Crowley transports equipment to Havana for upcoming "Concierto Paz Sin Fronteras" (Peace Without Borders concert)

JOC Staff |
(HAVANA, Cuba; Sept. 16, 2009) More than half-a-million Cubans are expected to gather at Havana's storied Plaza de la Revolución for the highly-anticipated Concierto Paz Sin Fronteras (Peace Without Borders concert) on Sunday, Sept. 20. Fifteen artists from six different countries will be performing including international music star and noted humanitarian Juanes; Latin Grammy award winning Spanish musician and actor Miguel Bose and Grammy and Latin Grammy award winning Puerto Rican merengue and pop music star Olga Tañon.

The behind-the-scenes work for the historic cultural and musical event began just days ago as Crowley personnel worked to ensure all the production equipment were delivered to Havana safely. The shipment included 196 audio speakers, 12-LED video screens, scaffolding, six sound mixing consoles, 25 microphones and stands, 30 musical instruments, six electrical generators, four portable power plants, and other elements. On Monday, five 40-foot containers and one 40-foot flat-rack trailer sailed from Port Everglades arriving in Havana on Tuesday.

We are really proud of the Crowley staff that successfully worked under very tight deadlines to assure the timely movement of this cargo, said Jay Brickman, Crowley's vice president of governmental services.

Juanes is one of the best-selling Colombian musicians, having sold more than ten million albums. The 17-time Latin Grammy award winner, helped coordinate the Havana Paz sin Fronteras Concert bringing together artists from different countries, including Spain, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Colombia and the United States. In 2005, he was named by Time as one of the world's 100 most influential people and in March 16, 2008, Juanes organized the first Paz Sin Fronteras Concert at the Colombia-Venezuela border promoting peace and understanding.

Crowley has taken part in several cultural and historical moves to Havana throughout the years, including the transportation and logistics for The Royal Ballet, Great Britain's largest and most prestigious ballet company and ESPN television production equipment for the historic U.S.-Cuba 2010 World Cup qualifying game. In less than a month, the company also expects to transport cargo for the New York Philharmonic.

Crowley is authorized to ship licensed cargo to Cuba. Currently, Crowley sails to Havana, Cuba from Port Everglades and Jacksonville, Fla. as an alternate port every week. Eligible commodities for export to Cuba are detailed under Section 902(1) of the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000.

Jacksonville-based Crowley Holdings Inc., a holding company of the 117-year-old Crowley Maritime Corporation, is a privately held family and employee-owned company that provides diversified transportation and logistics services in domestic and international markets by means of six operating lines of business: Puerto Rico/Caribbean Liner Services, Latin America Liner Services, Logistics Services, Petroleum Services, Marine Services and Technical Services. Offered within these operating lines of business are the following services: liner container shipping, logistics, contract towing and transportation; ship assist and escort; energy support; salvage and emergency response; vessel management; vessel construction and naval architecture; government services, and petroleum and chemical transportation, distribution and sales. Additional information about Crowley its subsidiaries and business units may be found on the Internet at www.crowley.com.