Crowley Merges Liner Services Unit into Integrated Logistics Organization

Crowley’s new LNG-powered ConRo, El Coquí, arrives in San Juan, Puerto Rico for the first time on July 30, 2018. Photo: Crowley Maritime Corp

Crowley Maritime Corporation announced this week its plan to complete the merger of its liner services group into Crowley Logistics.

Crowley says merger will provide a singular source for customers to receive end-to-end services, including ocean, land and air transportation; commercial transportation management; supply chain and distribution services; freight forwarding and warehousing; and cargo risk and customs compliance.

The restructuring will be completed as of January 1, 2019. Crowley veteran Steve Collar will serve as senior vice president and general manager of the combined business unit. Collar will have responsibility for all aspects of the Logistics organization, now a $1 billion-a-year enterprise, including commercial, operations, offshore and financial.

“This restructuring is essential for us to compete more effectively in our markets while providing clarity to our customers and business partners that we are a fully integrated logistics organization with a focus on our customers’ supply chains,” said Tom Crowley, company chairman and CEO. “We add a lot more value when we help customers increase the velocity of their supply chains and reduce their landed costs.”

“We have been moving in this direction for a while, and with the pending retirement of John Hourihan at the end of this year, this is an opportunity to restructure,” said Crowley. Hourihan is senior vice president and general manager, Puerto Rico services, and has been with Crowley 31 years. Most recently he has overseen the delivery and deployment of the first of two new LNG powered ConRo ships and the transformation of the Crowley’s San Juan, Puerto Rico terminal, raising the company’s U.S. mainland-Puerto Rico supply chain to world-class standards.

Integrating liner services into logistics was planned as part of a corporate restructuring announced earlier year consolidating Crowley into four business units: Crowley Fuels, Crowley Solutions, Crowley Shipping and Crowley Logistics. “This structure better aligns operations and increases the company’s ability to bring solutions to customers by leveraging its strong culture and high-performance capabilities,” the company said.

“The integration of the liner services and logistics organizations into a singular, highly focused resource for our customers will allow us to take a holistic approach to maximize the efficiency of their supply chains,” said Collar. “I’m looking forward to working with our highly experienced and dedicated team to bring innovative solutions to our customers.”

Collar is a longtime Crowley veteran. He joined Crowley in 1977 and has worked in a wide variety of roles and businesses within the company, including leadership roles in engineering, cargo services, technical services, terminal operations, and marine and petroleum operations. He most recently served as senior vice president and general manager, international services. “Collar is particularly adept at developing customer relationships, understanding their needs and bringing teams and resources together to provide ideal solutions,” the company said.

Unlock Exclusive Insights Today!

Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.

Sign Up