RESOLVE Marine Group of Fort Lauderdale, one of the US’ major Marine Emergency Response, Salvage and Fire Fighting experts, is to develop its expertise on a more global basis and has recruited a number of key personnel into its company to achieve this aim.

Bob Umbdenstock, marine industry executive and consultant with international management experience in heavy salvage, wreck removal and environmental protection, has joined the company to develop and market the emergency response capabilities RESOLVE offers to ship owners and managers wishing to comply with statutory planning requirements, namely OPA 90, in the US and elsewhere in the world. A graduate of Dartmouth College and former US Navy salvage officer, he has been a special casualty representative (SCR) for Lloyds Open Form with SCOPIC.

While Joe Farrell III, son and namesake of the current RESOLVE Group President, also joins the company. Joe is a graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy where he earned a BSc degree in marine engineering. He recently graduated from the Florida Institute of Technology with an MSc in Ocean Engineering and with a concentrate in Naval Architecture.

They join a number of other recent key appointments to the RESOLVE Group including Capt. Rich Habib, Senior Salvage Master and Bill Crothers, Group Chief Financial Officer.

Rich brings over 30 years of experience in the Marine Industry. Rich is a Master Mariner with a background in heavy lift vessels. A Salvage Master for many years, he has been successful in a series of significant salvages and wreck removals throughout the world and is known throughout the industry as one of the premier Salvage Masters. He graduated from the US Coast Guard Academy in 1977 and has a degree in Physical Oceanography.

Bill brings 20+ years of financial and accounting experience with national and regional public accounting firms at a time when strategic plans for worldwide growth and unsteady economic times requires careful planning and financial acumen. He is a graduate of the Colgate University with a degree in economics and has been a Florida Certified Public Accountant since 1993.

According to Joe Farrell, Jr, President of RESOLVE, the company, over the last 28 years, has grown to be at the forefront of OPA 90 oil response work in the US and is the main responder for over 6,000 vessels visiting US ports.

He added: “These ship owners, with the majority of them being foreign operators, know and understand our capability so it is a logical move to expand this business model worldwide to the same clientele who choose to use us as their main emergency responder in the US.

“To do this, we need the right personnel and I am fortunate to have had marvellous people in the team and more wanting to join us. It is a win/win for everybody,” he said.

The above team compliments RESOLVE Marine Group’s in‐house personnel, which includes a complete staff of salvage masters, naval architects, salvage engineers, divers, fire fighters, equipment operators and technicians.