A Deep Dive on 75 Years of Crofton
Cranes, rigs, tugs, and floating barges all contribute to the success of marine construction projects.
For many in Hampton Roads, our commute includes a drive across a bridge, where we sometimes spend more time than we planned staring out at the water. For the professionals at Crofton, their commute is often below the surface of these same waterways. This underwater ecosystem is more than seaweed and barnacles; it’s the divers, riggers, and engineers of Crofton who are the workforce behind many major infrastructure projects and salvage efforts in our area.
“It’s really invisible work,” says Camille Crofton Cherry, marketing director and a third-generation leader of the family business.
“Our people are passionate about what they do. They take great pride in working on projects that shape our communities, even knowing their efforts often go unseen by the public."
Tug rental has helped provide a wide array of both large and small inland workboats to Crofton's clients throughout the years.Now celebrating 75 years, what began as Crofton and Morris Diving in 1949 is today the region’s preeminent resource for commercial diving, marine construction, and crane rental and rigging. Juan Crofton and Duke Morris were diving buddies who refurbished an old navy workboat named “The Cromo” after Juan won a coin toss to see whose name would come first. Two decades later, Duke would exit the business, and Crofton Diving Corporation surfaced.
At the 75th anniversary celebration in October, the youngest family members enjoyed exploring the many tugs and barges.To Camille, Juan is “Granddaddy,” a visionary who set the course for the continued growth of the company and set the tone as the heartbeat of a business with family at its core. What happened on a rig or a dive was a common dinner table conversation for Juan’s four children growing up. Camille’s father, Kenny, and his siblings joined Juan in the family business right out of high school. “It was already a way of life for the whole family so it felt very natural to jump right in as soon as they could,” Camille shares.
At Juan’s passing in 2011, the four siblings were well-established as industry leaders, each playing key roles in diversifying Crofton’s services beyond commercial diving, to include land-based services such as crane rental and rigging, along with marine construction and barge and tug services. Following his siblings’ retirement in 2023, Kenny Crofton now serves as the second-generation president and sole owner of the company, with a workforce of more than 200.
There was never an expectation that Camille, or any of the other family members on the team, would come on board at Crofton, but as a constant part of their life they came to it naturally. “This business is our family. We have great respect for our people, who are often called away at unique hours due to the nature of salvage and recovery work. It’s important to celebrate them and welcome their families into the Crofton community.”
To celebrate 75 years, the company held a family-friendly event at its Portsmouth waterfront site in October, with live music, kids’ entertainment, historical memorabilia, and interactive displays. “Family is everything,” Camille shares. “There was so much joy that day in being together and celebrating everyone who is part of Crofton.”
Granddaddy Crofton modeled this emphasis on putting people first, building a strong foundation of trust and accountability on his team. Commercial diving and salvage work can be risky and intense. Building relationships and looking after one another are essential practices at Crofton. In fact, when company leaders sat down in 2020 to identify core values, relationship was at the top of the list, along with integrity, safety, and excellence.
Members of the Crofton family welcomed their trusted risk advisory team from Towne Insurance for a visit to the dock.Camille explains how these values have shaped the direction of current and future generations of Crofton leaders, with the fourth generation of Croftons now on the team. “We are big advocates for the trades we represent,” she says. “We are active in the Virginia Maritime Association, the Propeller Club, and the Mariner’s Museum. Among our many priorities, we are committed to workforce development and showcasing the dynamic careers this industry supports.”
Also supporting the industry are partners who provide outside expertise. Crofton has relied on the services of Towne Insurance, and in particular, risk advisor Jim Boykin for many years. "Crofton has made significant contributions to the maritime industry and community in Hampton Roads,” says Doug Russell, president and CEO of Towne Insurance. “We are proud to have served them for many years of their long and rich history." Camille shared the gratitude of her family for the relationship they have built with Jim and Towne Insurance. “Jim is a close partner and someone we trust a great deal,” says Camille. “He understands the responsibility and nature of our work. We are available 24/7 and need to be able to move quickly in emergency situations. Jim is ready at any time.”
“Ready” is a state of being at Crofton, where teammates prepare for workdays in harbors up and down our shores. Next time you look out your car window at a floating barge or crane, know that the people of Crofton are hard at work and putting their heart into everything they do.
For more information, visit Crofton.com.