Crowley Honored for Outstanding Marine Safety

The State of Washington’s Department of Ecology has honored Crowley Maritime Corporation’s petroleum services division once again with the Exceptional Compliance Program (ECOPRO) award in recognition of excellence in marine safety and environmental stewardship. The ECOPRO program represents a unique, non-regulatory environmental protection program for tank vessels, recognizing operators who demonstrate exceptional compliance with the program’s strict criteria. 

Deputy Director Polly Zehn, representing the State’s Department of Ecology Spill Prevention, Preparedness and Response Program, presented the award to Crowley during a ceremony at Seattle’s Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center. Capt. Mark Homeyer, Crowley’s director, West Coast marine operations, accepted the award on behalf of the company before an audience of U.S. Coast Guard and Maritime Administration (MARAD) attendees. Homeyer thanked the state for the recognition and reiterated both his and the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship. 

“We are proud to be among the companies representing the leading edge of operational excellence in petroleum transportation in the world today,” Homeyer said. “Our business is built on a strong commitment to environmental protection through safe and reliable petroleum transportation.”    

“We are very appreciative of this special recognition and of the work done by the Department of Ecology to raise environmental protection standards for the whole industry,” said Crowley’s Rob Grune, senior vice president and general manager, petroleum services. “Crowley has operated in Puget Sound since 1923, and it’s special to us because we live and work here. We have always believed that high environmental standards benefit our community, industry and company.” 

Crowley-operated tankers and articulated-tug-barges (ATBs) regularly trade in Puget Sound and safely transport and deliver petroleum to terminals up and down the West Coast. Crowley is one of the largest independent operators of tank vessels in the U.S.

“Companies that achieve this award are operating their tank vessels at what we believe is the highest level of marine safety in the world today,” said Ecology Prevention Manager Scott Ferguson. “While our ECOPRO standards are higher than those required under state and federal laws, we know our standards are ultimately achievable. Washington’s environment is clearly worth the effort.”

Crowley first received this award in 2005 for its ATB division, joining an elite group of tanker and tank-barge operators which have earned ECOPRO recognition from Ecology since the program’s inception in 1999. To gain membership, companies must meet industry best practice standards and undergo rigorous Ecology inspections encompassing a wide range of operational and safety best practices. Members renew their commitment to the program every three years.