News: National Salvage Conference Set for September 9-11

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 wreckremoval," said J. Arnold Witte, President of the American SalvageAssociation."This is an important event for those involved withthe U.S. and international salvage community," he continued.

For more information visit www.americansalvage.org.

Crowley Awarded West Coast Salvage and

Engineering Services Contract

Crowley Maritime Corporation's energy and marine services business segment won the West Coast Salvage and a Worldwide Engineering Services contract with the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), Director of Ocean Engineering/Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV). With the exception of a four-year period, Crowley has successfully held this contract since 1976. The agreement, which is valid for up to five years, calls for providing salvage and salvage-related services, harbor clearance, ocean engineering and point-to-point towing services. It also calls for engineering services to be provided in support of salvage, towing, harbor clearance, ocean engineering and special project development.

The contract covers the entire Western Zone of NAVSEA'S operations, which encompasses the west coast of North and South America from the Arctic to the Antarctic out to the International Date Line.

Some of projects that Crowley has undertaken in Support of the SUPSALVcontract include:

• The outfitting and 15,000-mile tow of the Aircraft Carrier USS Oriskany from Vallejo, Calif., to Beaumont, Texas;

• Participation in the recovery and relocation of the Japanese fishing vessel Ehime Maru.

• The updating of Navy manuals including Firefighting and Damage Control, Deep Ocean Operations, Offloading, Spill Response and Salvage;

• Development, updating and training of Navy personnel on the Program of Ship Salvage Engineering (POSSE);

• Removal of stranded fishing vessels in Pago Pago, which were posing an environmental hazard.

• Salvage and firefighting support for at-sea ship operations for the Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC) in Port Hueneme, Calif.;

• Preparation of vessels for dismantling and/or scuttling.

• Emergency and rescue towing.

• Wreck recovery.

• Development of the Smart Tow System and the Submarine Contingency Plan;

• Provision of environmental assessment for removal of oil from the sunken Ex-Mississinewa.

Bisso Completes Phase 1 Of

Offshore Salvage Job

Bisso Marine's offshore salvage division completed phase I of the salvage operations on a 5,000 ton offshore Jack Up Drilling Rig in Ship Shoal 126. Phase I entailed the removal of the 144 x 128-ft., 800-ton mat from a depth of 90-ft. with a 40-ft. natural bottom. Several thousand tons of mud had to excavated from on top of the mat before divers could survey and make repairs necessary to seal up compartments. Damaged compartments were repaired by welding and installing soft patches. Thereafter, the compartments were pressed and the sea water was evacuated and the hull was raised to the surface. Further repairs were made on the surface and the mat was towed to Morgan City, La. The operation was completed with the utilization the Salvage Barge "Big Chief". Thirty actual working days was spent at the sight to complete Phase I. Bisso salvage crews are presently on site working on phase II, which entails the removal of the hull sections. According the Vice President of Salvage, Kelly B. Steele, "Phase II is expected to be completed within forty five working days, weather permitting".