A letter from the Captain:
Here at Johnson Marine, we understand that it’s more than just an insurance claim. It is a loss for all parties involved, the insured, the insurance company, and the local community and economy. Recovery from a catastrophic event is more than just work or a job. All our team members are experienced and trained so that all aspects of a claim must be handled with respect and concern.
All precautions are observed when on site to ensure no further damage is done to property where asset is located. Examples include a cracked driveway from a crane being set up on it- sometimes it is all that is left. A yard rutted up from being driven across. In New Jersey, I had an older woman who refused any access to her property, period, even though her boat was resting on the corner of her house. I was given the assignment and went to speak directly with her. The problem was she had a small lemon tree in her yard and was adamant nothing was going to damage it. I made arrangements to dig it up and place it in a pot, recovered the vessel and replanted the tree. The woman cried and made the statement, "You are the only person I've talked to through this that cared." When a catastrophic event occurs, it is the little things. We work closely with all local, state, and federal authorities to ensure all proper processes are put in place. One of the requirements to be a member of my team is you must volunteer one Saturday a month to dedicate time and equipment to help local clean up. Especially those that are uninsured.
Our company has worked 14 named storms and countless weekly occurrences from Rockport, Texas to New York, New York. We have a proven track record of storms we have recovered from, including Katrina, Ike, Sandy, Matthew, Irma, Harvey, Sally, Ida, and Idalia.
Our proven asset recovery and asset preparation for resale are second to none. Part of asset management is expedient response time for preservation of asset. Engines and equipment exposed to saltwater have a small window to be preserved and made to still function properly. Many vessels do not sink, they instead have saltwater backwashed into the engine through the exhaust. A triple Yamaha engine 36' Contender who’s engines are cleaned and flushed properly, and are made to run, make it worth at least $80,000 more at resale. A 49' Tiara with Volvo D11B2-A 6-cylinder diesels that are gotten to in time easily make this vessel worth an easy $100k more at resale. Expediency is the key. Real numbers, not conjecture, taken from real work experience.
Our Northwest Georgia location is centrally located in the Eastern United States. Our first response teams can be on location within 24 hours of storm passage to assist with situational management and logistics. Our team has crews at the ready across the country.
Our crews are trained and experienced, Master Mercury and Mercruiser technicians, Volvo, Kohler, OMC, Yamaha and SeaStar factory trained staff, and PADI and OSHA certified dive teams. We have the knowledge, experience, equipment, and personnel to increase value per unit from recovery to resale. Our sale preparations have been adopted industry wide. Ours are second to none. Catastrophe or weekly occurrence, we are the company to minimize loss per claim. Our equipment list includes four hydraulic self-loading trailers from 30' to 80', six Super Duty Ford trucks, 16 bunk style trailers up to 50', three rubber tracked skid steer tractors, two excavators, dump trucks, all dive bags and support equipment, multiple enclosed trailers, campers and RV's for crews and 2 push/tug boats. We have any type of equipment needed dependent upon scope of work involved. Tow master, licensed Captains are part of our crew. We also have helicopters for aerial surveillance.
- Captain Walt Johnson
