A fleet of 18 Crowley Maritime Corp. vessels launched this week with the intent of delivering 135 million gallons of gasoline and diesel to Florida ports.
“We are extremely grateful for our customers’ response to this crisis, and for the dedication and sacrifice of the American men and women operating these vessels,” Rob Grune, Crowley’s senior vice president and general manager of petroleum services, said. “Many of them live in Florida, and have put their own needs on hold while responding to the urgent needs of others.”
Operating under the Jones Act, which requires all goods transported by water in U.S. domestic commerce to be carried on American vessels, the ships were mobilized to address fuel shortages induced by the mass evacuation of Florida residents before Hurricane Irma made landfall.
All major Florida terminals are being targeted in the mission–Jacksonville, Port Canaveral, Tampa and Ft. Lauderdale. The mission is expected to last eight days, with deposited fuel to be taken from the ports to service stations throughout the state. Delays are expected, though. Port berth availability is limited even when running at normal operational capacity, and the storm has only made things more chaotic, Grune noted.