Hillside, New Jersey, USA
December 23, 1997

After spending nearly a year reviewing competing, technical salvage proposals, the U. S. Naval Sea Systems Command awarded Donjon Marine a one year contract, with four optional years, to provide salvage and salvage-related services to the U. S. Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV) for coverage of the world's busiest waterways. Noteworthy is the fact that Donjon Marine has been awarded this same contract, uninterrupted, since 1980. During that period Donjon has invested millions of dollars in capital improvements and acquisitions, increased its emergency response capability to more than 250 full time employees, while fostering international alliances to increase the company's readiness posture throughout the global marine community.

With the recent acquisition of two more ABS-classed, ocean-going tug boats (3,600 hp & 7,000 hp), and another fully-revolving crane barge (600 ton lift capacity), the company stands more ready than ever to answer the U. S. Navy's call for both emergency and non-emergency salvage services. "We are very pleased to have been awarded this contract from the Navy," said John A. Witte, Jr., Executive Vice-President of Donion Marine. "Over six months of work was put into the development of our bid proposal by our team of salvage response professionals, a true example of just how dedicated we are to maintaining a strong salvage posture here in the U.S. and abroad."

Among the competition that Donjon Marine faced in being awarded the contract (which called for salvage, salvage related towing, harbor clearance, ocean engineering and point-to-point towing) were Titan Maritime Industries, Bisso Marine, and Weeks Marine.

The contract requires Donjon Marine to respond to SUPSALV's call for assistance anywhere in the Atlantic Ocean from the Arctic to the Antarctic, the U. S. Great Lakes, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and both the Baltic and Black Seas. Since 1980, Donjon Marine has provided the emergency muscle to SUPSALV to recover civilian and military aircraft, tow all types of Navy vessels from subniuffies to aircraft carriers, free stranded ships from reefs and beaches, clear waterways for navigation, provide pollution abatement services, and refloat submerged vessels. Donjon Marine has also assisted the U. S. Coast Guard, the National Transportation Safety Board and the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers in several salvage and salvage related operations. The U. S. Government now has the flexibility to work with Donjon Marine through the U. S. Navy contract or through the Basic Ordering Agreements currently in place with the Coast Guard, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, Army Corps of Engineers, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Aside from the recently awarded contract, the company is eager to continue worldwide towage operations with their newly acquired 7,000 hp tug boat that has more than 80 tons of bollard pull. The offshore tug has accommodations for fifteen persomel, a double drum towing machine, and a 240,000 gallon fuel capacity. "This is a very exciting time for Donjon Marine. We look forward to continued growth in the ensuing years as we approach the 21st century, stronger and more diverse, yet offering cost-effective solutions which are tailored to any particular need," said J. Arnold Witte, President and CEO of Donjon Marine.