International salvage company RESOLVE is helping to repair damage done by the maritime industry through a pioneering coral reef replacement system.

From its US base in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, RESOLVE has developed a technique to effectively grow coral and anchor it to the seabed atop custommade underwater structures. At the forefront in the arena of environment-enhancing artificial reefs, RESOLVE leads the field of ship reefing and has placed more artificial ship reefs on the ocean floor than any other company. Its successes include the environmental remediation of the 910-foot long decommissioned Navy aircraft carrier ex Oriskany. RESOLVE was awarded the project by the US Navy and successfully prepared and sank the vessel for reefing purposes off the coast of Pensacola, FL – helping to make history by creating the worldʹs largest artificial reef. Coral reef damage is a big concern for the shipping industry. Only last week, the insurer of a Panama flagged tanker which struck a reef in the Caribbean agreed to pay the high cost of replacing the damaged coral. This was one of seven such incidents in the past month. RESOLVE’S unique system involves fragmenting healthy corals, nurturing them in a lab, attaching them to larger eco-friendly reef structures, and then transplanting them back into their previous environment. These structures provide a raised, porous, yet sturdy substrate to promote rapid growth, environmental complexity, and an animal friendly habitat.

Results from a number of RESOLVE coral projects show that the coral transplant system is working well. RESOLVE’S Marine BioTechnicians measure the growing coral regularly to gain an approximation of the growth levels. When initially placed back in their natural environments, the survival rates are good and technicians have reported more than 96% survival rates on recent projects.

Joe Farrell, President of RESOLVE said: “With growing concerns and severe government penalties for environmental damage (and lack of proper remediation) RESOLVE feels it is imperative to identify opportunities to restore and reinforce these fragile ecosystems through reef repair and reef augmentation whenever possible. Utilising advanced technology and other cost-saving measures learned from years of experience, we are able to deliver an attractive and cost-effective product to the stakeholders who underwrite this important endeavor.