Maritime Salvage Companies and Their Vital Services

Maritime salvage companies play a crucial role in the maritime industry. They are responsible for recovering and preserving vessels, cargo, and other equipment from the sea.

These companies have a long history, dating back to the 17th century when they were primarily involved in treasure hunting and shipwreck recovery. Their services are now more diverse and sophisticated.

Maritime salvage operations require specialized equipment and expertise. Salvage teams use remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and other advanced technology to locate and recover wreckage.

Their services are not limited to shipwrecks; they also help to recover lost cargo and equipment from the ocean floor. This can be a complex and challenging process, requiring careful planning and execution.

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Salvage services are a crucial aspect of maritime salvage companies, and it's essential to understand what's involved.

Services not covered under a Sea Tow membership are billed at a rate according to the services provided and corresponding situation. Costs for services may be invoiced in several different ways depending on the situation, including Time and Materials (T&M), Flat Fee, or in cases of Pure Salvage, the salvor may submit for a salvage award.

Salvage awards are based on several factors, including the value of what the salvor has saved. The greater the peril, the higher the cost of service is likely to be. In cases involving high risk, the cost of the service often cannot be determined until the service is performed.

Here are some common types of salvage services:

SMIT Salvage is a company that specializes in marine emergency response coverage, available 24/7. They have four strategic locations around the world, allowing them to respond quickly to incidents.

Their teams are multidisciplinary and experienced, with experts in various fields such as fire-fighting, hazardous chemicals, and diving operations. This expertise is essential for dealing with complex salvage operations.

SMIT's salvage teams have a wide range of equipment and resources at their disposal, including gas and electric pumps, air compressors, and divers' gear. They can also draw on the vast resources of their parent company Boskalis.

To give you an idea of the types of situations they handle, here are some examples of the services they offer:

Their teams have experience in confronting challenging cases, such as chemical tankers with damaged cargo tanks and fires involving hazardous cargoes on board.

Fire boats are specialized vessels designed to fight fires on water. They're equipped with powerful pumps and hoses that can shoot water high into the air to extinguish fires on ships, docks, and other waterfront structures.

These boats are often staffed by trained firefighters who have received specialized training in water rescue and firefighting techniques. In fact, some fire boats are capable of rescuing people from the water in emergency situations.

Fire boats can be powered by diesel engines, gas turbines, or even hybrid systems that combine different power sources. This allows them to operate for extended periods of time without needing to refuel.

Their advanced firefighting equipment includes powerful water cannons, foam systems, and even specialized gear for tackling hazardous materials fires.

Environmental and Regulatory Considerations play a significant role in the maritime salvage industry. Companies like Boskalis Terramare, Boskalis Westminster, and Irish Dredging prioritize environmental care.

Boskalis Terramare, for instance, is part of a group that takes pride in their commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This commitment is reflected in their environmental care practices.

The companies mentioned, including Llanelli Sand, Cofra, Gardline, and Smit Lamnalco, also emphasize environmental care, highlighting the importance of minimizing environmental harm.

Wreck removal is a complex process that requires careful planning and execution. SMIT has extensive experience in this area, having worked on many of the most complex wreck removal projects of the past decades.

Their vast experience combined with the resources of Boskalis means that jobs get done safely and efficiently.

We take pride in our commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which is reflected in our environmental care practices. Our salvage solutions aim to prevent or minimize harm to the environment.

Boskalis Terramare, Boskalis Westminster, Irish Dredging, Llanelli Sand, Cofra, Gardline, and Smit Lamnalco are some of the companies that share our commitment to environmental care.

Preventing environmental harm is a key aspect of our salvage solutions. We strive to reduce the impact of our operations on the environment.

The definition of boat salvage itself emphasizes the importance of reducing environmental damage.

The U.S. Open Salvage Agreement, also known as the MARSALV contract, is a crucial consideration for boat owners attending the U.S. Open.

Sea Tow endorses this agreement, which can help avoid unpleasant surprises later on.

If your vessel is in imminent danger of being damaged or damaging the environment or other boats, you may be legally required to take all steps necessary to protect the vessel immediately.

It's extremely important to have sufficient and proper insurance coverage for your vessel.

As long as your vessel is properly insured, the cost of services provided outside the membership program will most likely be covered by your hull insurance policy.

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Maritime salvage companies play a crucial role in recovering vessels and equipment from the ocean floor. They work closely with authorities to determine the cause of the accident and develop a recovery plan.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) and Police Scotland have worked with Keynor Morlift Ltd. to investigate the sinking of a fishing boat off the Western Isles. Keynor Morlift Ltd. used their experience and a heavy lift barge to recover the vessel.

Leask Marine was contracted to supply a multi-purpose vessel and diving team to support the recovery of the Louisa. Their vessel, the C-Chariot, towed the heavy lift barge from Kirkwall to the site of the sinking.

The Transocean Winner drilling rig was being towed from Norway to Malta when it broke loose from its tow and ran aground off the Western Isles. Leask Marine worked with the salvage recovery team from multiple companies to recover the rig.

Here are some examples of the types of recoveries that Leask Marine has been involved in:

Salvage and vessel recovery are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings in the maritime industry.

In the United States, salvage is typically recognized only on federal navigable waters and certain inland lakes and rivers that border more than one state. This means that on other waters, Sea Tow will perform vessel recovery services instead.

The key difference between salvage and vessel recovery is the level of peril involved. Salvage is defined as saving property in peril at sea and reducing environmental damage, and it requires four specific conditions to be met: peril, voluntary action, success, and a recognized subject of salvage.

The four conditions for salvage are:

In many cases, the on-water services performed by Sea Tow involve vessels in some degree of peril, but these services are often considered salvage. However, if the peril is low, such as a covered ungrounding, jump start, or fuel drop, it may be covered by your Sea Tow membership and provided free of charge.

Vessel recovery services, on the other hand, are typically billed on a time and material (T&M) basis or under a flat fee structure. This means that the cost of recovery will depend on the specific circumstances of the situation.

Services not covered under a Sea Tow membership are billed at a rate according to the services provided and corresponding situation.

The cost of services can be difficult to determine until the Sea Tow Captain is on-scene with a disabled vessel. This is due to the ever-changing nature of the marine environment.

If conditions permit, the Sea Tow Captain will evaluate the situation and inform the owner if the required services are not covered under the membership program before providing service.

Time and Materials (T&M), Flat Fee, and Pure Salvage are some of the ways costs for services may be invoiced, depending on the situation.

Salvage awards are based on several factors, including the value of what the salvor has saved.

The greater the peril, the higher the cost of service is likely to be.

In cases where the vessel or object has no value and is a total loss, the services provided would be considered Wreck Removal.

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