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Titan Salvage News

13 Jul 2020

Malen-Habib Named President of the American Salvage Association

Lindsay Malen-Habib (Photo: ASA)

Resolve’s Lindsay Malen-Habib takes the helm to become the American Salvage Association's first woman presidentLindsay Malen–Habib has been named president of the American Salvage Association (ASA) effective immediately, the trade group's executive committee announced Monday. She becomes the first woman to assume the role.Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Malen-Habib is currently Resolve Marine Group’s manager of client services, and she has been an active ASA member for more than 10 years…

14 Oct 2019

INSIGHTS: Michael G. Johnson

Michael G. johnson, Sea Machines CEO & President

Sea Machines Robotics CEO & President.Michael Gordon Johnson is a marine engineer, an accomplished entrepreneur and sector leader with a primary goal of building progressive and sustainable innovation for modern society. He is the founder of Sea Machines, a Boston-based tech company that is a leading provider of autonomous control and intelligent perception systems for marine vessels. Johnson earned a marine engineering degree from Texas A&M University before starting a career focused on complex projects in offshore oil and gas, marine transportation and salvage.

19 Sep 2019

Aurelius Backs Ardent Buyout

Š currahee_shutter / Adobe Stock

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…

23 May 2018

Tim Bush Promoted to Crowley VP, Deputy General Counsel

Crowley Maritime Corp. has announced that Tim Bush has been promoted to vice president and deputy general counsel. In his new position, Bush will help support the company’s growth as a provider of solutions for the U.S. government and various public-sector agencies. He will be based in Houston and report to Michael Roberts, senior vice president and general counsel. “Tim is an outstanding lawyer, and adds a great deal of value to the Crowley team,” Roberts said. Bush will continue to serve as Crowley’s lead attorney on several large projects for the U.S government, including the Defense Freight Transportation Services (DFTS) contract for the U.S.

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.

02 May 2017

Ardent Celebrates Second Year

BAY OF CAMPECHE, Mexico (Nov. 15, 2016)- Ardent concluded the industry’s largest wreck removal project in the Gulf of Mexico in 2016. (Photo: Ardent)

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.

13 Jul 2016

Ardent and Ardentia Join Forces

In August 2015, Ardent and Ardentia performed a deep sea oil removal by means of deploying subsea recovery domes and oil receiving tanks operated by remote operated vehicles (ROV) from a diving support vessel. (Photo: Ardent)

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.

11 Jul 2016

Ardent in for Major Expansion in India

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.

03 Jun 2016

Ardent Turns One

Peter Pietka (Photo: 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.

23 May 2016

Ardent Earns ISO 9001:2015 Certification

Ardent CEO, Peter Pietka displays the ISO 9001:2015 certificate from Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance. (Photo: Ardent)

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.

26 Oct 2015

Marine Firefighting at Sea: Training to Survive

Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), Emergency Services Training Institute

Fire onboard a boat or ship is generally considered the most dangerous situation on the water. While advances in technology have helped to mitigate risk, consistently investing to upgrade a crew’s firefighting training, skills and equipment is the best means to keep crew, ship and cargo safe if disaster strikes. While innovative new fire-resistant materials and advanced fire suppression equipment onboard ships and boats has helped to improve fire security, technology alone is not a one-stop security blanket in the quest to keep crew and ship free from harm in the case of a fire.

13 Oct 2015

Salvage & Wreck Removal: Market Trends and the US Perspective

Schauer

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.

15 Sep 2015

Collaboration Key in MV Smart Wreck Removal

(Photo: North P&I Club)

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.

26 May 2015

ARDENT: The New Name (& Familiar Face) in Maritime Salvage

Peter Pietka

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…

21 Apr 2015

Titan, Svitzer Merger Creates Global Salvage Giant

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.

