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International Salvage Union News

05 Apr 2018

Evans to Lead International Salvage Union

The International Salvage Union has selected Roger Evans as its new Secretary General. He will succeed Mark Hoddinott who is retiring later this year after six years in the post.   Evans is expected to join ISU during July to begin the handover with Hoddinott before assuming the role at some point in the fourth quarter.   Evans is a former master mariner who sailed on a variety of vessels including reefers, bulk carriers, container and general cargo ships. Evans came ashore in 1985 to join Smit International and has served the Dutch offshore, towage and salvage firm in a number of roles including as contracts manger in London for Smit International, senior contracts manager for Smit Salvage in the Netherlands and, since 2013, as Manager for Smit Salvage in the U.K.

14 Aug 2017

Crowley’s Busch Joins Sea Machines’ Board

Todd Busch (Photo: Sea Machines)

Todd Busch, Sr. Vice President & General Manager, Technical Services, at Crowley Maritime, has joined Sea Machines Robotics’ board of directors. The Boston-based Sea Machines is building autonomous control technology for commercial vessels. Busch, who joined Crowley in 1987 as an ordinary seaman, is currently responsible for naval architecture and marine engineering, government services, ship management, marine salvage and wreck removal, new-vessel construction and the chartering and operations of Crowley’s offshore tug and barge fleet.

17 Jan 2017

IMO Exhibition on Safe Sea Oil Transport

The 50 years since the grounding of the tanker Torrey Canyon in 1967 have seen dramatic and sustained reduction in major oil spills from ships, thanks to cooperation between Governments and industry. The story of how that incident served as a catalyst for positive change is told in a new exhibition which was launched on Monday (16 January) at the headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations agency with responsibility for the safety and security of international shipping and the prevention of pollution from ships. A series of panels chart the collaborative work which has resulted today in a comprehensive regulatory framework…

28 Nov 2016

2nd Asian Marine Casualty Forum Launched

Following the success of the inaugural Asian Marine Casualty Forum (AMCF) in 2015 and by popular demand, the bi-annual industry forum aimed at addressing the current crises in maritime casualty management, is back for the second time running and officially launched in Singapore today. The much welcomed not-for–profit event with its“arranged by the industry for the industry” feature remains and already, sponsorship response has been well beyond expectations. LOC Group (LOC), the leading international maritime consultancy group, will once again be hosting the forum, a cornerstone event of the forthcoming Singapore Maritime Week (22-28 April 2017) – which gathers the international maritime community in Singapore for a week-long of conferences…

05 Oct 2016

Fair Contracting in Casualty Response

John Witte

ISU’s President weighs in on the current state of international salvage, a changing landscape and the need for mutual fairness from all stakeholders in the global salvage and response arena. The last three decades have seen a significant reduction in marine casualties which is to be welcomed by all. Better ships; better inspection and port state control; the SOLAS convention; improved operational practices, liability concerns – both civil as well as criminal – and better crew training have all played their part.

13 Sep 2016

Global Spill Response Contract Sparks Interest

The ISCO-BIMCO spill response contract was well received at the ACI Maritime Salvage and Casualty Response Conference that took place in London last week. The contract is still under development, but is expected to be published towards the end of this year. Grant Hunter, BIMCO’s Chief Officer Legal and Contractual Affairs, who spoke at the conference said:“There was an encouraging level of interest from the conference participants in the new spill contract and its aims and objectives. It seems that people appreciate what ISCO and BIMCO are trying to achieve by working together to develop a contractual solution to improve efficiencies in sourcing and hiring services and equipment for spill response work on a global basis”.

05 Jul 2016

Spill Response Tackled In New Contract

The International Spill Control Organization (ISCO) and BIMCO are working together to develop a standard contract for spill response services. The contract is expected to be published by the end of the year. The Spill Response Services and Equipment Contract is designed for situations where a spill incident occurs and the shipowner or other stakeholder (the “requesting party”) needs to contract for clean-up services, counter pollution measures, and hire of equipment. Terms and conditions are set out in standard clauses with accompanying annexes for parties to insert detailed descriptions of the required services and rates for personnel and equipment. Emergency situations require a prompt response.

13 Oct 2015

The International Salvage Union Weighs In

Current issues in marine salvage: the ISU perspective. There have undoubtedly been great improvements in ship and operational safety in the past decades. SOLAS, the international Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, has been in force for more than 30 years and has played a large part reducing the incidence of marine casualty. But accidents and incidents cannot be entirely eradicated and the potential for marine casualty – and pollution – remains present in all territories.

