Vessel Extractions, a worldwide ship recovery specialist, launched a unique service to free ships from hostile situations and sail them to safety. Although the company focuses on repossessing ships for mortgagees, it also assists owners whose ships have been seized, detained, abandoned or stolen. Freeing strategies range from negotiating and resolving disputes to sailing ships out of hostile ports. VessEx combines the real-world operational experience of shipmanagers, the technical expertise of class surveyors, and the legal skills of maritime lawyers to perform ship recovery operations.

As explained by Captain Max Hardberger, the Operations Director of VessEx, “the ships we deal with could be manned by a defiant crew, hunted by agitated creditors, or held for ransom by corrupt local authorities. To make matters worse, such ships are often in unseaworthy condition, lacking necessary repairs, certificates, supplies, and insurance.” If an extraction operation is required, VessEx will take control over the ship through the use of a specially trained crew, each member selected for his individual talents in the specific situation. Once control over the ship is secured, the team does everything necessary to get the ship out of port, including resolving pending claims, performing emergency repairs, and obtaining necessary supplies. The crew then sails the ship to a safe location.