Crowley Maritime Corporation has been selected as a 2011 Company Award winner for the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Voluntary Observing Ship (VOS) program.

The selection was based on Crowley’s 48 vessels providing 204,430 highly accurate and timely weather observations for the U.S. VOS program in 2011. Particularly impressive was Crowley’s St. Louis Express, a cargo vessel contributing 4,926 observations in 2011, ranking her the second-highest reporting vessel in the entire U.S. program.

The VOS program, which was established in 1853, relies on volunteer crewmembers on nearly 1,000 ships around the world to monitor the weather at their locations and submit the observations to national meteorological services. This data is used to create marine weather forecasts and is archived for future use by climatologists and other scientists.

“Our vessels’ crewmembers have been contributing first-hand weather data to VOS for decades,” said Mike Golonka, general manager of Crowley’s ship management division. “As a former volunteer on board our vessels, I am especially proud of Crowley’s history with the program. This company is committed to continuing to support it. We see the impact it has each day on our own vessel operations, and we are very appreciative of this recognition.”

Weather forecasters in the United States rely upon Crowley’s reports heavily. These observations are used to produce the daily weather forecasts, charts, warnings, coastal-marine warnings and tropical-prediction forecasts which are distributed by NOAA’s National Weather Service forecast offices, including the Tropical Analysis and Forecast branch, the Storm Prediction Center and the National Hurricane Center. Observations are also sent to all World Meteorological Organization partner countries to help produce global weather charts, advisories and forecasts imperative for the safe movement of private and commercial shipping.

“The invaluable efforts provided by the Crowley fleet of ships collecting and disseminating weather and oceanographic observations, during their voyages, is greatly appreciated by the VOS program,” said Helmut H. Portmann, director, National Data Buoy Center of the NOAA, in a letter to Crowley. “Your crews’ hard work and dedication has reflected great credit upon your company and the maritime community. Your contributions make a world of difference.”