MARS buys diving support vessel

Gibson, Louisiana-based Modern American Recycling Services Inc. (MARS) says it has finalized the acquisition of a diving support construction vessel formerly known as “Caballo Marango.” MARS says it plans to rename the ship “Captain America” and will use it to help “further increase the company’s footprint worldwide.”

Writes MARS in an early March news release, “This move, highlights MARS’ commitment to its customers, our future customers, and supports the continued growth of the offshore decommissioning and subsea installation industry.”

MARS and its owner Dwight “Butch” Caton Sr. celebrated the company’s 50^th anniversary in business last year.

The acquired vessel is 141.7 meters long (465 feet) and was built at the Marco Polo Shipyard in Batam, Indonesia, in 2013. The former “Caballo Marango” will maintain its Panamanian flag while following American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) guidelines, says MARS.

The newly named DSCV “Captain America” will be relocated to its new homeport of Pascagoula, Mississippi, where it will “undergo the necessary service and maintenance required to get the vessel back into class by end of year 2022,” states MARS.

After its retrofit, “Captain America” will be capable of involvement in offshore installation and decommissioning projects worldwide, including installing floating wind farms, says the firm. The vessel’s 399-person accommodations make it suitable for decommissioning preparatory work, platform support for maintenance, field upgrades and allow it to “provide offshore support as a flotel,” adds the firm.

“MARS is always preparing to meet the future demands of our clients and to support them in their construction and decommissioning needs,” says Caton Sr. “Acquiring a dive and construction vessel ensures that we are ready to serve our clients’ needs now and in the future. This investment prepares us for the increase in the market and allows us to maintain our leadership position. We are sure that ‘Captain America’ will have an impressive career in the MARS fleet, and it underlines our efforts to meet and exceed our customers’ requirements.”