September 9 - Project and heavy lift cargo operations are likely to be part of the value-added services provided to customers in Puerto Rico, following Crowley Maritime Corporation's logistics group acquisition of Islandwide Air and Ocean and agreement wi

This acquisition and partnership will allow Crowley to offer customers a full suite of logistics services, including ocean and air transportation, trucking, transportation management and warehouse services in Puerto Rico. In addition, Crowley will offer less-than-container-load (LCL) freight transportation from the U.S. mainland to Puerto Rico from the company's Miami and Jacksonville warehouses, as well as from a new consolidation centre in the Northeast.

Ayesha Diaz former employee of Islandwide Air and Ocean has been named manager of Crowley's new Caribbean logistics unit and will manage all aspects of the business in Puerto Rico. Diaz will report to Carlos Rice, Crowley's vice president of supply chain services in Miami.

"We viewed Islandwide's family of companies known as Islandwide Air and Ocean, Islandwide Logistics and Islandwide Express, as among the best of their kind in the logistics business in Puerto Rico," said Steve Collar, Crowley's senior vice president and general manager of logistics. "When it came to making an acquisition and establishing a strategic partnership in Puerto Rico, Islandwide's excellent reputation for integrity, customer service, and on-time deliveries made them a natural choice for us."

"This acquisition and strategic alignment with Islandwide will allow our customers the convenience of one-stop shopping for all their shipping and logistics needs in Puerto Rico and the neighboring islands," Collar said.

Crowley's director of corporate communications, Mark Miller adds that Crowley has extensive expertise in project and heavy lift cargo. "We have individuals experienced with moving project cargo from site location, lifting, securing, permitting and transporting heavy lift and out of gauge cargo. The combination of Islandwide and Crowley Logistics provides a blend of operations that can accommodate any type of transportation service in Puerto Rico, or between Puerto Rico and the USA."