Titan, Svitzer to merge salvage operations

Maersk Group and Crowley Maritime say the new company, called Ardent, will be headquartered in Houston.    The salvage arms of Crowley Maritime Corp. and the Maersk Group are joining together in a joint venture.
   Crowley’s Titan Group, which gained a great deal of visibility last year when it removed of the wreck of the Costa Concordia from the coast of Italy, and Svitzer Salvage, a leader in emergency response, have reached an agreement to merge their salvage divisions to create a new company named “Ardent.”
    Ardent will be equally owned by Crowley and Svitzer, and will commence operations on 1 May 2015. It will not involve the towing or other operations of either company.
   “The company will become an industry leader in wreck removal and emergency response,” said Peter Pietka, chief executive officer Svitzer Salvage, and now CEO of Ardent. “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.”
   Chris Peterson, vice president of Titan Salvage 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.”
   Headquartered in Houston, Ardent will also have operational offices in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Singapore. The company will also have supporting offices in Australia, Brazil, South Korea, Greece, and South Africa, among other regions.
   “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.”
   In recent years, Svitzer has focused on being the loss mitigation partner for the marine industry through their preparedness department and emergency response services. “The creation of the new company with Titan is the next step to becoming the safe choice for the industry,” said Pietka. “Not only can clients trust that operations will be carried out safely, but they can also rest assured that their interests will be cared for to the highest standards.”
   The new executive management team will be led by Peter Pietka; along with Jeff Andreini, chief financial officer; Renier van den Bichelaer, chief commercial officer; and Paul van’t Hof, chief operations officer; and Chris Peterson, merger manager.