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the industry to wither away or shift to fates similar to our neighboring shipbuild- ing and merchant marine industries.

The professional salvage industry's quick response to this real-world disaster then begs the question, "why has the U.S.

Coast Guard still not yet promulgated nor implemented the long awaited pending marine salvage and firefighting regula- tions?" This question and this issue remains the ASA's top priority.

ASA has been urging the United States

Coast Guard to move forward and pro- mulgate critically important regulations for marine salvage and firefighting, which have been suspended three times and stalled for more than 14 years.

The regulations are more important now than ever before as the Nation faces the threat of terrorist incidents in the marine transport sector, be they in ports, terminals or aboard ships. While govern- ment has been working to prevent terror- ist incidents from occurring, an efficient, professional, specialized response capa- bility for marine disasters is required.

Professional marine salvors often serve as first responders at the time of marine inci- dents - be it natural incidents such as Kat- rina and Rita - or in the event of a terror- ist event, working quickly to minimize damage and expedite recovery of our crit- ical maritime infrastructure. By promul- gating the long awaited regulations, the

U.S. Coast Guard would not only improve the Nation's marine environmental protec- tion capability, it would also improve the

Nation's homeland security and terrorist response capabilities.

As a case in point, a 2004 collision involving a supply vessel resulted in the closing of the Mississippi River to heavy ship traffic for five days and demonstrat- ed how ports could be an inviting target to terrorists. Then-Homeland Security Sec- retary Tom Ridge said at the time that it, "had not escaped" security planners that terrorists might try to disrupt traffic by sinking a vessel in an important waterway, thereby seriously impacting commerce and the economy.

Our country needs a National Salvage

Policy now. The salvage community stands ready, willing and able to assist the

United States with matters of maritime protection, casualty response planning, vessel and cargo salvage, marine environ- mental protection, wreck removal and harbor clearance.

The professional salvage community has, once again, distinguished itself in the response efforts expended associated with these devastating hurricanes. Whether the next incident of national significance is the result of a natural or man-made occur- rence, if it affects the waterways or water- borne commerce - private entity response and assistance in infrastructure recovery will be provided by the ASA and its pro- fessional member companies.

As a Nation, we simply cannot wait any longer for these necessary salvage regula- tions. The time has come to act responsi- bly, to act NOW.

George Wittich was elected President of the American Salvage Association in

November 2005, previously serving as

Vice President. He is Senior Vice Presi- dent of Weeks Marine, Cranford, NJ. 42 • MarineNews • June 2006

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