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Underwater Vehicle Annual: ROV, AUV, and UUVs

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Locators, towed Side Scan Sonars, and Remotely Operated ing dif? cult decisions to keep the war? ghter prepared and safe

Vehicles. Additionally, we maintain three worldwide com- while still operating in a dif? cult ? scal environment. Helping mercial salvage services contracts for which we can immedi- our forces accomplish their missions safely and effectively is ately surge in personnel and equipment. Our annual average the reward for our team’s hard work and diligent efforts.

operating budget is approximately $110-120M, but increases signi? cantly when we conduct large reimbursable salvage and For the context of this interview, we are most oil spill operations. The value of our non-facility related in- interested to focus on salvage and diving safe- ventory is in excess of $110M. ty. Given that scope, could you share with our readers a ‘case study’ or two which you feel

We understand that you assumed this post in best exempli? es the capability of your of? ce?

October 2014. To date, what do you ? nd most First, I’d site two recent marine incidents. The ? rst is rewarding? What do you ? nd most challenging? the M/V El Faro which went missing on or about Oct. 1 in the What is most rewarding and most challenging is one Bahamas. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the same. Speci? cally, SUPSALV is the backbone for pro- in the conduct of their safety investigation deemed they need- viding the U.S. Navy ? eet with diving support and salvage ed SUPALV’s experience and resources. With our long stand- capabilities as a national level ? rst responder. Providing all ing working relationship, we quickly partnered and developed of these services on a daily basis so that the Navy ? eet can plans to search for, locate, conduct a Side Scan Sonar survey maintain its strong military presence at sea and keeping our of the accident area, video document the ship, and retrieve the sailors, airmen, soldiers, marines, and guardsmen safe is what ship’s Voyage Data Recorder (VDR). Utilizing our 20,000 ft. drives me each and every day. However, meeting all of these Side Scan Sonar “ORION”, our 20,000 ft. Remotely Operated challenges with limited budgets and resources, requires mak- Vehicle “CURV”, and the Military Sealift Command’s ocean www.marinetechnologynews.com

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