ISU: Access to heavy equipment can be a vital element in wreck removal

Despite the pressing challenge of ensuring the industry’s financial sustainability, James urges shipowners and their insurers to focus on the value salvors bring in preserving and saving assets, rather than solely considering operational costs. He further stresses that trust, transparency, and cooperation are key pillars of a successful salvage operation, while access to heavy equipment often proves to be a critical factor in effective wreck removal.

SAFETY4SEA: What are the most pressing challenges facing the marine salvage industry today, and how is the increase in vessel sizes impacting operations?

James Herbert: The most pressing challenge for the salvage industry is to ensure that it is financially sustainable. We know that our key stakeholders agree with us on this point and it is essential that the ability to provide salvage services around the world is maintained. And that requires adequate funding so that professional salvors – the embers of the ISU – can invest in equipment training and people to maintain their readiness to provide much needed services. Operational challenges include responding to lithium-ion battery fires, particularly on car carriers and RoRos of which there have been numerous examples in the last year. These fires can be devastating and produce highly toxic fumes, something the industry is only just beginning to grapple with. Elsewhere, container ship fires are also a major concern for both salvors and insurers and work is underway at IMO to try to make progress on ship design and operations so that fires can be contained and dealt with more easily. The increasing size of vessels in many classes is also a concern. Salvors will always do their best to provide services but handling enormous vessels is not without its own challenge with the requirement for a large array of tugs and other heavy equipment, particularly in container ship cases, and especially if containers need to be removed to lighten the vessel to enable refloating.

S4S: What is the ISU’s philosophy for marine salvage, and what are the organization’s top priorities for the next five years?

J.H.: ISU’s philosophy for marine salvage is simply to ensure that professional salvors are valued and supported so that they can do their vital work in the service of ship owners and insurers. In the next five years, our priorities will be to promote the value of the industry, ensure that it is financially stable and that stakeholders recognise and value the environmental contribution made by commercial salvors.

S4S: With increasing operational complexity—such as incidents like the Baltimore bridge case—how does the ISU support its members in preparing for and managing high-stakes situations?

J.H.: ISU supports its members by, for example, sharing best practice, producing newsletters and facilitating networking and discussions between members at conferences and seminars and at its annual general meeting. As a small trade association, ISU itself does not produce technical developments or innovations but aims to make its members aware of important developments. We also ensure that our associate members – which include marine consultancies and equipment manufacturers – have the opportunity to engage with ISU full members who act as contractors in salvage operations. We also try to create a supportive environment with insurers – both property and P&I – with mutual understanding and respect.

S4S: How do ISU members approach complex wreck removal projects, and what role does innovation play in these challenging operations?

J.H.: Wreck removals are always substantial operations and require much engineering knowledge and preparation even before the work begins on site. Access to heavy equipment, which sometimes has to be specially manufactured, can be a vital element of a wreck removal operation. Each job is unique and, as we have seen with high profile cases like the sinking of the Costa Concordia and the Rena container ship case, solutions and approaches must vary according to the conditions and requirements of the authorities. Innovation and boldness are often critical requirements, but it is also vital that the softer activities like stakeholder engagement and involvement of local communities is properly managed to ensure the success of the operation

S4S: What would be on your “wish list” for maritime stakeholders to enhance preparedness for emergency response situations?

J.H.: In emergency response situations, co-operation is the key to success. There are often many parties and stakeholders involved and trying to maintain control and ensure sensible decision making and good outcomes is not always easy. The authorities can be very demanding in their requirements, but the ISU works at senior levels with key coastal state authorities to ensure understanding of the role of the salvor and hopefully that can improve the operating environment and promote the trust and transparency that is required. We also look to property insurers to be supportive and to agree an appropriate contract so that contractors can quickly provide the necessary services.

S4S: Looking ahead, what emerging risks or opportunities does the ISU anticipate that will shape the salvage industry in the coming years?

J.H.: As long as there is maritime trade there will be a need for salvage services. Shipping has become much safer and the number of incidents has declined but at the same time the scope for larger more complicated incidents has increased. The need for professional salvors around the world will not cease and they must be supported so that they can invest, prepare and have access to experienced and talented people to deliver what are often dangerous services. On the operational side, as already mentioned, fires, particularly container ship fires and battery fires, will be an increasing threat and the industry and in its widest sense must also come to grips with the introduction of new fuels such as LNG hydrogen and methanol as well as ammonia. These fuels each have their pros and cons but in the rush to address carbon reduction issues, dealing with situations affected by these products has perhaps been neglected and that is both a risk for the shipping industry and an opportunity for salvors. The threat posed to the environment when things go wrong, and the role of salvors, often the only agency able to respond in protecting the environment, offers an important opportunity to demonstrate the value of the industry.

S4S: How can industry stakeholders best collaborate to support the needs of the salvage industry? Could you share insights on future needs and requirements?

J.H.: Trust, transparency and co-operation are at the heart of a successful salvage operation. Respecting each other’s positions and working for the common good particularly salvors and insurers working together in the service of their mutual client which is the shipowner.

S4S: What is your key message to industry stakeholders for building a more sustainable future in marine salvage?

J.H.: The one key message that I would deliver is to encourage ship owners and their insurers to recognise the value of what salvers preserve and save rather than focusing on the cost of operations.

The views presented are only those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.