November saw the passing of Dennis Pearce a well-known figure in the salvage industry and Senior Salvage Master with Adsteam and its predecessors from 1977 to1997. Dennis was a colourful character who was well known and well liked in the towage and salvage field having run his own salvage company, Folkestone Salvage, in the 1960s and 1970s, and joining United Towing in 1973.

He was involved in many famous salvage cases; eg The tanker Christos Betas and the capsised ferry Duchess of Holland in 1978, the grounded ferry Hengist following the 1987 hurricane and the tanker Freja Svea aground off Redcar in 1993. He leaves wife Veronica and their two children.

Dutch tug-owners Viegers & Son of Andijk has ordered a new Shoalbuster 2709 from Damen Shipyards of Hardinxveld. The contract was signed at Europort Maritime in Rotterdam during November and delivery is scheduled for March 2007. To be named Bever the new vessel will be one metre longer than Viegers earlier tug Camperduin to accommodate more powerful Caterpillar 3512 B TA/A main engines of 3000bhp, intended to give the shallow draft vessel a bollard pull of 35 tonnes.

Dutch salvage and towage company Multraship has strengthened its management by appointing Peter van de Bilt RA as an executive director.

Previously a partner with Deloitte he has substantial experience in finance and business management in the transport, logistics and construction fields, and has been Multraship's external accountant for a number of years. Leendert Muller, managing director of Multraship said; "Peter is the first person from outside our family to have been invited to join our management at this top level. It is a significant step for us, but as we grow our salvage and towage businesses very fast, we need the solid business, financial and strategic overview he can provide".