Global Diving News

State and federal responders with the US Coast Guard Western Maui Wildfire Emergency Support Function #10 Unified Command are conducting vessel recovery and removal operations as part of their efforts to restore Lahaina Harbor and surrounding waterways following the August 8 wildfire.The Unified Command and the primary contractor, Global Diving & Salvage, have begun vessel recovery and removal operations in the vicinity of Lahaina Harbor. The response teams have a mission priority to preserve the marine ecosystem.

A 100-year-old, out-of-service passenger ferry Tourist No. 2 capsized in the Columbia River while moored near Astoria, Ore. on Thursday. There were no passengers on board.The U.S. Coast Guard said it is responding and that an investigation into the cause of the sinking is underway.A good Samaritan deployed a boom to contain an initial oil release and minimize potential impact to the environment, said Petty Officer 3rd Class Diolanda Caballero, 13th Coast Guard District External Affairs…

A unified command consisting of the U.S. Coast Guard, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, and Western Towboat, continues to lead the response efforts for the grounded tug in the Neva Strait, which initially occurred Monday morning.The tug owner, Western Towboat, contracted Hanson Maritime, SEAPRO, and Global Diving & Salvage who are currently on-scene and continuing pollution recovery efforts and salvage planning.A total of 3,000 gallons of diesel has been pumped from a ruptured tank aboard the tug…

A derelict tugboat abandoned near Juneau, Alaska since 2016, has been towed to sea and scuttled in the Gulf of Alaska, the U.S. Coast Guard said.The Lumberman had been causing problems for locals since it was abandoned in the Gastineau channel five years ago, and the decision was made to dispose of the vessel at sea after the 107-foot steel hulled tugboat was determined to be derelict and a significant risk to public safety, according to the Coast Guard.The City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ)…

Kodiak is now home to the Pacific Rim Response Center (PRRC), a facility that serves as a hub for a comprehensive suite of maritime resources providing vessel support, marine casualty response, and oil and hazardous spill response. The PRRC was established as a collaboration between Paradigm Marine and strategic partners Alaska Chadux̂ Network (Chadux̂) and Global Diving & Salvage (Global), providing one consolidated location for a range of resources to serve the Western Alaska maritime industry.With personnel and assets staged in Kodiak…

Global Diving & Salvage, Inc. has appointed Alisa Preston, P. Eng., as Director of Marine Technology to lead the growth of the marine services company’s underwater technology resources.Preston will be responsible for advancing the development of sustainable and innovative marine technology and remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) services as part of the overall business strategies for both Seattle-based Global and sister company MER Diving.Preston brings to the role a background in mechanical engineering, nuclear physics, project management and entrepreneurship.

Coast Guard crews have suspended the search for one person missing after an explosion and subsequent fire at Delong Dock in Whittier, Alaska, Monday.An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, forward deployed to Cordova, searched by air while crews aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Chandeleur and Coast Guard Auxiliary 336 also conducted a search for the missing person.Shortly after midnight, Coast Guard Sector Anchorage watchstanders heard the phrase "Whittier fire…

Glosten announced the hiring of David DeVilbiss, who will join Glosten’s Marine Construction group as a Senior Marine Consultant.Formerly Vice President of Marine Casualty & Emergency Response at Global Diving & Salvage, Inc., DeVilbiss oversaw all marine casualty and emergency response operations throughout all operating regions. He brings over 25 years of marine industry experience ranging from vessels, marine infrastructure, and the oil and gas industry.DeVilbiss attended Le Tourneau University (Mechanical Engineering)…

The near-shore and inland workboat fleet is at the leading edge for autonomous vessel developmentWhile the advent of autonomous workboats are not exactly mainstream, you better believe that in the not-too-distant future they will be a reality on waterways in and around the U.S. Today there remain more questions than answers, particularly on the legal, logistics and insurance side of the coin. But the technology is evolving at record pace, providing many in the industry with mixed emotions. Excitement. Controversy. Curiosity. Skepticism. These are just a few of thoughts, and emotions that arise to any mention of the topic of autonomous vessels.It’s happening now.

New system allows for contingency ballast water treatment in a variety of ecologically-sensitive and emergency conditions. Global Diving & Salvage, Inc. recently led a demonstration of the mobile ballast water treatment system, Ballast Responder, on board the 730-foot bulk carrier Tim S. Dool on the Great Lakes. “Equipment was operational within eight hours of arrival and the first set of tanks were fully treated, neutralized, and ready to discharge only 20 hours later,” said Glosten Principal and ballast water treatment expert Kevin Reynolds, PE. The mobile ballast water treatment system was developed by Glosten in cooperation with Global, the US Geological Survey, and US National Park Service.

Emerging spill response trends fit into two big categories: technology and a combination of economic and social forces. Both will shape what comes next.Florida’s stunning Tampa Bay stands out as exactly the kind of place where you have to think about hazardous materials emergencies. It was 25 years ago, on August 10, 1993, that a freighter collided with two barges near the entrance of Tampa Bay, causing a fire and spilling over 32,000 gallons of jet fuel, diesel, and gasoline and about 330,000 gallons of heavy fuel, devastating beaches, wildlife and habitat.

