Svitzer Salvage News

Alternative direct lender AURELIUS Finance Company has provided financing to support the buy-out of emergency management and offshore decommissioning company Ardent from co-owners Svitzer, a global towage operator, and Crowley Holdings, a holding company of international marine and logistics services provider Crowley Maritime Corporation.The deal will see Ardent’s senior management team acquire a shareholding in the company. The financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed…

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.

Salvage and wreck removal company Ardent celebrates its second birthday with the passing of May 1, 2017. Ardent maintains a zero lost time incident record since its inception. “Despite the initial focus on implementing the merger and challenging market conditions Ardent has successfully won and executed 125 contracts over the last 2 years” said Ardent CEO Peter Pietka. “Salvage operations are inherently risk filled and completing 125 contracts without a single lost time incident is a testament to the professionalism of our teams,” said Pietka.

T&T Salvage, LLC has appointed Rebecca Garcia as Assistant Director of Vessel Services, primarily responsible for assisting the compliance team in finding customer-centric solutions to the latest regulatory requirements set forth by the OPA-90 regulations, while also identifying and introducing custom emergency management solutions to T&T’s global customer base. Garcia comes from a career at Svitzer Salvage and Ardent Global where she helped establish and develop the organization’s OPA-90 compliance program.

Global maritime services firm, Ardent, and Ardentia Marine Group, a Spanish salvage, engineering and commercial diving company, have formally partnered for future operations following the signing of a cooperation agreement in June 2016. Ardentia has been the emergency response and underwater services provider for the Spanish Coast Guard since 2009, and has intervened in nearly 100 operations with marine casualty control, fuel and bunker removal, refloating and wreck removal. The company maintains a strong presence in Spain and Portugal.

Before the furious monsoon and tropical cyclones hit South East Asia, Ardent, the amalgamation of two salvage giants, has already positioned itself to tackle the growing number of accidents and casualties that become a regular feature this time of the year. Ardent is also responding to the recent initiatives of the Indian Shipping Minister Mr. Nitin Gadkari, who is focused strongly on setting up new ports, augment capacity of existing ports, develop coastal shipping, passenger ferry services, lighthouse and cruise tourism, island development and other services related to Indian Maritime Sector. The company sees this as an important driver for Ardent.

In May, 2015, Svitzer Salvage, a part of the Maersk Group, and Titan Salvage, under the Crowley Group, merged to form Ardent. Now the salvage industry’s “new kid on the block” celebrates its first birthday. The merger, which fused Svitzer Salvage’s strengths in emergency preparedness and response with Titan’s large project specialization, has developed a more robust service offering for the worldwide salvage industry. Ardent has become a leading services company with an extensive network, offering innovative solutions to the shipping and offshore industries.

Ardent, formed just over a year ago as a merger of A.P. Moller-Maersk’s Svitzer Salvage and Crowley’s Titan Salvage, has been issued the ISO 9001:2015 Certification for its Quality Management System for Preparedness, Emergency Response, Wreck Removal, Decommissioning, and Diving Services by Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance. The ISO 9001: 2015 sets criteria for a quality management system, and evaluates organizations with their management approaches and customer focus. “I am very satisfied, and proud that we accomplished this in such a short time.

The global salvage business continues to be very dynamic with emerging trends and significant moves made by major salvors. While not as heavily affected by primary economic factors such as the offshore market’s connectivity to oil prices, the global market for salvage and wreck removal continues to evolve rapidly and the U.S. influence on the market plays an important role. There are many market pressures on salvage companies beyond a business model that are inherently risky; these market forces will continue to shape the industry with interesting results.

Titan Salvage, now a part of Ardent following completion of the merger of Titan and Svitzer Salvage, has completed the removal of the wreck of the cape-size MV Smart coal carrier in South Africa, an especially challenging project due to weather conditions that prevail on the South African coast, particularly during the winter period. The removal of the vessel, which was entered in North P&I Club by owner Alpha Marine, has been accomplished on time and on budget due collaboration with the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), Titan and North.

Ardent, the recent merger of Titan and Svitzer Salvage and Ardentia Marine, a salvage and diving company based in Spain have, been awarded the contract to remove oil from the sunken fishing trawler Oleg Naydenov off the coast of Gran Canarias, Spain. On April 11, the vessel sustained a fire that quickly got out of control. All crew were able to abandon the vessel safely but due to the intensity of the fire, firefighting experts were unable to gain access to board the vessel and she sank approximately 15 nautical miles southwest of Gran Canarias. The vessel now sits upright on the seabed at a depth of 2,700 meters. The Ardent-Ardentia joint venture has already begun putting the necessary resources in place to execute the operational plan in a safe and efficient manner.

A major recovery operation has been launched to recover a leaking cargo ship which ran aground on Scotland's west coast. Salvage vessels were called to Kilchoan near Ardnamurchan Point after the Lysblink Seaways became stranded at around 2am on Wednesday. No one was injured in the stranding, but oil had begun to leak from the Seaways. The DFDS general cargo ship that ran aground off Scotland has self-refloated, the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said. “Shortly before 9pm on Thursday the grounded vessel Lysblink Seaways self-floated from the foreshore at Kilchoan,” it confirmed. A team from Svitzer Salvage is currently on board the vessel conducting a detailed damage assessment and two tugs are at the scene to support the salvage operation, MCA said.