07 Apr 2015

ISU Honors Costa Concordia Salvors

Photo courtesy of TITAN Salvage

Crowley Maritime Corp.’s Houston-based subsidiary TITAN Salvage and Italian engineering partner Micoperi were honored with the International Salvage Union (ISU) Meritorious Service Award during the organization’s Associate Members’ Day Conference in London. The award was presented by ISU President Leendert Muller in recognition of TITAN and Micoperi’s outstanding service to the salvage industry during the successful execution of the largest single maritime wreck removal project ever to be undertaken, the Costa Concordia.

26 Mar 2015

Salvage, Wreck Removal Beset with Chronic Problems

The basic nature of maritime casualties, salvage and wreck removal has evolved rapidly over the last few years. Ships and offshore constructions have become more technologically elaborate, and in many cases simply bigger and more complex than ever. There isincreasing concern about whether current international legislation and industry practices cancope with the issues. Many are skeptical regarding the fundamental format of casualty contracts, questioning if they are justchronically outdated. Nick Haslam, Shipping Director of leading international maritime consultants, the LOC Group, is convinced initiatives to improve casualty management and create a better understanding between all parties must be heard, debated and positively supported.

27 Jan 2015

Launch of Asian Marine Casualty Forum

An industry forum aimed at producing a practical response to the current crises in maritime casualty management was officially launched in Singapore today. LOC Group (LOC), the leading international maritime consultancy group, is set to host the forum, the first of its kind, as a cornerstone gathering during the forthcoming Singapore Maritime Week (April 20-24, 2015). Singapore is the perfect location for this initiative being one of the busiest hubs for shipping and a centre of excellence for the management of casualties in the region. The two day meet is intended for global industry leaders from all parties involved in marine casualties. It takes place on Thursday and Friday April 23 and 24 at Singapore’s prestigious Fullerton Hotel.

04 Aug 2014

ISU Publishes Annual Review and Statistics

Photo: ISU

The International Salvage Union has published is Annual Review for 2013 which formally sets out the governance and work of the ISU which is the global trade association representing the interests of its members who are marine salvors. The ISU Annual Review includes a summary of the annual statistics collected from its members to provide an overview of the state of the salvage industry. The 2013 figures show a substantial industry with total revenues, not profit, of more than $700 million, up from just over $600 million in the previous year.

23 Jun 2014

Interview: John Witte - VP, International Salvage Union

John Witte

Working full-time with Donjon Marine Co., Inc. since 1982, John A. Witte, Jr. is currently Executive Vice President. He oversees the day-to-day operations of Donjon’s Marine Salvage, Demolition, Marine Transportation, Diving, Heavy Lift and Shipbuilding Operations. Witte is also responsible for Donjon’s Regulatory Compliance Program for all marine related activities and has served as Salvage Master on numerous Donjon Salvage projects since 1982. A past President of the American Salvage Association (ASA), Witte today serves as Vice President of the International Salvage Union (ISU).

13 Feb 2014

A Call for Vessel Refuge Guidelines

Peter Hinchliffe

Shipowners, Salvors and Insurers – through their respective trade associations – have jointly called for the prompt and proper implementation of international measures to provide a Place of Refuge for stricken vessels, following a series of incidents where casualty vessels have been delayed in accessing a safe harbor. The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) said that it has noted “with dismay” the refusal by some coastal States to make places of refuge available, thereby risking lives and the environment even after the high profile cases of the Stolt Valor and the MSC Flaminia in 2012.

09 Jan 2014

India's Maritime Growth Fueled by Foreign Companies

Foreign players continue to dominate several segments of the Indian maritime industry: from salvage to dredging, chartering to ship management and ship manning, to name but a few. And the list of foreign firms setting up shop in India is growing as the country is hurriedly putting in place the required infrastructure to meet the huge demands of India’s growing international trade. Globally, India is the 7th largest country in area, 2nd in population and 11th in GDP, with the expectation that it will ascend to the top five in GDB by 2020. The country is blessed with a 4,700 mile coastline, making it one of the longest in the world not forgetting the 14…

25 Oct 2013

Multraship’s Muller Appointed President of ISU

Leendert Muller

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

24 Oct 2013

GOL SALVAGE Taking on the Global Giants

In the three years since its launch GOL Salvage Services Ltd., having forayed into a domain traditionally commanded by global players has today become a force to reckon with. GOL Salvage’s Executive Director,Capt. Sandeep Kalia, gives a rare insight into the Indian salvaging scenario. ‘Fools rush in where angels fear to tread’ had been the deciding factor for most salvors in India, holding them back from entering the salvage business in earnest. But when GOL Salvage Services Ltd. entered the field in 2011, it became a game changer as it was the first fully indigenous salvage company making an entry into the field that was traditionally dominated by overseas salvaging giants.

