The severely damaged Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s port  is only one of the logistical nightmares hindering relief and reconstruction of  the nation.

The pier is now handling about 30 percent of its pre-quake capacity. If pushed, it could unload 200 to 250 containers a day, but debris is limiting the size of the ships that can enter the port, U.S. Navy Admiral Sam Perez told Thomas Reuters news service. [Haiti port recovery key to aid ...]

UPDATE:  Haiti port capacity boosted, repairs advancing [Reuters Feb. 25, 2010]

The harbor of Port-au-Prince Photo: AFP/GETTY IMAGES

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command [Mayport] is the Navy’s lead command in Operation Unified Response - the joint forces humanitarian aid mission under U.S. Southern Command in Miami..

Crowley Maritime is working under contract with U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM).  The joint forces  logistics organization relies heavily on its commercial partners to “deliver unrivaled, full-spectrum, deployment and distribution solutions.” In an experimental “lightering” operation, Crowley discharged 12 20-foot containers of relief supplies across a beach  on Fri., Jan. 22nd. Supply containers were lifted from a ship anchored in the harbor to a  landing vessel for transport and discharge over the beach, paving the way for container shipments directly into Port-au-Prince next week.

“Today’s operation was an important milestone in reestablishing direct container shipments into the heavily damaged port,” said John Hourihan, Crowley’s senior vice president and general manager of Latin America services. The port survey conducted Monday by a team from our TITAN Salvage subsidiary was spot on in terms of identifying a suitable location in the port where we could safely discharge the cargo.

Marcajama en route to Port-au-Prince

The Crowley container ship Marcajama, which offloaded the containers today, is scheduled to return to Port Everglades, Fla. over the weekend and load more relief cargo under contract with USTRANSCOM. The ship will then return to Port-au-Prince in the middle of next week and discharge containers via the proven lightering method utilizing two shuttle vessels.

“USTRANSCOM values the innovative solutions that our contractors are implementing to rapidly facilitate humanitarian assistance in support of the Haitian people,” said Army Brig. Gen. Michael Lally, director of operations for the command.

Future cargo operations in the port should improve substantially in the coming weeks. Crowley is mobilizing two 400-foot-long, 100-foot-wide flat deck barges, along with two Manitowoc 230-ton crawler cranes in the United States for USTRANSCOM that will be brought into Port-au-Prince to serve as a makeshift dock for future cargo operations. The first barge and crane in Orange, Texas should arrive in Haiti on or about Feb. 4. The second deck barge is being outfitted in Lake Charles, La. and will arrive by mid-Feb.

“The diverse resources of the Crowley organization are being brought to the table in response to this emergency,” Hourihan said. “We are working closely with USTRANSCOM, USAID, FEMA and other organizations to provide the assets, services and technical expertise they need to accomplish their missions.”

Relief cargoes are being consolidated and stuffed into containers at Crowley’s Miami warehouse and distribution center. Containers delivered by Crowley in Rio Haina, Dominican Republic this week are being trucked over the border into Haiti. And more shipments – 179 20-foot containers and 11 40-foot containers for USTRANSCOM – are due in Rio Haina Sunday morning.

“The combination of direct shipments into Port-au-Prince and shipments into Rio Haina that are then trucked over the border is now resulting in a steady flow of aid,” said Hourihan.

Those wishing to contribute humanitarian supplies to Haiti’s relief effort should do so by contacting non-profit organizations such as Food for the Poor or Catholic Relief Services

Although just last week its TITAN Salvage team [was] involved in the dramatic, 12-hour cliff-top rescue of the 25 crewmembers onboard the grounded cargo ship Fedra crew during rough storm conditions at Gibraltar’s Europa Point, so there’s that.

And then just yesterday, Crowley issued a press release about  how  it shipped  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  to Havana for the Peace Without Borders concert this Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009.

Apparently the Concierto Paz Sin Fronteras is important because more than half-a-million Cubans are expected to gather at Havana’s storied Plaza de la Revolución for the highly-anticipated concert.

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.

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.

Also 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.

At this point I’ll have to concede Crowley does more than chemical parcel transportation and bulk petroleum transportation throughout the North American coasts, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and to a lesser degree internationally.

Who knew?

Image courtesy of  ”Solo Sabor ~ Your Latin Entertainment Connection“

In recognition of the importance of the U.S. Merchant Marine, the Congress, by joint resolution approved May 20, 1933 the designation of May 22 of each year as National Maritime Day. Please join Crowley in acknowledging their service with the Seafarers’ Prayer.

A Seafarers’ Prayer

O God, I ask you to take me into your care and
protection along with all those who sail ships.
Make me alert and wise in my duties. Make me faithful in the time of routine, and prompt to decide and courageous to act in any time of crisis.

Protect me in the dangers and perils of the sea;
and even in the storm, grant that there may be peace and calm within my heart.

When I am far from home and far from loved ones and far from the country that I know, help me to be quite sure that, wherever I am, I can never drift beyond your love and care.

Take care of my loved ones in the days and weeks and months when I am separated from them, sometimes with half the world between them and me.

Keep me true to them and keep them true to me,
and every time that we have to part, bring us together in safety and in loyalty again.

This I ask for your love’s sake. -Amen-