CROWLEY CUTS LAKE CHARLES/PUERTO RICO SERVICE
Crowley American Transport said Tuesday that it will suspend its
terminal operations in Lake Charles, La., and will consolidate its U.S.
Gulf/Puerto Rico service in Jacksonville.
P. Elliott Burnside, president of the Jacksonville-based line, said
deteriorating ocean freight rates forced the closure of the 28-acre Lake
Charles Ro/Ro terminal, which Crowley has operated since 1980. The terminal has some 100
administrative and union employees.
Gulf shippers will be linked intermodally to Jacksonville, where Crowley
offers multiple weekly fixed-day sailings to and from San Juan, Crowley
said. The Lake Charles service sailed every eight days.
Crowley’s Central America services will continue to be operated through
other Gulf ports. Crowley Marine Transport’s breakbulk service between the
Gulf and Latin America and the Caribbean is not effective.
A news item in Wednesday’s Shippers’ NewsWire on Crowley American
Transport’s suspension of terminal operations in Lake Charles, La., should
have said "Crowley Marine Transport’s breakbulk service between the Gulf
and Latin America and the Caribbean is not affected."