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COLUMN OP/ED to work side-by-side with salvors in to manage the incident. Historically and port stakeholders. In essence, sal- the event of a vessel ? re to achieve the salvor was often the last response vors are training the next generation their mutual goals. organization to get the call during a of Captain of the Ports and respond-

In addition to working with gov- marine casualty event. With a proper ers on how to effectively manage a ernment leaders, the salvage industry Vessel Response Plan activation, com- marine casualty event, promote sal- has myriad relationships with mari- munications between a vessel in dis- vage best practices, and improve safe- time and transportation partners to tress and a salvor now begin within ty. These valuable courses have also enhance the U.S. salvage capability. As an hour and the salvor is then imme- been sought out internationally. For one example, through our agreement diately integrated into the Incident example, the ASA trained the Panama with the Association of Diving Con- Command System structure. Canal Authority in salvage response tractors International, salvage divers Salvage plans are quickly formulat- operations during the canal expansion consistently meet or exceed regulatory ed and submitted for Uni? ed Com- project that led to a formal agreement safety standards. Formal agreements, mand approval within the regulatory with the ASA.

regular meetings and routine interac- planning timeframes. These proac- In the end, salvors are extremely tions throughout each year ensure the tive verbal and written communica- dedicated, hard-working members salvage industry remains aligned with tions during an emergency response of the maritime industry – they will regulatory safety standards and best consistently improve operations and always respond with determination industry practices. the end result. and a vision toward achieving suc-

Today, proactive communications When not engaged in salvage op- cess. As they say in our industry, we during emergency salvage response erations, ASA members also regularly will consistently offer our “best en- operations ensure that the right per- present salvage courses to Federal, deavors” to save a ship and protect sonnel and equipment are deployed State and local regulatory agencies lives and the environment.

Jim Elliott is President of the

American Salvage Association and

Chief Operating Of? cer of the

Teichman Group of Companies, including T&T Salvage and T&T

Subsea. With three decades of leadership experience in maritime operations, Mr. Elliott has served as a senior Coast Guard of? cer, incident commander, salvage master, commercial diver and project manager on salvage operations from the Equator to the Arctic. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Environment

Management, a Master of

Environmental Policy, Master of Arts in National Security and

Strategic Studies from the U.S.

Naval War College and a Master of Business Administration from

Middlesex University London.

June 2018

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