A Greek salvage specialist is calling for improved protection of the marine ecosystem in the Arabian Gulf through the creation of the UAE Marine Environment Protection Agency (UAEMEPA).

The salvage industry’s problematic reputation is “damaging the industry as a whole” and must be addressed, according to John Witte, the new president of the International Salvage Union (ISU).

Royal Boskalis Westminster (Boskalis) realised a good third quarter, but its orderbook declined on completion of the Suez Canal expansion project.

Svitzer has contracted Turkey’s  Sanmar Shipyard for the construction of six tugs for delivery from Q4 2016.

A Chinese-led consortium has emerged as the preferred bidder to undertake the difficult task of hoisting the South Korean passenger ferry Sewol, which sank last year April with the loss of more than 300 lives, most of them school children.

As many as 27 salvage firms are in a bidding war for the $185m project to recover sunken South Korean ferry Sewol.

Ardent and Subtech will partner in a joint venture based in Cape Town to improve capabilities and responsivenes for their marine activities in Sub-Saharan Africa, named Ardent Subtech.

Svitzer has entered the Brazilian towage market by taking a controlling stake in harbour towage operator Transmar Serviços Maritimos.

South Korean authorities will attempt to raise the Sewol ferry, which claimed more than 300 lives, many of them children, when it capsized and sank just over a year ago.

Salvage firms Svitzer and Titan Salvage are merging to form a new company, Ardent, operating out of Houston.