26 Aug 2013

Titan Salvage to Sponsor National Salvage Conference

Titan Salvage and OPA 90 partner, Marine Response Alliance will team up as sponsors of the National Maritime Salvage Conference, “Weathering the Storm”, hosted jointly by the American Salvage Association (AMA) and Marine Log magazine from September 9 through 12, 2013 in Arlington V.A. The American Salvage Association was created to provide professional salvors with an identity while also assisting with the professionalization of the United States marine salvage and firefighting response capability. The mission of the ASA is to be a unifying association of the commercial marine salvage industry and serve as the definitive spokesman for this industry in Washington, D.C. and around the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Titan Salvage is a subsiidiary of Crowley Maritime Corp.

17 Aug 2012

INSIGHTS: from Crowley's Todd Busch

Todd Busch: SVP and General Manager, Technical Services at Crowley Maritime Corporation. Todd Busch joined Crowley as an ordinary seaman in 1986, earning his masters’ license working aboard company tugboats before coming ashore in 1994 as a tug dispatcher. Since then, he has held a variety of positions with increasing responsibility within the firm. Today, the 24-year Crowley veteran is a member of the company’s senior leadership team, reporting directly to Crowley CEO Tom Crowley. Based at Crowley’s headquarters in Jacksonville, FL, he is responsible for several of the company’s business enterprises including the project management organization PMOrg (known as Crowley solutions), as well as subsidiaries Titan Salvage, Jensen Maritime Consultants, and Intrepid Ship Management.

25 Apr 2012

Donjon Names Noble as UK MD

John Noble, Managing Director - Donjon UK

Donjon Marine, Co., Inc., a provider of multi-faceted marine services including marine salvage, heavy lift, dredging, emergency response services and most recently shipbuilding and repair, has named John Noble as Managing Director - Donjon UK. Mr. Noble has worked in commercial shipping since 1962 when he joined HMS Conway, the preeminent pre-sea training school in the United Kingdom. He served as a deck officer in the British Merchant Marine sailing with shipping lines including Blue Funnel and Palm Line. After obtaining his Master Mariners certificate, Mr.

30 Mar 2012

Ship Casualty Management Guidelines Book Published

The Nautical Institute and the International Salvage Union (ISU) have launched 'Casualty Management Guidelines', a book aimed at providing practical guidelines to help seafarers during a casualty, when demands can be confusing, contradictory, unclear or a combination of all three. In the book masters and crew members are told what to expect from people or organisations that might be involved as the casualty unfolds. Chapters are presented, describing how masters should expect to deal with different people, from owners to government officials, insurance representatives and salvage experts. It will give all involved an idea of the job each may be undertaking, together with priorities and responsibilities.

13 Feb 2012

ISU Names Hoddinott General Manager

TITAN Salvage's Mark Hoddinott, general manager, International Salvage Union (ISU).

TITAN Salvage’s Mark Hoddinott Accepts Position as General Manager at ISU. TITAN Salvage's Mark Hoddinott has accepted the position of general manager for the International Salvage Union (ISU). The position will combine the role of secretary general with that of general manager. In this new role, Hoddinott will be responsible to the president of the ISU and its executive committee for the day-to-day running of the ISU and its work on relevant issues. He will start with ISU in April 2012 and will work closely with Secretary General Mike Lacey…

21 Jun 2011

TITAN Organizational Changes: Hoddinott, Neil

TITAN Salvage appointed Mark Hoddinott to global director, marketing and strategy, responsible for developing, delivering and managing the company's strategic marketing and business development plans. He will operate out of Titan's United Kingdom (UK) facility at Newhaven, East Sussex, and will report to Rich Habib, TITAN's vice president. Hoddinott, who will continue his role on the senior management team, will work closely with TITAN's commercial division. Additionally, TITAN's Neil Ives has been appointed operations manager, Europe. Ives' responsibilities include managing the sales and marketing efforts for the region, pursuing new business, drafting proposals and contracts, supporting the salvage warehouse and operations and overseeing the administrative requirements in the UK office.