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RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIPS

company like the Red and White Fleet does not exist captains—fights that, at five foot two inches, Crowley was sure LEFT: Dry-docking, the process
in a vacuum. They rely on strong partnerships with to lose. After he had lost a few times, the captains would refuse of pulling a boat entirely out of the
Aother companies in other industries to provide the to fight him again, but they would respect his fearlessness and water for inspections and repairs
best possible product to their guests. This use of mutually do business with him from there on out. “It was a hard-knock (here demonstrated by the Royal
Prince), is a difficult task with
beneficial relationships dates all the way back to the days of way to establish a relationship,” says Tom Escher. Although large vessels like those in the Red
Tom Crowley, who was a savvy networker and befriended Escher hasn’t had to pick fights with any captains during his and White Fleet. Some of the most
as many people as he could. In the rough-and-tumble early tenure at the Red and White Fleet, he follows his grandfather’s important relationships the Fleet
days of the wharf, this often meant picking fights with local lead when it comes to maintaining cooperative relationships maintains are with ports around the
within the maritime industry. These relationships range from Bay Area and the organizations that
help with these operations.
the Red and White Fleet’s long-standing affiliation with the
Inlandboatmen’s Union to their contracts with local dry- OPPOSITE, top to bottom:
docking facilities. They include everything from partnerships Strong working relationships with
with environmental organizations to relationships with crucial ports have been integral to the
suppliers, and they help to make the company a successful part company going all the way back
of the Bay Area’s local economy. to Crowley and his fleet of barges
and tugboats in the early twentieth
Foremost among these relationships is the Fleet’s long- century. • The launching of the
standing partnership with the San Francisco Port Commission. Enhydra could not have happened
All the waterfront land that makes up the Embarcadero is owned without the specialists who built it in
and maintained by the Port Commission, from whom Red and Washington and transported it down
White Fleet rent their location at Pier 43½. The arrangement the West Coast to San Francisco.
has served both the Port Commission and the Fleet well for
many years, and the two groups just finalized a new long-term
lease that includes capital improvements to the pier, such as a
new ticket booth and an additional ship berth.
Other improvements are already underway. Currently,
the Fleet is working with California’s utility provider, Pacific

98 • Red and White Fleet