Glosten and Global Diving & Salvage say they have used a mobile system to treat ballast water on board a 350-foot marine vessel moored in Coos Bay, Ore.The firms deployed the Glosten Ballast Responder successfully treating all 3,990 tons of ballast water on board. The contingency response team deployed from Seattle the morning of May 21 and certified all ballast water on board as safe for discharge by the evening of May 23.“The system and team performed very well,” said Glosten Principal and ballast water treatment expert Kevin Reynolds, PE.

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.

Eric Rose has joined Global Diving & Salvage, Inc. as Director of Business Development, responsible for the company’s long-term revenue generation, and the support of Global’s regions and service lines, including marine construction, commercial diving, environmental services and marine casualty response. He will oversee sales and business development, marketing, client engagement and corporate strategy for revenue generation. Rose spent many years with NC Machinery for Caterpillar, most recently as Washington Equipment Sales and Rental Manager. During his tenure, he was responsible for the overall P&L of the sales and rental departments in Washington state, managing inventory levels between $30 million to $50 million per year.

Work on the Pacific Paradise continues and the unified command has contracted Resolve Marine Group with support from several other experts to conduct the removal of the pollution threat. "The combined experience of the team we have working this challenge is impressive and the effort they've put in to develop this wreck removal plan is significant," said Captain of the Port Capt. Michael Long, commander, Coast Guard Sector Honolulu. "This response is a dynamic and constantly evolving process with many factors to consider and it will take some time to complete.

Devon Grennan, president and CEO of Global Diving & Salvage, and president of the Spill Control Association of America (SCAA) asks the tough questions. What are the biggest challenges the spill response industry faces in light of the current political and economic climate in the United States? And what is SCAA doing to meet these challenges? I see the primary challenge that the spill response industry – as well as SCAA’s membership – currently has is to manage expectations and competing interests at a unique point in our nation’s energy renaissance.

Global Diving & Salvage, Inc. has expanded its regional operations with the addition of a new office in Juneau, Alaska. The new Juneau office will support southeast Alaska through several of Global’s primary service lines: marine construction, marine salvage and emergency response, diving operations and more. Global has been providing marine services in southeast Alaska for years through its Anchorage and Pacific Northwest offices; the new Juneau office is being established in response to client requests for a dedicated base, which will bolster the capacity of operations in that region. Bill Akan, a longtime member of the Global team, will serve as Southeast Alaska Operations Coordinator for the new Juneau location. “I’m thrilled to be returning to Juneau with Global,” Akan said.

Devon Grennan, CEO and President of Global Diving & Salvage, Inc., has been appointed President of the Spill Control Association of America (SCAA). SCAA is a professional association representing spill control contractors, manufacturers, distributors, government agencies, and various qualified individuals within the industry. Grennan has served on the board of SCAA since 2012. “SCAA is a unique association that has represented our diverse membership for 44 years,” said Grennan. Grennan has been elected to serve a two-year term.

Global Diving & Salvage, Inc. has hired Mike Brown as Vice President of Energy Services, working from the company’s Houston office. In his new position Brown, will focus his efforts to increase Global's position in the domestic and international energy market and will be directly responsible for developing business opportunities and providing oversight on operations for these clients as well as oversee Global’s saturation and deep diving operations throughout the company. Brown brings with him more than 38 years of experience in the offshore oil and gas industry.

Bas Coppes has joined the senior management team at Global Diving & Salvage, Inc., aiming to guide the global growth of the marine services company. Coppes will be based out of Global’s Houston office and will focus on salvage and wreck removal operations worldwide. Coppes brings two decades of salvage and offshore experience to the organization, having managed an extensive number of salvage, wreck removal, and offshore projects across the globe. “In my role as president of Mammoet Salvage Americas, I worked with Global extensively over the last 10 years,” Coppes said.

Efforts to prepare the capsized riverboat Spirit of Sacramento for fuel removal operations are being conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard, California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Office of Spill Prevention and Response and other partner agencies. The 87-foot vessel reportedly began taking on water September 4, 2016, and sank near Bethel Island, Calif. Several scenarios are being developed to safely remove the pollution threat, which include righting the vessel and removing the fuel, or removing the fuel while the boat remains in its current position.

Global Diving & Salvage, Inc. has surpassed the 10,000 dives on a single project at Olmsted Locks & Dam in Illinois. Tom Cameron, a long-time diver with Global, performed the 10,000th dive. Wade Miller, Marine Construction Manager with AECOM for the Olmsted Dam Project, said, “The Global team has done an exceptional job. Global has been working at Olmsted since 2009 providing a variety of dive-related services. Olmsted is a significant, ongoing undertaking. The new locks and dam system will replace two outdated locks and dam systems on the Ohio River…

The American Salvage Association (ASA) has elected a new slate of officers at its fall meeting on September 21 in Stamford, Conn. Todd Schauer, Resolve Marine Group was elected President, succeeding Paul Hankins, Donjon Marine Co., Inc., who served as President from 2013-2015. Jim Elliott, T&T Marine Salvage, Inc., was elected Vice President, and David DeVilbiss, Global Diving & Salvage, Inc., was named Secretary/Treasurer. In addition, James Calhoun (T&T Salvage, Inc.), Samina Mahmood (Ardent)…