Haiti Relief News

HMS Global Maritime (HMSGM) announce the extension of the HSV WestPac Express’ charter with the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command (MSC) and the Third Marine Expeditionary Force, beginning in February 2012. The contract can last up to an additional two years. The HSV WestPac Express has been operated by HMSGM for the past nine years as a high-speed transport vessel for military personnel and equipment over a 1,200 mile range in Asia. The 101-meter vessel, home ported in Okinawa, Japan, can carry 970 troops and 236 vehicles at speeds of 35 knots. Over the past nine years, the HSV WestPac Express has experienced many achievements. One of those achievements came in March…

Tom Crowley, Jr., Chairman, President and CEO of Crowley Maritime Corporation, was awarded the Vincent T. Hirsch Maritime Award for outstanding leadership from the U.S. Navy League Friday. Rear Admiral Mark H. Buzby, USN Commander, Military Sealift Command, presented the award at the Sea Services Award luncheon during the League's 2010 National Convention, which was held in downtown Jacksonville. The award read in part: "He has provided exceptional service as an active participant…

Titan Salvage has safely removed the partially submerged Washington Gantry crane and other navigational hazards from Port-au-Prince, Haiti for the U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM). The company's work helped to re-establish port infrastructure and significantly increase the volume of marine cargo into Haiti following the devastating earthquake in January. The largest and most hazardous obstruction removed was a 300-metric ton gantry crane, which was partially submerged and listing towards the harbor at approximately 15 degrees, blocking access to the northern dock.

Amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) moored at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Feb. 1-2 to on load food, water and supplies for the Haiti relief effort. Ashland took on more than 200 pallets of supplies, including more than 35 cases of bottled water, approximately 10,000 meals-ready-to-eat (MREs), baby food, baby diapers, mail for service members in Haiti and essential maintenance parts for U.S. ships providing the relief efforts in the area. Ashland was on a regularly scheduled deployment to the U.S.

The U.S. flag barge American Trader in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, south pier, back loading empty 545 TEUS on Feb. 3, 2010. (Photo courtesy America Cargo Transport Corp.)

The United States Government Defense Energy Support Center (DESC) provides fueling services to Department of Defense, federal civilian and government agencies. In the wake of the Haiti disaster, both the access to and convenience of obtaining necessary fuels for aviation and maritime support efforts became a matter of clear necessity. Beginning on Tuesday evening, January 12 – the night of the initial earthquake – support representatives from Multi Service, the exclusive contractor for the DESC AIR Card and SEA Card Programs, mobilized in support of Defense Logistics and DESC Haiti disaster relief actions to ensure that U.S. support aircrafts and vessels would have access to the fuel required for completing their missions.

Harrington Hoists, Inc., is participating in the Haiti Relief Effort to help the victims of the recent devastating earthquake that rocked the island. “Goods that will assist in the clean up and rebuilding of Haiti will be needed” said Bret Lussow, Business Development Sales Manager. “Our manual hand chain hoists and lever hoists are tools that can be used to accomplish this task. We are fortunate to be able to contribute our products and we encourage others to do whatever they can to help.” Harrington hoists, Inc. is a member of The Industrial Supply Association (ISA) which has organized a means for all of their members to support the effort by providing a central staging area for shipping the donated equipment to the region.  The first shipments are scheduled to ship in February.

Trailer Bridge, Inc. (NASDAQ Global Market: TRBR), as part of the global relief effort for Haiti, contracted with the Military Sealift Command (MSC), the transportation provider for the United States Department of Defense, to provide one of its vessels in support of the U.S. government’s relief efforts in Haiti. The contract term is a minimum of 90 days and may be extended by MSC. Trailer Bridge has also partnered with one of its current shipping customers to provide free transportation and trailers for donated medical supplies to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, through the company’s operation in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. It is expected that the company’s donated trailers will remain in Haiti for local use or storage.

Crowley Maritime Corporation, working under contract with the U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), is unloading Haiti relief cargo in Rio Haina, Dominican Republicy. Fifty six of the 68 20-ft containers of water and meals-ready-to-eat (MREs) will be trucked across the border into Haiti. The remaining 12 loads aboard the container ship Macajama will be transported by water to Port-au-Prince, Haiti and be offloaded in an experimental lightering operation and delivered across a beach on Jan. 22. If successful, future shipments could be made directly to Port-au-Prince. The Crowley plan calls for the Macajama to anchor offshore near the port's damaged south pier and near the exposed beach.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood announced that the Department’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) is sending five ships to assist with relief efforts in Haiti. Gopher State, Petersburg, Huakai, Cornhusker State and Cape May are being prepared to sail to the Caribbean Ocean from different parts of the United States. All are owned or controlled by MARAD, and will be crewed by civilian U.S. merchant mariners. “Sending these ships will help those on the front line of this effort save as many lives in Haiti as possible,” said Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood. “Once again the U.S. Merchant Marine is answering the call for assistance, as it has done since our Nation began,” said Acting Maritime Administrator David T. Matsuda.

In light of the earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Crowley Maritime Corporation's liner services group has temporarily suspended regularly scheduled cargo services to and from the country. This temporary suspension comes as port infrastructure damages are being assessed. The company is cooperating with and assisting U.S. government agencies including USAID, SDDC and other relief agencies with emergency shipments to the country. Crowley stands ready to ship emergency supplies and needed cargo as soon as port conditions allow. The company is evaluating how it can best deploy its wide variety of specialized marine assets to deliver humanitarian cargo and assistance to the disaster relief.