John Witte News

In the waning days of 2016, the outlook brightened dramatically for the big U.S. dredging contractors. Just before Congress dispersed for the Holidays, then-President Obama signed a pivotal piece of legislation – the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, S612. Authorized needed investment in America’s ports, channels, locks, dams, and other infrastructure that supports the maritime and waterways transportation system and provides flood protection. Authorized U.S.

ISU’s President weighs in on the current state of international salvage, a changing landscape and the need for mutual fairness from all stakeholders in the global salvage and response arena. The last three decades have seen a significant reduction in marine casualties which is to be welcomed by all. Better ships; better inspection and port state control; the SOLAS convention; improved operational practices, liability concerns – both civil as well as criminal – and better crew training have all played their part.

Working full-time with Donjon Marine Co., Inc. since 1982, John A. Witte, Jr. is currently Executive Vice President. He oversees the day-to-day operations of Donjon’s Marine Salvage, Demolition, Marine Transportation, Diving, Heavy Lift and Shipbuilding Operations. Witte is also responsible for Donjon’s Regulatory Compliance Program for all marine related activities and has served as Salvage Master on numerous Donjon Salvage projects since 1982. A past President of the American Salvage Association (ASA), Witte today serves as Vice President of the International Salvage Union (ISU).

When Hurricane Sandy swept across the Caribbean, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States in late October 2012, the Category 2 storm eventually became the largest Atlantic hurricane on record. Certainly, it ranks as one of the most costly and destructive. Estimates of losses due to damage and business interruption are still being compiled but are expected to exceed $70 billion. Hundreds died as a result of the ferocious storm. In the United States, at least 24 states were impacted, but the damage was particularly severe in New Jersey and New York. The storm surge slammed into New York City on October 29, flooding streets, tunnels and subways and cut power to a large swath of customers in the tri-state area.

Donjon Marine Co. Inc. of Hillside, NJ, was mobilized from its base in Port Newark, New Jersey, to provide an emergency pumping capability in response to the devastation resulting from Hurricane Sandy. Donjon currently holds the US Navy Salvage and Related Services contract for the North Atlantic zone. The US Navy provided support to the stricken region following a request by the US Army Corps of Engineers. By mobilizing its equipment, Donjon was able to provide “soup to nuts” support to the US Navy response.

When Raymond Lord was named President of Donjon-SMIT, LLC just over one year ago, the native Houstonian brought with him more than 30 years of experience within the marine salvage industry, and he joins industry heavyweights John Witte and Douglas Martin at the joint-venture, casualty response and compliance group. Coming from his previous position as Vice President and Operations Manager for SMIT Americas in Houston, Lord now heads up one of the largest, and arguably the most visible nationwide marine service providers.

Donjon Marine Co., Inc., a provider of multi-faceted marine services including marine salvage, heavy lift, dredging, related emergency response services, and most recently shipbuilding and repair, was mobilized from its base in Port Newark, New Jersey to provide an emergency pumping capability in response to the devastation resulting from Hurricane Sandy. Donjon holds the U.S. Navy Salvage and Related Services contract for the North Atlantic zone. The U.S. Navy provided support to the stricken region as a result of a request by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Donjon Marine Refloats car ferry GOV. HERBERT H. LEHMAN. After a competitive bidding process, in late March 2012 Donjon Marine was awarded a job to refloat the 277-foot Ex-Staten Island, NY car ferry Gov. Herbert H. Lehman. The vessel sank in the Hudson River while in layup in Newburg, NY. After almost four weeks of patching and test-pumping the submerged hull, and with the use of Donjon’s 1000-ton capacity Derrick Barge Chesapeake 1000 to stabilize the vessel during refloating, the ferry was successfully refloated and returned to owners.

Delegates and speakers from around the globe will converge on the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) in the Washington, DC area Linthicum Heights, MD) US to participate in the second Wrecks of the World conference being held June 6-7, 2011. This is a unique opportunity to meet with global experts to explore potentially polluting wrecks and recent incidents around the world. These wrecks have caused government agencies and responsible parties to look…

What are your thoughts on the recent collision that occurred on the that resulted in hundreds of thousands of gallons of fuel oil to spill and the requisite closure? JW:      The is a very busy waterway. While the US Coast Guard and local authorities make every effort to manage the waterway in a safe and efficient manner, there are times that accidents do in fact occur. The inland towing industry has one of the very best safety and environmental records, so this was one of these situations.

(ASA). Vice President, Donjon Marine Co., Inc. new Secretary/Treasurer. Fairbanks. maritime security, the status of pending U.S. immunity and the salvors' role in environmental protection," he continued. "The association owes many thanks to J. of Donjon Marine Co., Inc., who served as ASA's first President. that we will be ever-grateful," Fairbanks said. representing North America's professional salvors. professionalism and improve marine casualty response in American coastal and inland waters.

Richard Fairbanks, President of Titan Maritime, LLC (Fort Lauderdale, FL), has been named President of the American Salvage Association (ASA). George Wittich, Senior Vice President of Weeks Marine (Cranford, NJ), has been named the association's Vice President, and John Witte, Jr., Executive Vice President, Donjon Marine Co., Inc. (Hillside, NJ), has been named ASA's new Secretary/Treasurer. "We are very excited about ASA's incoming leadership," said Richard Fairbanks. "Among the areas the association will focus on throughout the year are maritime security, the status of pending U.S. salvage regulations, and responder immunity and the salvors' role in environmental protection," he continued. "The association owes many thanks to J.

Marine salvage and response companies Donjon Marine Co., Inc. (Hillside, NJ) and SMIT Americas (Houston, TX) announced a new joint venture known as Donjon-SMIT, An OPA-90 Alliance. This new response organization has been created specifically for compliance and response services as required by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA-90). The Joint Venture will begin providing services on December 31, 2004. Donjon and SMIT will continue to provide non-OPA-90 salvage and related services independent of one another, as they have for many years. Principals for Donjon-SMIT, An OPA-90 Alliance, are John Witte, Executive Vice President of Donjon, and Roger Elliott, President, for SMIT Americas.

While there is a plethora of marine service companies, many of them family-owned, few can boast six family members actively involved in the business at the same time. Donjon Marine Co., Inc. in Hillside, NJ, is one company to know if you haven't heard of them before. Led by J. Arnold Witte, Sr., Chief Executive Officer and President of the company he founded in 1967, Donjon is a multi-faceted marine service company that offers salvage and wreck removal, but through a controlled expansion, boasts a serious diving capability, marine engineering and heavy lift services, towing, dredging, barge chartering, demolition, and spill clean-up and pollution prevention services.

George Wittich, Senior Vice President of Weeks Marine has been named President of the American Salvage Association (ASA). John Witte, Jr., Executive Vice President of Donjon Marine Co., Inc. (Hillside, NJ), has been named ASA’s Vice President, and Paul Gallagher, Director of Sales – Marine Transportation, Foss Maritime (Seattle, WA), has been elected Secretary/Treasurer.