Contact Information: For Further Information: For SEACOR Molly Hottinger Tel: (954) 627-5278 Mobile: (954) 993-8008 For WIN Group Israel Kreps Ana Maria Colmenares Kreps DeMaria PR Tel: (305) 663-3543
Haiti-Based WIN Group, SEACOR Holdings Begin Emergency Project to Restore Import Capability at Haiti's Major Bulk Fuels Terminal
| Source: SEACOR Holdings Inc.
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL--(Marketwire - January 25, 2010) - WIN Group, the Haitian conglomerate
that owns and operates Terminal Varreux in Port-au-Prince, situated just
five miles from the epicenter of the January 12 earthquake, and SEACOR
Holdings Inc. (NYSE : CKH ) (SEACOR) have launched an emergency response
project to enable the crucial marine terminal to resume receiving bulk fuel
and containerized cargoes thereby replenishing the stricken country's
rapidly dwindling supplies of gasoline, diesel fuel, fuel oil, propane gas
and edible oils used for cooking.
Terminal Varreux receives and stores in excess of 70% of Haiti's fuel oil
used for power plants, gasoline and diesel used for land-based fueling
stations, propane used for multiple applications and edible oils used for
cooking. Terminal Varreux has a minimum of 18 large storage tanks with a
total capacity of approximately 45 million gallons.
Terminal Varreux has been unable to unload any tankers since the January 12
earthquake destroyed the marine docking facilities and damaged a complex
network of steel pipe connecting the marine operation to the tank storage
area.
"SEACOR has agreed to provide the emergency support we need to return
Terminal Varreux to operation in order to help us keep Haiti supplied with
critically needed fuel. Their assistance in getting our marine operation
stabilized and back to work, constructing a new temporary section of piping
to connect Terminal Varreux's mooring facilities and the usable storage
tanks and insuring the safe return of our storage tank operations is
invaluable," said Youri Mevs, managing partner of WIN Group.
"Haiti needs to receive fuel supplies rapidly in order to avoid a shortage
that would create panic and hamper the ongoing relief effort. The Haitian
government is asking us to secure repairs of the facility as rapidly as
possible in order to enable Terminal Varreux to receive supplies and
equipment urgently needed in Haiti. While supplies and equipment are
crucial, at the end of the day this is about saving lives first, and taking
care of business later," Mevs concluded.
Under an agreement for their emergency response venture executed late
Thursday, and effective immediately, WIN Group and SEACOR Holdings have
begun to utilize a combination of SEACOR's diverse maritime, aviation and
emergency response resources to support the restoration of the marine
operations, repair and construction of the new temporary 200 yard-long
section of the piping and the resumption of the storage tank operations.
Earthquake-damaged structures and debris will be removed from the dock
area; debris will be removed from vessel traffic areas; collapsed mooring
infrastructure will be replaced with temporary capability; a new series of
piping will bypass and temporarily replace an equal length of the piping
from the dock area to the tank farm; collapsed walls in the tank farm area
will be removed from critical piping and the piping repaired; critically
damaged tanks will be inspected and shifted from service; and the overall
terminal operation will be restored in time to accept marine fuel transfers
before Terminal Varreux and the country run out of fuel.
The estimated cost of the emergency project has not been disclosed.
"We are pleased to collaborate with the WIN Group and are confident that
with SEACOR's diverse capabilities Terminal Varreux will return to
operation promptly," said Eric Fabrikant, vice president of SEACOR
Holdings.
SEACOR already has an emergency advance team in Haiti from its O'Brien's
Response Management group, part of the Company's environmental services
business unit, which includes global emergency response personnel,
equipment and technology companies. SEACOR's work over the years has
included close support of the U.S. Coast Guard throughout its response to
Hurricane Katrina and responding to and managing numerous major oil spills,
including the cleanup of oil fields in the aftermath of both Gulf wars.
In addition, SEACOR dispatched a vessel from one of its environmental
services companies, National Response Corporation. The NRC Perseverance, a
110-foot, specially fitted command vessel used to protect the environment
and shipping channels against oil spills around the HOVENSA, LLC refinery
in St. Croix, arrived in
Cap-Haitien last week and is expected to arrive at Terminal Varreux early
this week.
NRC Perseverance has a spill response capability and will initially support
the emergency project and the SEACOR team at Terminal Varreux. The vessel
is also laden with 10 tons of pure water, medicines, crutches, food,
diapers and other personal hygiene products which were donated by local
organizations including Hispanos Unidos and the St. Croix Rotary Club. The
donations were coordinated, collected and loaded onto the vessel for
transport by several HOVENSA personnel. More than 60 volunteers assisted in
the effort.
In other special projects responding to the Haitian disaster, SEACOR has
coordinated a supply of donated medical supplies and food relief from Food
for the Poor, which departed from Port Everglades, Florida and arrived in
Haiti this past weekend.
SEACOR also dispatched a twin engine S-76A++ helicopter, which has the
capability to carry up to 12 passengers and cargo, from its aviation
services business unit, Era Helicopters (Era), from Lake Charles, Louisiana
to Haiti last week for use in a month-long humanitarian effort supporting
the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). An additional
S-76A++ helicopter arrived over the weekend from Houma, Louisiana to
support aid workers moving from Santo Domingo to Haiti.
SEACOR will be working with Priority 1 Air Rescue to perform Advanced Life
Support Air Ambulance services and will be sending two National Registry
certified flight paramedics for Medevac missions in Haiti. Priority 1 Air
Rescue has a teaming agreement with Era to provide FAA-approved
full-service helicopter Search and Rescue (SAR) and Emergency Medical
Services capabilities worldwide.
About WIN Group
The Haiti-based, Mevs family-held WIN Group is one of the Caribbean's
largest conglomerates with stakes in diverse industries such as warehousing
and storage, port operations and ethanol processing. WIN's holdings include
SHODECOSA, the largest privately-owned industrial and commercial park in
Haiti; Terminal Varreux, the largest privately-owned general cargo shipping
terminal that is capable of loading in general, non-specialized stowage
areas or standard shipping containers; e.g., boxes, barrels, bales, crates,
packages, bundles, and pallets; WINECO, the largest liquid bulk storage
facility and, now, the under-construction West Indies Free Zone, a $45
million, 1.2 million square feet manufacturing park in northern
Port-au-Prince, among other enterprises. The fourth generation family has
always had a significant impact on the country through its social
service-based endeavors, and actively supports numerous organizations
providing both immediate relief, and long-term infrastructure development.
About SEACOR
SEACOR Holdings is a global provider of equipment and services primarily
supporting the offshore oil and gas and marine transportation industries.
SEACOR offers customers a diversified suite of services including offshore
marine, marine transportation, inland river, aviation, environmental,
commodity trading and offshore and harbor towing. SEACOR is focused on
providing highly responsive local service combined with the highest safety
standards, innovative technology, modern, efficient equipment and
dedicated, professional employees. The Company's website is located at:
www.seacorholdings.com