To meet the needs of its customers shipping to the Virgin Islands and Eastern Caribbean during the peak holiday season, Crowley Maritime Corporation's liner services group has acquired the use of a third container ship, the Pine Valley, to sail between Port Everglades and St. Thomas effective September 22.

The addition of the 245 teu ship increases Crowley's weekly cargo carrying capacity to the Virgin Islands by 17%. The Pine Valley is a Lift On/Lift Off (Lo/Lo) ship and sails on an 8-day rotation.

"Crowley understands that our customers need additional capacity during the peak shipping season," said Rudy Leming, Crowley's vice president, Bahamas and Caribbean services. "We are responding by introducing this third vessel to help them expedite their cargoes."

The Pine Valley joins Crowley's container ships, Sea Cloud and Sea Gale, in the service. These 600 teu vessels call St. Thomas every Sunday followed by calls in St. Croix, Trinidad, Barbados and St. Vincent. Additionally, Crowley provides service to the islands of Anguilla, Montserrat, Nevis, Saba, St. Barts, St. Eustatius, St. John, St. Kitts, St. Maarten, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Bermuda, Canouan, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Tobago via relay service.