine years, Mr. Crowley has worked to expand and position the 111-year-old company for success in the 21st Century, focusing on growth as it relates to the company's expertise on water, while leveraging into new business areas. His portfolio approach to the business protects the company from assuming too much risk, while maximizing opportunities to grow. He and his management team have forged enlightened relationships with employees and with organized labor to build a resilient, well-trained organization dedicated to customer responsiveness and service excellence.

Among his many achievements during his tenure as CEO, Crowley has aggressively directed efforts to preserve the Jones Act; spearheaded a management re-engineering, embraced and invested in cutting edge technological advances; initiated and completed the sale of non-core businesses, and expanded into logistics services and breakbulk and petroleum transportation. He also launched the largest vessel fleet revitalization in recent industry history with the construction of 26 new tugs, including the most powerful cycloidal-propulsion tugs in the world. In 2001, Crowley acquired Marine Transport Lines (MTL), a storied U.S. company engaged in chemical parcel transportation, refined petroleum transportation, crude oil lightering, and ship management. In addition, he positioned Crowley to be the first U.S. ocean cargo carrier to serve Cuba in over 40 years through a licensing agreement with the U.S. government. The historic first shipment of frozen poultry arrived in Havana December 16, 2001. In 2002, the company took delivery of four U.S.-built 155,000-barrel, double-hulled articulated tug/barge units (ATBs). He is widely respected in the maritime industry through his involvement with organizations such as the Sea-Lift Committee of the National Defense Transportation Society, the American Bureau of Shipping, the Transportation Institute, the International Council of Container Operators, World Shipping Council, Mystic Seaport National Council of Advisors, Marine Transportation Council and the American Waterways Operators. Additionally, he is a member of the Barbary Coast Chapter of the Young Presidents Organization. Mr. Crowley, who earned a finance degree from the University of Washington, has received several distinguished awards during his career, including last year's United Seamen's Service 2002 Admiral of the Ocean Sea (AOTOS) Award.