Salvage Conference Scheduled for September

The 2003 National Maritime Salvage Conference, sponsored by American Salvage Association (ASA), will take place September 9-11, 2003 at the Marriott Crystal City in Crystal City, Va. The first day of the conference, Tuesday, September 9, will offer a training seminar focusing on Salvage Contracting, a Mock LOF (Lloyds Open Form) Arbitration Proceeding, and a complete discussion of Salvage Plans. The conference program for September 10-11 will include discussion of Maritime Security, Wreck Removal, Contracting, U.S. Salvage Regulations and the International View of the Salvage Industry, Training, Marine Casualty Response at the World Trade Center, Responder Immunity, Salvage and the Environment, Incident Command Structure (ICS), Fire-fighting, and more. Speakers will include RADM Larry Hereth, Director of Port Security, U.S. Coast Guard; RADM Richard Bennis, USCG (Ret.), Associate Under Secretary for Maritime and Land Security, Transportation Security Administration; and CAPT James Wilkins, Supervisor of Salvage for the U.S. Navy, among others. "The National Maritime Salvage Conference 2003, to be held this fall, will offer insight and guidance of importance to representatives of the maritime community, including governmental representatives, shipowners, underwriters, attorneys and salvors alike, on matters concerning salvage regulations, salvage plans and training, environmental protection, port security and wreck removal," said J. Arnold Witte, President of the American Salvage Association. "This is an important event for those involved with the U.S. and international salvage community," he continued.