Alaska Awards Crowley Contract to Continue Monitoring Environmental Impact of Cruise Ships

The State of Alaska's Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) has announced that it has awarded a contract to Crowley Maritime Corporation to continue administering the State of Alaska's Ocean Ranger Program, effective November 2011.

The contract directs Crowley to recruit, hire, train and organize the logistics of placing Ocean Rangers on board cruise ships each season to act as independent observers and to assure compliance with federal and state environmental health, sanitation and safety requirements. Potential non-compliant observations are reported to ADEC for corrective action. Ocean Rangers are required as part of a law adopted by the citizens of Alaska in a 2006 ballot measure.

"We are very pleased to continue working with ADEC to help protect Alaska's pristine waterways," said Crowley's Todd Busch, senior vice president and general manager of technical services. "Managing the Ocean Rangers program for ADEC is very relevant for us as it is in alignment with Crowley's corporate values as they relate to environmental stewardship. We take pride in continuing this important work to protect the people and environment of Alaska."

PHOTO: A Crowley Ocean Ranger observes the state of a cruise ship pool deck

Crowley and ADEC have worked together since 2008 to build the program into what it is today, and ADEC relies on Crowley to implement the program and develop the Ocean Ranger training, guidebook, manuals, reports and more. Today Crowley recruits, deploys and schedules the rangers, supplying them with all necessary communication tools and outfitting needs for on-board reporting, as well as providing travel, IT and payroll support.

Crowley is accepting resumes from qualified, licensed third assistant engineers or higher rating. Preference will be given to qualified Alaska residents and applicants must either be existing AMO members or make application for membership prior to assignment. To work as an Ocean Ranger, candidates will be required to attend and complete a mandatory certification program. In addition to passing both a knowledge based and practical proficiency exam, candidates must complete on-the-job training.

Since 1953, Crowley has provided various marine, petroleum distribution, and energy support services in Alaska - from the North Slope to Southcentral Alaska and both coastal and inland communities including those along the Kuskokwim and Yukon Rivers - and today has offices and operations throughout the state with more than 650 employees. The company has consistently provided unique solutions to Alaska's logistics and marine transportation challenges and played an important role in Alaska's business development and in protecting its environment.

With a storage capacity of more than 39 million gallons, Crowley is strongly positioned as a leader in the Alaska fuel industry, providing transportation, distribution and sales of petroleum products to more than 280 communities across Alaska. Crowley supports the energy industry on the North Slope with summer sealifts of large production modules and various marine transportation services. At the southern terminus of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline, Crowley provides tanker escort and docking services in Valdez Harbor and Prince William Sound for Alyeska Pipeline Service Company's Ship Escort/Response Vessel System, utilizing some of the most technologically advanced and powerful tugboats in the world. Crowley also provides tanker assist and escort services at Tesoro Alaska Company's Nikiski refinery in Cook Inlet. More about Crowley: www.crowleyalaska.com