Salvage firms Svitzer and Titan Salvage are merging to form a new company, Ardent, operating out of Houston.
The company will be held 50/50 by A.P. Moller Maersk-owned Svitzer Group and Titan parent company Crowley Maritime, with Svitzer Salvage boss Peter Pietka taking over as ceo of Ardent.
“The company will become an industry leader in wreck removal and emergency response,” said Pietka. “Further, while remaining integral to our new company, emergency response and wreck removal will be part of a wider ecosystem of services. We have come together to build a more modern and effective offering for the maritime sector.”
As well as its Texas headquarters, Ardent will have a network of offices in the Netherlands, the UK, and Singapore, as well as supporting offices in Australia, Brazil, South Korea, Greece and South Africa.
“The real power and benefit for the industry of our merged business will be its capacity and ability to adapt to the changing needs of our customers,” said Pietka. “Ardent will serve as a strong platform for organic growth and new expansion opportunities in complementary businesses such as underwater services and offshore decommissioning. Structured for growth and diversification, we will create new opportunities for the company and its employees.”
Vp of Titan Salvage Chris Peterson added, “This merger brings together some of the most experienced, highly regarded salvage experts in the world. Our combined strength means we can provide a stronger network in key global locations, it means best practices shared globally and it means a broad range of proven marine capabilities that will best serve the maritime industry for a long time to come.”
Earlier this month, Titan and Italian partner Micoperi were granted the International Salvage Union Meritorious Service Award for its work on the parbuckling of the Costa Concordia wreck.
Svitzer, meanwhile, was recently involved in the recovery operation for the Hoegh Osaka after the vessel was deliberately grounded on Bramble Bank, in the Solent, to prevent it from sinking.
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