Association Of Diving Contractors International News

U.S. salvage industry update: Coast Guard recognition and continuous improvement for the domestic salvage industry and its working professionals.Professional salvors are called in when the ship’s crew is overwhelmed – the last resort to protect lives, minimize environmental impacts and save the ship and cargo. These salvage masters, divers, firefighters, naval architects, heavy lift operators and other salvage team members regularly go into harm’s way and consistently perform incredible feats. They commit their lives and livelihoods to this work.

Two vice presidents working at Seattle based Global Diving and Salvage have been elected to leadership positions at separate industry associations.   Daniel Pierson, Vice President of Operations has been re-elected to the Association of Diving Contractors International (ADCI) board for a new three-year term.   Global Vice President of Casualty and Emergency Response, David DeVilbiss has been elected as the new American Salvage Association (ASA) Vice President.

Bryan Nicholls, president and COO of Texas based offshore and inland commercial diving contractor U.S. Underwater Services, LLC, has been elected president of the Association of Diving Contractors International (ADCI) at its annual conference. The ADCI is a professional association that promotes best industry practice with respect to the health and safety of commercial divers and underwater operations. “The ADCI Consensus Standards for Commercial Diving and Underwater Operations are recognized as best industry practice here in the U.S., and in many other parts of the world,” Nicholls said.

Global Diving & Salvage, Inc. has expanded its California Regional operations with the addition of a new office in Southern California. Located in Signal Hill near Long Beach, the new office supports Global's core service lines; Marine Construction, Casualty Response, Offshore Support, and Global Technical Services. Danny Broadhurst, Global's California Operations Manager and Manager of the new facility, is excited to have this newly established regional presence: "This new location will ensure rapid response and support to clients in the Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Diego as well as throughout the Southwest." Broadhurst goes on to say "as the largest diving company on the west coast…

Global Diving & Salvage, Inc. announced the expansion of its California regional operations with the addition of a new office in Southern California. Located in Signal Hill near Long Beach, the new office supports Global’s core service lines: marine construction, casualty response and offshore support. Broadhurst continued, “As the largest diving company on the west coast, Global’s continued expansion of regional capacities will provide customers with the quality of service known as ‘The Global Way’. In addition to adhering to Association of Diving Contractors International (ADCI) policies and recommendations, Global is now one of the few dive companies in North America to have been audited and accepted as a member of IMCA (International Maritime Contractors Association).

Global inspection, repair, maintenance (IRM) and light construction company Harkand informs it has made a key appointment by securing Mike Brown as general manager of diving services in North America. A U.S. Navy veteran, Brown has considerable experience of commercial diving in the offshore oil and gas sector having held number of senior positions in a career spanning more than 35 years. He was most recently working with Chet Morrison Contractors as general manager of the offshore construction division.

Bryan N. Jones has joined HDR in Boston as a senior project manager for the Ports & Maritime group, a growing team of HDR marine specialists in the Northeast to support an increasing number of assignments following Super Storm Sandy. He will also focus on business development with key ports clients and marine terminals to continue expanding HDR’s presence in New England. Prior to joining HDR, Jones was chief project manager and regional director of the Massachusetts branch office of Ocean and Coastal Consultants.

Nearly two years ago, the Obama Administration tightened rules for removing “idle iron” – old oil platforms and pipelines – and on plugging unused wells in the Gulf of Mexico. That September 2010 move was part of a federal crackdown on deepwater oil and gas operations following the 2010 BP spill. Since then, heavy-lift companies have continued to rid the Gulf of unused structures and other firms have positioned themselves for that work. Under the 2010 rules, wells that hadn't been used for five years were to be abandoned or “zonally isolated” within three years after Oct. 15, 2010.

Washington, D.C. – The Marine Technology Society (MTS) announced the induction of President‐Elect Drew Michel into the Association of Diving Contractors International (ADCI) Commercial Diving Hall of Fame. The event was held at the awards ceremony during the 20th Annual Underwater Intervention Conference, held earlier this year in New Orleans, La., and co‐sponsored by the MTS Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Committee and ADCI. Drew was honored for his nearly 50‐year commitment to operational safety and effectiveness. The ADCI Commercial Diving Hall of Fame recognizes and honors the lifetime achievement of those individuals whose dedication and accomplishments have significantly contributed to commercial diving.

With the goal of enriching students’ educational experiences and enhancing the research capabilities of marine scientists on the Great Lakes, Collins Engineers, Inc. (Collins) has donated a Phantom-300 remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to the University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee School of Freshwater Science (SFS), located at the Great Lakes WATER Institute. The cost of a similar ROV purchased new would range between $25,000 and $35,000. “The SFS offers interdisciplinary graduate-level training and provides a variety of marine research opportunities…

Randive, a commercial diving company based in New Jersey, is employing underwater metal detectors in their search and salvage operations. The company was founded in 1959 by Randor Erlandson, and in the early days focused primarily on the needs of the maritime industry around the ports of New York and New Jersey. In the decades since, the company has greatly expanded its operations increasing its staff to 16, and adding as its clients some of the largest shipping companies in the world.

The American Salvage Association (ASA), supported by the Association of Diving Contractors International (ADCI), International Salvage Union (ISU), Marine Technology Society (MTS), Maritime Law Association of the United States (MLA), North American Marine Environmental Protection Association (NAMEPA), Spill Control Association of America (SCAA), Maritime Technology Alliance (MTA), and the World Ocean Council (WOC), will sponsor a conference, “Wrecks of the  World: Hidden Risks of the Deep (WOW)” on Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) in the Washington, DC area (Linthicum Heights, MD) USA.

The American Salvage Association (ASA) and the Spill Control Association of America (SCAA) have established an Affiliate Membership relationship. The Spill Control Association of America was organized in 1973 to actively promote the interests of all groups within the spill response community. The organization represents spill response contractors, manufacturers, distributors, consultants, instructors, government & training institutions and corporations working in the industry. The American Salvage Association is the trade association promoting professionalism and improving marine casualty response in North American coastal and inland waters. ASA has partnership agreements with the U.S.

The American Salvage Association (ASA) and the Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) have agreed to establish a reciprocal Affiliate Membership relationship. The Offshore Marine Service Association represents more than 250 member companies, including about 100 firms that own and operate marine service vessels. These vessels, some 1,200 in number, connect America with its offshore energy resources, providing every pipe, wrench, computer, barrel of fuel, and gallon of drinking water to rigs and platforms, as well as transporting tens of thousands of workers to and from the facilities. This critical flow of supplies keeps the heart of America's energy industry pumping around the clock.

The American Salvage Association (ASA) and the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) have agreed to establish a reciprocal Affiliate Membership relationship. NAMEPA, composed largely of vessel operators, is committed to encouraging effective compliance of its members with national and international laws and regulations regarding marine environment protection; creating and promoting safety mindedness and security spirit within the industrial sectors involved in its membership; enhancing quality standards and professional training competency. NAMEPA cooperates with international maritime organizations; promoting relationships and/or partnerships with educational institutions to further spread the voluntary commitment to today’s youth.

Dubbed "the most important three days for Underwater Contracting," Underwater Intervention is slated to convene from February 10-12 in New Orleans at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. With a full and diverse technical program and an impressive roster of exhibitors from around the globe, UI '03 seems to be on track to fulfil this claim. New Orleans is historically a favorite venue for Underwater Intervention, and in fact the exhibition is scheduled to be held in New Orleans through 2010. The spacious Convention Center provides enough floor space for over 250 exhibit booths. For the 10th consecutive year Underwater Intervention is co-sponsored by the ROV Committee of the Marine Technology Society and the Association of Diving Contractors International, Inc.