Monday, June 1, 2015

New Salvage Operation Expands into Africa

Joint Venture Builds on Previous Cooperation
Shipping News Feature

AFRICA – Ardent, the salvage company formed by the merger of Titan Salvage and Svitzer Salvage, subsidiaries of the Crowley Maritime Corporation and Svitzer group respectively which we reported in April, has launched a joint venture with one of Southern Africa’s leading diving and marine services companies, Subtech. Ardent says Subtech brings an unparalleled Sub-Saharan African presence through an extensive infrastructure network with facilities and activities that cover both East and West Africa in additional to its home territory of South Africa.

Backed by the James Fisher Group which operates over twenty subsidiaries engaged in the maritime sector, Subtech employs experienced marine and subsea personnel and has equipment resources which Ardent says will evolve and grow the partnership. The joint venture will build on an already successful track record of collaboration between Ardent and Subtech through projects such as the wreck removal of the MV Smart in Richard’s Bay and the emergency response salvage of the Vestas Wind off the coast of Mauritius. Neil Scott Williams, Director of Salvage at Subtech and the General Manager of the joint venture commented:

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to be partnering with Ardent, a company with a global reputation for emergency response and wreck removal. Our companies complement each other in a whole host of ways, and I see a wealth of opportunities ahead.”

The joint venture, to be known as Ardent Subtech, will be based out of Subtech’s existing Cape Town facility with supporting offices in Namibia, Mozambique and Mauritius. The key objectives of the joint venture are to increase responsiveness and operational capability throughout Sub-Saharan Africa and to provide clients with support and assurance in areas that are challenging to operate in. Ardent Subtech will also look to maximise the use of its personnel and equipment by supporting additional services throughout the region and elsewhere.

Photo: The Panamanian registered MV Smart, the coal carrier which ran aground off Alkantstrand in August 2013.