Crowley Maritime Corporation's liner services group partnered with the American Red Cross last week to donate ocean transportation services for five container loads of disaster supplies to the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) of St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix. As three islands that have certainly seen their share of Atlantic hurricanes, they were earmarked by the Red Cross to receive disaster relief items ahead of any storms or other natural disasters that might come their way.
These items which included comfort kits, blankets, lanterns, batteries, cots and food and beverage cambros were shipped in five containers donated by Maersk Line as part of their ongoing global project for disaster relief with the organization. The containers totaling eight TEUs were loaded at the American Red Cross Disaster Field Service Center in Atlanta, Ga., prior to their arrival in Jacksonville, Fla. Once received by Crowley in Jacksonville, they were loaded aboard a vessel and delivered to St. Thomas on Saturday. Containers for St. John and St. Croix will be transshipped from there.