Authored by a man with extensive experience in salvage operations, this is a comprehensive treatment of ship salvage in all its aspects, but it is written in plain language and the mathematics included is four-function arithmetic and basic algebra. The early chapters introduce the concepts of marine salvage and explain how the parties involved in a salvage operation relate. Ship construction and naval architecture as they pertain to possible later salvage of a ship are explained, and the types of casualties are described.

The fine points of surveys, salvage plans and processes, rigging, restoring buoyancy, lifting, machinery and equipment used in salvage, cargo handling, and the special aspects related to salvage of tankers are discussed in complete detail. Casualty management is also covered. The book's appendices include necessary salvage contracts, sample forms, and checklists for all possible situations.

2d edition. Updates U.S. Navy salvage history through the beginning of the 21st century and chronicles 18 additional, precedent-setting marine salvage and deep-ocean recovery operations. Profusely illustrated.