Rian talks to marine salvage expert Nick Sloane
Salvage master Captain Nick Sloane specialises in rescuing large-scale wreckages. He tells Rian van Heerden about the interesting places that his incredible work has taken him to.
Nick Sloane has always been a man with a deep connection to the seas.
Since the beginning of his career in the 80s, when he worked on the tugs of a South African salvage company, Nick has cultivated his love for the ocean and honed his skills. Today, at a stage in his life when he is known as Captain Nick Sloane, he is highly respected in maritime and environmental circles.
Those who keep an eye on the news may remember Nick's work on refloating the Costa Concordia, a wreck on the Mediterranean, in 2013. The operation was one of the largest in the history of the industry and in Nick's career.
Local reports described the salvage as "an extraordinary feat of engineering involving 500 salvage workers including divers, welders and engineers operating 24 hours a day at a staggering cost of $800 million (R8.4 billion)".
Not content with resting on his laurels, Nick expanded his portfolio with a proposal to ease the Cape Town water crisis. Nick has argued that the water crisis could be alleviated by towing icebergs from Antarctica to South Africa.
As outlandish as it may sound, Nick's idea has garnered the interest and support of international academics and industry experts. Nick explained briefly how the innovative idea would work.