Chris Peterson News

Last month Svitzer and Titan Salvage announced plans to merge their salvage operations. Peter Pietka, former chief executive of Svitzer Salvage, takes the helm of the new combined company – to be dubbed Ardent and headquartered in Houston – on May 1. Maritime Reporter & Engineering News spoke with Pietka for insights on the path ahead. Svitzer, the salvage division of AP Moller-Maersk and Titan Salvage, a division of Crowley Maritime Corp., will effectively meld two of the enviable corporate cultures in the maritime world…

Svitzer, salvage division of AP Moller-Maersk and Titan Salvage, a division of Crowley Maritime Corp are merging their salvage operations to create a new market leader. In this US in shipping’s latest consolidation move, Svitzer is joining forces with Titan Salvage under a new brand called Ardent. Ardent will collaborate Svitzer Salvage’s worldwide network of tugs and emergency response experts combining with Titan’s experience in the wreck-removal business. Peter Pietka, the chief executive of Svitzer, who remain in the post at Ardent, commented: “The company will become an industry leader in wreck removal and emergency response. The joint venture formed with effect from 1 May and will be headquartered in Houston, Texas.

The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) announced earlier this month that Houston-based TITAN Salvage, a subsidiary of Crowley Maritime Corp., is the recipient of its 2014 Corporate Marine Environment Protection Award. The award recognizes TITAN’s proactive approach towards protecting and preserving the oceans. “TITAN is committed to ensuring the safety of our people, the public and the environment,” said TITAN’s Chris Peterson, vice president. “This accolade is a testament to our mission. Peterson will accept the award on behalf of the TITAN team at NAMEPA’s New York City conference on October 29. Lindsay Malen…

Crowley Maritime Corp. subsidiary TITAN Salvage and project partner Micoperi has confirmed that the Costa Concordia – the Concordia-class cruise ship that wrecked off Giglio Island, Italy in January 2012 – is safely moored at the Port of Genoa Voltri, Italy, marking what they describe as the completion of the largest maritime salvage job in history. Towing the disabled ship from the Tuscan Archipelago to the Mediterranean seaport of Genoa was a remarkably delicate task that required a convoy of more than a dozen support vessels, including two tugboats with a combined 24,000 horsepower and 275 tons of bollard pull at the bow for the hull, and two additional auxiliary tugs positioned aft.

Captain Stuart Miller has rejoined Crowley Maritime Corporation’s TITAN Salvage operations team as salvage master, bringing with him over 30 years of worldwide, hands-on maritime and salvage experience. Capt. Miller will be based in the United States, but will deploy worldwide for salvage, wreck removal and other emergency response operations. “TITAN Salvage is pleased to welcome Capt. Stuart Miller back home to our operations team,” said Chris Peterson, vice president. “Capt. Capt.

The Crowley Maritime Corp. subsidiary TITAN Salvage and partner Micoperi have confirmed that the Costa Concordia – the Concordia class cruise ship that wrecked along shores of Giglio Island, Italy, in January 2012 – has been refloated and has begun its final voyage to an assigned berth in Port of Genoa Voltri, Italy, some 200 miles away. The project is the largest and one of the most technically complex maritime salvage jobs ever completed. Currently moving at an average speed of two knots…

TITAN Salvage, Crowley Maritime Corporation’s marine salvage, emergency response and wreck removal company based in Houston, Texas, announce that Capt. Ajay Prasad has joined its leadership team as general manager, Southeast Asia. TITAN say that the veteran mariner, who started his career at sea over 20 years ago, will be domiciled in their Singapore office, reporting to TITAN’s Chris Peterson, vice president, and will oversee the company’s business and operational activities in Southeast Asia, Australia, the Pacific Rim and Middle East.

Bids are now being accepted on eBay for a chance to win a ride for four aboard Crowley's winningest tugboat, Hunter, as it races against the field in Seattle Maritime Festival's annual tugboat race on Saturday, May 14. All proceeds from the auction, which will be open through Friday, May 6, will benefit the Seattle-based not-for-profit Ryther Child Center, a recognized leader in behavioral health services for Washington state children and their families facing complex challenges. The bidding will begin at $100.

