Crowley announced that it has delayed the resumption of its liner services over the Port of Gulfport, MS, by one week. After monitoring the developing path of Hurricane Rita, the company has decided to postpone services until Saturday, October 8. The service will begin with the northbound sailing of the RoRo Gothica, which will bring cargo from Central America including Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador. Service to the Gulf region had previously been suspended following Hurricane Katrina, which came ashore in the region on Monday, August 29. Shipments have been temporarily rerouted over Port Everglades, FL.

"After monitoring the status of Hurricane Rita in the Gulf region, we have determined that it wouldn't be prudent to resume services in and out of Gulfport on our previously announced date of October 1," said John Hourihan, senior vice president and general manager, Latin America service. "We want to be able to provide our customers the uninterrupted, on-time, quality service that they have grown accustomed to and are concerned that in the face of Hurricane Rita that may be questionable. We are dedicated to resuming services as soon as possible but have decided that October 1 is not the best option at this point."

Following the arrival of the ro/ro vessel Gothica on October 8, Crowley will have its next vessel, the Senator call in Gulfport on October 11. Thereafter, Crowley will continue to provide service over Gulfport to and from Central America every Saturday and Tuesday until such time as the company can resume its full schedule of three, weekly, fixed-day sailings. Crowley has had teams in place in Gulfport since officials deemed it safe to do so.

The company originally had a recreational vehicle (RV) onsite where its offices used to stand to serve as a makeshift operations base. They have since ordered and received an office trailer to accompany the RV that will remain onsite until a more permanent structure can be erected.