As a leading salvage provider in the world, including the Indian market, what trends do you see emerging?

The markets in India and overseas are both changing rapidly and demonstrating similar trends. Leading the way is the increased focus on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives, which calls on maritime companies to deliver greater transparency, commitments to society and of course the creation of a sustainable environment. Working at Marine Masters, which embodies many of these values – particularly given our focus on working closely with local contractors for salvage projects in order to support the economies of the countries we are active in and share best practice – allows me to see the benefits that this way of working delivers.

Another trend is the increasing diversity of the workforce. A lot has changed over my time in the sector and I am very pleased to see more women in the maritime sector – not just in support roles but also in C-suite roles. We do have a long way to go, and I look forward to expanding the conversations about diversity beyond gender since a truly diverse workforce will really accelerate our ability to deliver complex projects as well as our decarbonisation and digitalisation ambitions. More importantly, this is the only way to sustainably address industry concerns about recruitment and retention.

Shipping and other sectors are really working to deliver IMO’s decarbonisation agenda and we are digitalising faster than ever before. This creates new opportunities – such as decommissioning of older structures – and necessitates greater collaboration to resolve challenges and seize opportunities. I am pleased to see that this is taking place.

You mentioned ESG as a trend, and we know that this is something that Marine Masters has a strong focus on. Can you tell us more?

While of course protecting the environment underpins all the work that salvors do, I think that Marine Masters is also extremely strong on the other two aspects of ESG. On the social front, we are known for collaborating with regional partners and working with local subcontractors and suppliers not just to secure salvage equipment but also to share knowledge and skills. Working this way provides operational agility, responsiveness and reduces transportation costs, but importantly it also supports local communities and economies by offering fair wages and internationally recognised training that benefits workers beyond the term of the salvage contract. ‘Just transition’ is increasingly being discussed throughout the maritime industry and I am proud to be associated with Marine Masters’ approach and hope it will become more prevalent throughout the industry.

We are also extremely transparent with our customers and the stakeholders that we work with, which is essential when coordinating with insurers, governments, port authorities, local contractors and more – meaning that we are constantly refining our corporate governance. In most cases, our contractors come away impressed with our way of working and replicate this with their other customers. In essence, we are organically spreading ESG best practices.

Offshore wind turbines erected in the early 2000s are nearing the end of their envisaged 20-25 life cycle. Is the industry prepared to handle decommissioning, at scale?

Offshore wind farm decommissioning is in its infancy and it is imperative that the maritime industry develops cost- effective, sustainable and efficient strategies before the requirement outmatches our collective capabilities. As I mentioned before, there is a lot of overlap with the engineering skills and equipment needed for oil and gas decommissioning and salvage, meaning that we should be able to meet the challenge. However, I believe that we should remain agile when decommissioning as the situation is quickly evolving.

Currently the favoured method is to cut the monopile several metres below the seabed but not completely remove it, which minimises cost, reduces operational complexity and meets regulatory requirements – but can have long term impact. In the future, complete removal is likely using techniques such as hydraulic extraction. At Marine Masters, we are used to thinking out of the box when it comes to projects as we often use local equipment and unconventional methods to tackle work – meaning that we can bring an open You mentioned ESG as a trend, and we know that this is something that Marine Masters has a strong focus on. Can you tell us more? While of course protecting the environment underpins all the work that salvors do, I think that Marine Masters is also extremely strong on the other two aspects of ESG. On the social front, we are known for collaborating with regional partners and working with local subcontractors and suppliers not just to secure salvage equipment but also to share knowledge and skills. Working this way provides operational agility, responsiveness and reduces transportation costs, but importantly it also supports local communities and economies by offering fair wages and internationally recognised training that benefits workers beyond the term of the salvage contract. ‘Just transition’ is increasingly being discussed throughout the maritime industry and I am proud to be associated with Marine Masters’ approach and hope it will become more prevalent throughout the industry. July - September 2023 Newsletter Issue XLII7 In Conversation mindset to problem solving. This will allow us to deliver the best case scenario under fixed parameters such as cost, local regulations and of course seabed and weather conditions.

Experience has taught us that in addition to applying best practice methodologies and deploying appropriate technologies, it is also imperative to understand the local regulatory environment. Partnering with companies that have such knowledge is therefore a key enabler for the majority of decommissioning and salvage projects and a fundamental component of achieving a successful project outcome. Capable of providing vital non-technical support and facilitation, we regard J M Baxi as one such partner.

As maritime increasingly decarbonises, what issues do you see from a salvage perspective?

Once human life onboard a vessel in distress has been secured, the primary focus of any salvage operation is the safe containment and removal of pollutants to protect the environment and local economy. While salvors are experienced in handling Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) and biofuels, the shift toward decarbonisation introduces new fuels and technologies that come with altered risks. In the case of ammonia, this is soluble and highly toxic to human life and the marine environment, it poses a significant hazard. We also know that thermal runaway is a serious concern with lithium-ion batteries.

Salvors will encounter vessels powered by different fuels and carrying different cargoes of fuel, making casualty recovery far more complex. Salvors will require detailed information about the ship’s design and its cargo in order to plan and execute salvage – particularly if working close to an inhabited coast, within a Marine Protected Area or other sensitive locations. Emissions should always be minimised. We do this by locally sourcing equipment, which is cost effective, will have a lower emission footprint vs being transported across the globe and can be deployed quickly. Using non-traditional equipment requires a detailed understanding of the proposed salvage method to mitigate risk, but we stand proudly by the record of zero incidents and no pollution in over 60 successful emergency responses.

Shipping is changing at a faster pace than ever before, how do you think stakeholders can best prepare for these changes?

During periods of rapid transition, it is possible to achieve more using less if information is shared and stakeholders work collaboratively. Given the scale of the climate emergency, we do not have the luxury of time that is usually required to take forward projects unilaterally – which also costs more.

We work with contractors all over the world and are eager to learn from others. I think it is beholden on international and regional organisations, national governments, and industry bodies to collaborate, where practicable, for the greater good and to better leverage the resources available to us. In this way, we can develop a suite of universal best practices to operate more sustainably. This collaborative attitude will also really deliver results if applied to policies, as information exchange between authorities can really speed up responses to incidents and minimise environmental impact. I see the value of this type of collaboration a lot in my work with INBA, which benefits organisations in both countries.

What technologies are you most excited about which are coming into maritime?

Digitisation and the ability to share and analyse data, utilising AI and machine learning, is really revolutionising shipping. I believe that technological advances, properly harnessed, will reduce operational risk. We are already integrating underwater survey and high-resolution multibeam sonar technology with computational analytics and modelling to provide detailed 3D mapping of casualties.

Automation poses both challenges and opportunities but I am also excited about the possibility of being able to deploy uncrewed fire-fighting vessels, for example, which could remove the risk to human life posed by fire and gases, and extend mission endurance.

We recognise the importance of ESG, technology and innovation in salvage and decommissioning, but what benefits arise from the relationship between IndiMaritime and Marine Masters?

Businesses looking to sustain commercial growth often expand into new markets. This can be challenging unless they have the right degree of technical expertise combined with local knowledge of subcontractors, suppliers and, crucially, regulations. IndiMaritime has extensive maritime experience, including ship ownership and management, and managing offshore units, which complements Marine Masters’ incredible technical salvage and offshore expertise. Our synergy provides a comprehensive service to our clients, particularly when we partnering with established local companies such as J M Baxi, whose extensive local and regional networks can help to optimise our interventions. In other words, we can deliver international expertise with a local flavour to deliver the best possible outcome.