Salvaging Solutions: Coordinating Successes and Lessons Learned

Salvaging Solutions to Abandoned and Derelict Vessels (ADVs) is an online webinar series hosted by the NOAA Marine Debris Program. The goal of the series is to help communities through sharing perspectives from across the country on common abandoned and derelict vessel issues and solutions. Each webinar features experts from federal, state, and local governments, nongovernmental organizations, universities, and industry, who discuss topics about communications, funding, policy, and successes and challenges under blue skies and storm conditions. To learn more please visit the Salvaging Solutions to Abandoned and Derelict Vessels Webinar Series webpage.

Coordinating Successes and Lessons Learned

This Salvaging Solutions webinar focused on the coordination needed to successfully remove ADVs left during blue skies and after a disaster, along with the challenges that can arise.

Speakers

Dorothy Diehl, Policy Program Coordinator – Oregon State Marine Board
As a policy program coordinator for the Oregon State Marine Board, Dorothy has spent the last two years coordinating the agency’s Abandoned and Derelict Vessel Program. The Abandoned Vessel Removal Assistance Program (AVRAP) is a collaboration between the ADV program and the Clean Marina program. This pilot project is to help Clean Marinas remove ADVs from their facilities. Dorothy provided an overview and early results of the AVRAP.

Paul Murakawa, Aquatic Biologist – Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR)
Paul has worked for DAR for the past 30 years and has been involved with most of the vessel groundings on O'ahu during this time. In October 2017, a 79’ longline vessel, Commercial Fishing Vessel Pacific Paradise, grounded on a shallow reef off Waikiki (south shore of O'ahu). Paul shared his experience as part of a team represented by federal and state agencies, as well as the salvors (hired by the vessel owner) that were tasked with removing the Pacific Paradise from the reef. 

Stephen "Steve" Werndli, Enforcement Coordinator – NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries 
Steve has worked for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary since 2002. He manages the sanctuary’s authorizations program and evaluates nearshore construction and other projects to ensure they comply with applicable regulatory and environmental compliance requirements and are compatible with the sanctuary’s resource protection goals. Stephen provided an overview on the use of Resource Advisors during vessel removal operations and their role after a disaster.