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Logistics, Sea
Crowley and FEMA Accelerate Relief Aid from Terminal to Puerto Rico Communities
[ October 13, 2017 // Gary G Burrows ]Crowley Puerto Rico Services announced that nearly all Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) relief cargo that has arrived to date at its Isla Grande Terminal in Puerto Rico has been transported to FEMA receiving locations on the island by the company’s logistics group – the result of strong ongoing coordination with FEMA and other government agencies providing relief after Hurricane Maria.
Working closely with FEMA counterparts, Crowley’s liner and logistics groups have helped to coordinate the throughput of relief cargo at the terminal, prioritizing and trucking government loads on the island. While there are thousands of loads of commercial cargo on the terminal awaiting distribution, the FEMA loads are moving and thousands more are on the way.
“This is a team effort,” said Crowley’s Jose “Pache” Ayala, vice president, Puerto Rico services. “We are working with our commercial customers to understand their shipping needs and help them scale back, while maintaining our focus on expediting FEMA cargo through the supply chain.”
“Our team and FEMA continue to transport, receive and distribute water, food and other relief items as fast as we can as it arrives at the terminal to support the island’s recovery,” Ayala said.
Crowley and other transportation companies continue to play a significant role helping FEMA relief efforts in Puerto Rico’s communities. As of Thursday, Sept. 28, Crowley has facilitated providing 1.3 million meals and 2.77 million liters of the meals and water that have arrived in San Juan. FEMA has provided food and water to over 60 municipalities with the logistics and transportation assistance of Crowley.
The joint effort began Saturday, Sept. 23, after the U.S. Coast Guard reopened the port at 8 a.m. and Crowley’s first barge was unloaded at 10 a.m. with 144 government relief loads. Crowley has moved more than 700 government relief loads with 3,100 loads booked and 1,000 loads ready to leave the Port of Jacksonville. In addition, Crowley is scheduled to move 272 emergency relief vehicles, including 140 fuel trucks, and 100 disaster recovery vehicles from Jacksonville to San Juan.
Crowley’s barge El Rey is already en route with an anticipated arrival on Monday, Oct. 2, with a shipment of 100 fuel distribution trucks with 275,000 gallons of diesel fuel and 75,000 gallons of gasoline.
By Friday, Crowley projects to have 4,100 commercial loads on its terminal ready for pickup containing a variety of needed products, including food, beverages, construction materials, clothing and much more.
“As commercial customers begin getting back on their feet, we will continue to coordinate with them to pick up their cargo from the terminal,” Ayala said. “Retailers and grocers must also be part of the recovery. The sooner they can begin receiving loads and making goods available to consumers, the better. Additionally, this will help restore the supply chain here and create the opportunity for more relief supplies to reach people in need as fast as possible.”
Crowley, which has about 300 Puerto Rico employees, has served the Puerto Rico market since 1954, longer than any other Jones Act carrier in the trade.