Isu Executive Committee News

Leendert Muller, managing director of leading towage and salvage specialist Multraship, has been appointed the new president of the International Salvage Union (ISU). The appointment was confirmed at the annual general meeting of the ISU in Hong Kong on October 24, 2013. Muller, who has been a member of the ISU Executive Committee since 2008, and vice-president since 2011, succeeds Andreas Tsavliris, who will continue as a member of the ISU Executive Committee.  John A Witte Jr., of Donjon Marine Co Inc., was confirmed as vice president of the ISU. multraship.com

Donjon Marine, Co., Inc. announced that President and CEO J. Arnold Witte has joined the Board of Trustees of the Noble Maritime Collection, a museum and study center located in a former dormitory at the famous retirement home for mariners, Sailors' Snug Harbor in Staten Island, N.Y. The museum celebrates the people and traditions of the working waterfront. Witte was named to the Board, along with Shelagh E. Mahoney, President of the Eastern Salt Company, and Captain Timothy J. Ferrie, a 30-year member and full branch pilot of the United New Jersey Sandy Hook Pilots Association. The announcement was made by James J. Devine, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Noble Maritime Collection and President of New York Container Terminal.

Crowley Maritime Corporation announced that Todd Busch, the company's senior vice president and general manager of technical services, which includes Crowley subsidiary Titan Salvage, has been elected president of the International Salvage Union (ISU). Busch was elected during the ISU's 55th general meeting in Boston this week. He succeeds Arnold Witte, who will continue to be a member of the ISU's executive committee. Busch joined Crowley in 1987 as an ordinary seaman and since that time served aboard company tugs as a chief mate.

Salvors have welcomed the International Maritime Organization’s adoption of Guidelines on the Control of Ships in an Emergency. The Guidelines, adopted by the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee, were considered by the ISU’s Executive Committee. ISU President Arnold Witte said: “These Guidelines are a significant contribution to marine casualty management. They promote a clear chain of command and, most importantly, they also clarify issues related to the fair treatment of seafarers involved in marine incidents. The Guidelines call on the Master to cooperate with the Salvage Master “to the maximum extent”. The Coastal State should allow the salvor access to the casualty.

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.

Joop Timmermans was elected President of the International Salvage Union at the ISU’s September Annual Meeting in Quebec. Joop Timmermans, managing director of the Dutch towage, salvage and heavy lift company I.T.C. (International Transport Contractors), succeeds Jean Labescat, of the French Les Abeilles. Joop is a master mariner by profession. He commenced his seagoing career in 1962 with Nederland Line (Royal Dutch Mail) of Amsterdam, which later merged with NedLloyd Lines. He obtained his Master's License in the early 1970s. In 1975, Joop joined I.T.C. as a Marine Superintendent. He became Manager of the Commercial Department four years later and Vice-President in 1983. In 1991, he moved to Fairmount Marine of Rotterdam as Managing Director, a position he held for six years.

International Salvage Union members meeting in Seattle during late September for the ISU’s 51st General Meeting elected Arnold Witte, CEO of US salvor Donjon Marine, as Vice-President. Arnold Witte succeeds Titan CEO David Parrot as ISU Vice-President. David Parrot remains a member of the ISU Executive Committee. Arnold Witte, who established Donjon Marine in the 1960s, is a Past President of the ISU (1995 – 98). He has been a member of the ISU’s Executive Committee since 1992. Arnold Witte played a major role in the negotiations which led to the adoption of the SCOPIC salvage remuneration system in 1999. Arnold Witte has also served as Immediate Past President of the American Salvage Association. In addition, the AGM confirmed the appointment of Michael Lacey as ISU Secretary-General.