16 Apr 2015

Mission ‘Row Around Singapore Island’ 2015

With only 7 days to go to the big Singapore charity row, Row Around Singapore Island (RASI) the intrepid volunteer rowers from the maritime community of Singapore have been undertaking their final practice weekend at the Republic of Singapore Yacht Club. The original concept for this ground-breaking non-stop endurance challenge was conceived and organised by three friends Iain Anderson of RPC, Lewis Hart of Willis and Ian Teare of Norton Rose Fulbright. It will take around 24 hours and the rowing teams will face busy seaways, strong currents and choppy offshore waters as they tackle the 140 km distance around Singapore. They will be…

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.

16 Jan 2015

TITAN to Host American Salvage Association Fundraiser

Image: ASA

The American Salvage Association’s (ASA) Education Committee Fundraiser will be hosted by TITAN Salvage on Thursday, January 22, at the Houston Maritime Museum. All proceeds from the event will support ASA Education Committee scholarships and science fair prizes. “This is a wonderful opportunity for the greater maritime community to come together for a good cause,” said Lindsay Malen, TITAN’s director of business development and ASA Educational Committee member. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the Maritime Museum and network amongst friends and colleagues…

09 Jan 2015

ROV Key to Safety in Concordia Salvage

The largest marine salvage operation in history. (Photo: Saab Seaeye)

With Concordia finally in dock, Italian marine contractor Micoperi reports that the Saab Seaeye Falcon ROV played a vital role in diver safety during the largest maritime salvage operation in history. Fabio Bartolotti of Micoperi, the contractor responsible for the project, said that the Falcon worked every day of the salvage operation, spending more than 1,000 hours in the water. He noted that every single time a diver entered the water the Falcon was deployed in their support and for their safety.

18 Dec 2014

Wrecked Bulker’s Bow Refloated, Scuttled off S.Africa

Photo: TITAN Salvage

TITAN Salvage, Crowley Maritime Corp.'s Houston-based marine salvage, emergency response and wreck removal company, has refloated and scuttled the largest section of the wrecked bulk carrier, Smart. The vessel was carrying a load of coal when it went aground in August 2013 in heavy seas in Richards Bay, South Africa. Complications ensued when the carrier broke apart after only two days. At the end of 2013, TITAN’s experts were called to the scene, including Salvage Master Guy Wood…

16 Dec 2014

Lifting Costa Concordia

The successful Costa Concordia Parbuckling project

The largest and most complex maritime salvage operation ever carried out was concluded this summer. The Costa Concordia parbuckling operation on the rocks of the Italian island of Giglio has been a success in many ways—not least for the objective to retrieve in one piece, such a massive vessel (117,000 tons) with minimal damage to the delicate marine environment on which it foundered. High performance ropes with Dyneema played a key role in the operation. DSM Dyneema has been supplying UHMWPE fiber, branded as Dyneema  for ropes used in tug and salvage operations for almost 15 years.

07 Nov 2014

Keenan Named VP at Gibbs & Cox

Gibbs & Cox, Inc., an independent naval architecture and marine engineering firm, announced the appointment of Patrick J. Keenan as Vice President, Platform Solutions Group. In this role, Keenan will have responsibility for leadership and management of the company's government and commercial ship design solutions across the Gibbs & Cox global portfolio. "Who do you want on your team to salvage the Costa Concordia? You want the guy who led salvage and recovery of USS Cole. That's Pat Keenan," said Rick Biben, CEO. Prior to joining Gibbs & Cox, Inc., Pat served as Global Operations Director for Crowley/Titan Salvage, where he led operations in the recent raising of the Costa Concordia, the largest salvage job in maritime history.

18 Sep 2014

TITAN Salvage Receives NAMEPA Award

The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) announced earlier this month that Houston-based TITAN Salvage, a subsidiary of Crowley Maritime Corp., is the recipient of its 2014 Corporate Marine Environment Protection Award. The award recognizes TITAN’s proactive approach towards protecting and preserving the oceans. “TITAN is committed to ensuring the safety of our people, the public and the environment,” said TITAN’s Chris Peterson, vice president. “This accolade is a testament to our mission. Peterson will accept the award on behalf of the TITAN team at NAMEPA’s New York City conference on October 29. Lindsay Malen…