ISU appoints new president

The appointment came at the end of the ISU’s AGM in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and sees Witte taking the position that he had held previously being a past president. At the same time Captain Leendert Muller, managing director of Terneuzen-based Multraship Towage & Salvage, was confirmed as vice president of the ISU. He is also a former president.

ISU is the umbrella organisation that represents the global marine salvage industry, its membership comprising some 55 marine salvage companies from more than 30 countries. Its members must have a track record as main contractor in salvage operations, demonstrate a high level of expertise and conduct their activities ethically and in line with the ISU Code of Conduct.

The organisation has a powerful voice representing its members globally, including matters beyond the world of hard hats, life jackets and overalls and extending to working with insurers and other high-profile interests covering issues including legal considerations, for instance the work to promote Lloyd’s Open Form.

If its members expect people at the top of the organisation to know what they are talking about, the ISU individuals mentioned above easily fill that requirement, being something of a who’s-who of the industry with both corporate and family-based involvement.

Witte is president/CEO at New Jersey, USA-based Donjon Marine, a company he has worked for since 1982 starting with its marine salvage activities. He has day-to-day operational and corporate oversight of all of Donjon’s various businesses and operations, including one of its most recent activities, Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair. He is also past president of the American Salvage Association.

Captain Muller is joint managing director of Multraship Towage & Salvage and started his career at sea, becoming a tug captain and later principle salvage master, then Multraship’s operations director before becoming managing director of the family-based company in 2002. His career has seen him involved in many well-known salvage and emergency responses such that when he considers matters concerning the industry as a whole he is able to say “Been there, done that…”

ISU members will also have benefited from Captain Sloane’s past experiences. Hailing from South Africa, he is general manager EMEA for Resolve Marine and well known within the industry since starting his career at sea in 1980. He became master of the South African super-tugs John Ross and Wolraad Woltemade before becoming a salvage master, and his ‘case book’ includes leading the team that raised the cruise ship Costa Concordia from the Italian island of Giglio between 2012 and 2014.

“The ISU’s own statistics show that our members are facing difficult economic times but we are a vibrant industry and we continue to provide vital services,” said Sloane. “The ISU members are critical partners for insurers and owners to help meet their ESG requirements.

“In the past two years we have made good progress on issues such as the SCOPIC rates and the creation of new guidelines for Special Casualty Representatives, and on the BIMCO 2023 WreckStage contract. We have maintained good relations with the clubs, owners and property insurers.

“I am delighted to be handing over to John Witte, who comes from a family with a long and proud tradition in salvage. John has much experience of the industry, both as a salvage master and operational manager.”

“I would like to thank Nick for all that he has done for the ISU over the past two years: he has shown great dedication to the role,” said Witte. “It is a great honour to be the president of the ISU and I look forward to leading the association as it continues to address the current challenges, in particular, enhancing the reputation of the industry and strengthening our relationships with ship owners and insurers.”