Crowley Maritime Corporation announced that it has restructured its petroleum distribution and contract services group, consolidating all Alaska operations under Craig Tornga, vice president. Tornga, who will remain in Anchorage and will continue reporting to Rocky Smith, senior vice president and general manager, will continue to manage Alaska's petroleum distribution and fuel sales but will now also manage tanker assist and escort services in Valdez and Prince William Sound, Alaska, and energy support services on Alaska's North Slope.

Crowley Maritime Corporation announced a restructuring involving three members of its senior leadership team. John Douglass and Rob Grune will move to new positions, with Douglass taking over as senior vice president and general manager of Crowley's Puerto Rico/Caribbean liner services, and Grune taking over as senior vice president and general manager of Crowley's petroleum transportation group. Both executives will remain domiciled in Jacksonville and continue to report to Tom Crowley, chairman, president and CEO.

Crowley awarded three Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial Scholarships to California Maritime Academy students Alesi Alapa, Todd Michel and Sean Sabeh during the Containerization and Intermodal Institute's Connie Awards presentation in Long Beach, Calif. On Oct. Chris Peterson, Crowley's vice president of marine operations and also a former Cal Maritime graduate, presented the exemplary students with the scholarship awards. Alapa, Michel and Sabeh were all recognized for their strong academic records, financial need and for their interest in a maritime career.

Crowley Maritime Corporation has made several organizational changes within its contract services and marine operations groups. John Ara has been named vice president, contract services, and Chris Peterson has been named vice president, marine operations, both reporting to  John Douglass, senior vice president and general manager, Atlantic and Gulf services and Rocky Smith, senior vice president and general manager, Pacific and West Coast services. In his new role, Ara will remain…

Effective March 1, 2004, Alex Sweeney will assume the position of Vice President of Russian Far East Operations. In his new position, Sweeney is responsible for the management of the BETS Sealift to Lunskoye, Sakhalin Island and the tow of the Orlan from Sov Govan, Russia to Ulsan, Korea. He will report directly to Steve Peterson, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Energy and Marine Services and will work closely with Chris Peterson, General Manager, Contract Services, who has commercial responsibility for those contracts. Sweeney joined Crowley in 1980 and has over 20 years experience in marine operations for Crowley on the east and west coasts.

A Coast Guard helicopter crew located and recovered a person from the water in the search area of the sunken tug Primo Brusco 27 nautical miles northwest off Florence, Ore. The man, who was wearing an immersion-type suit, exhibited no vital signs and was transported aboard the helicopter back to Coast Guard Air Station North Bend. The man's identity is being determined by the Coos Bay coroner. The Coast Guard has suspended the search. Coast Guard Capt. Darrell Folsom, commander of search and rescue operations, has contacted the family of the missing mariner. In the early hours of Monday morning, the tug Primo Brusco sank 20 miles west of Florence, Ore. A Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued four of the five men who abandoned ship.

Crowley's Energy and Marine services group coordinated and managed the refloat of the grounded MV Cefalonia. Stockton, Cal. on the San Joaquin River. incident to Stockton, CA under tug assist. to the port. services in order to extract the vessel from her grounded position. said Chris Peterson, General Manager Contract Services. from 2,000 to 6,250 BHP. and Health, Safety and Environmental representative to work on scene. States Coast Guard. vessel was sound, with no known damage to the hull. deployment boat were on standby in the immediate area as a precaution.

Crowley's Energy and Marine services group coordinated and managed the refloat of the grounded MV Cefalonia. Stockton, Cal. on the San Joaquin River. incident to Stockton, CA under tug assist. to the port. services in order to extract the vessel from her grounded position. said Chris Peterson, General Manager Contract Services. from 2,000 to 6,250 BHP. and Health, Safety and Environmental representative to work on scene. States Coast Guard. vessel was sound, with no known damage to the hull. deployment boat were on standby in the immediate area as a precaution.

Maritime Administrator Captain William G. Schubert highlighted the capabilities of the U.S.-Flag fleet in an effort to respond to allegations that U.S.-flag vessels are not available to ease present cargo congestion in West Coast ports. "Qualified Jones Act vessels are standing by with available tonnage on the West Coast to assist any shipper or carrier in moving cargo forward as necessary," Schubert stated. Schubert added, "The Maritime Administration is carefully evaluating all potential alternatives that would alleviate congestion in the ports, and expedite the delivery of cargo to its final destination. According to the U.S. CSX-LINES - will divert a ship if necessary to pick up cargo in LA to ease port congestion for Oakland or provide other lifts to ease congestion.