Industrial Emergency Services, LLC Forms an alliance with SVITZER Salvage to provide marine firefighting services in the Americas. Industrial Emergency Services, and SVITZER Salvage Americas announce that they have entered into an alliance to provide marine firefighting services as part of the continued SVITZER Salvage effort to expand its capabilities throughout North and South America. The contract includes efforts by both companies to implement a dedicated plan for the US / OPA 90 Salvage and Marine Fire Fighting requirements…

Cargo ship Lysblink Seaways will be towed to Inchgreen, Greenock for repair work after grounding last month on Scotland’s west coast. The vessel, which ran aground February 18, was refloated and taken to Scallastle Bay in the Sound of Mull where Svitzer Salvage has a team on board to prepare Lysblink Seaways for her tow to the repair facility. According to the U.K Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), a voyage passage plan is being finalized and, the tow may commence tomorrow, weather permitting.

The towing of the DFDS cargo vessel Lysblink Seaways began today at 1:00pm local time, the UK's Maritime Coast Guard Agency announced. The vessel ran aground at Ardnamurchan Point in northwest Scotland almost two weeks ago, and was moved to Scallastle Bay in the sound of Mull last Wednesday, the Aberdeen Press and Journal reported. A passage plan has been agreed to by Hugh Shaw, the Secretary of State’s representative, and covers the 150 nautical mile tow to Inchgreen, Greenock on the Firth of Clyde. “The tow will, where possible, take advantage of sheltered waters and will move through the Sound of Mull, Firth of Lorn, Sound of Jura and the North Channel before entering the Firth of Clyde," Shaw said.

The 3rd Annual Conference on Salvage and Wreck Removal in India is to be held on Thursday, July 10, 2014 for the first time in Chennai at the Hotel Vivanta by Taj - Connemara, Binny Road, Chennai 600002. The Conference this year is presented by the Institute of Chartered Ship brokers (East India Branch). 2. examine recent accidents…collisions, groundings, oil spills and other casualties 3.

Svitzer, salvage division of AP Moller-Maersk and Titan Salvage, a division of Crowley Maritime Corp are merging their salvage operations to create a new market leader. In this US in shipping’s latest consolidation move, Svitzer is joining forces with Titan Salvage under a new brand called Ardent. Ardent will collaborate Svitzer Salvage’s worldwide network of tugs and emergency response experts combining with Titan’s experience in the wreck-removal business. Peter Pietka, the chief executive of Svitzer, who remain in the post at Ardent, commented: “The company will become an industry leader in wreck removal and emergency response. The joint venture formed with effect from 1 May and will be headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Svitzer claims to be better placed than most salvors operating in the country? “There are not many Indian salvors to take care of the prospects that exist here, so I feel all global salvors need to come into India.” said Bas Wiebe, Regional Manager of Svitzer Salvage Asia Pte Ltd., who have plans to increase their footprint in India. “Expertise is one factor that gives us the edge over competition. Speaking on the sidelines of the conference on “Salvage and Wreck Removal” organized by Hinode Events and Services Pvt Ltd., Bas Wiebe informed that while Svitzer had experts mobilizing their back office and making the assessment, they have their own vessels and equipment in India which they use.

In 2008 the USCG issued the tanker final rule for salvage and marine firefighting (SMFF) under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. This rule primarily required tank ships and barges carrying oils as defined in the 33 CFR 155 as cargo to pre-contract qualified salvors to promptly respond to a marine casualty in U.S. waters. While tankers were the primary focus of the new rules, Non-Tankers – defined by the USCG as any vessel over 400 gross tons – waited quietly for a likely turn with SMFF requirements.

Last month Svitzer and Titan Salvage announced plans to merge their salvage operations. Peter Pietka, former chief executive of Svitzer Salvage, takes the helm of the new combined company – to be dubbed Ardent and headquartered in Houston – on May 1. Maritime Reporter & Engineering News spoke with Pietka for insights on the path ahead. Svitzer, the salvage division of AP Moller-Maersk and Titan Salvage, a division of Crowley Maritime Corp., will effectively meld two of the enviable corporate cultures in the maritime world…

Costa Crociere has set up a technical committee, with representatives from Costa Cruises, Carnival Corporation & plc, Fincantieri, Rina and sector experts, including academics, who will work for the best possible drawing up of the plan, on a joint basis with the competent authorities. As anticipated in a letter sent to Costa Concordia Emergency Commissioner Franco Gabrielli, Costa Cruises has called for tenders 10 companies throughout the world to present a working plan to enterely remove the hull of the Costa Concordia. The invitation has been sent to the world’s leading operators, who have the capabilities to perform the work in the shortest time possible…

Netherlands-based maritime services firm Svitzer Salvage Americas Inc. has signed a 22,961-square-foot storage warehouse lease for a strategic operations center in Dania Beach, FL, announced Morris Southeast Group/CORFAC International Principal Ken Morris, SIOR. Morris represented Svitzer Salvage in the five-year lease for two adjacent bays located at Broward International Commerce Center (BICC), 345-349 N. Bryan Road, Building 500 in Dania Beach, FL. The company intends to use the space as a storage warehouse for its salvage operations and occupancy is projected for September 2012. Dania Beach is south of Ft. Lauderdale, north of Hollywood and about 22 miles from Miami.

Industrial Emergency Services LLC (IES) says that as part of its ongoing nationwide expansion of land-based and maritime emergency response and related safety services, it has added capabilities on the East Coast to supplement its existing Gulf Coast and West Coast infrastructure. Headquartered in Baton Rouge, LA, IES informs that the East Coast locations include Linwood, PA and Fort Lauderdale, FL. The bases add to IES’s capability to respond not only for marine firefighting incidents as part of the alliance with SVITZER Salvage…