Shelby Harris, a senior salvage master for Pompano Beach-based Titan Salvage, says of wreck removals: “You can plan it and you can be creative and you can build things.” Joe Rimkus Jr. / Miami Herald Staff

Capt. Farhat Imam, the Resolve Marine Group's chief operating officer, displays one of the firm's rescue boats in the warehouse. Joe Rimkus Jr. / Miami Herald Staff

Chris Hartwick displays one of the company's shallow dive helmets in front of lift bags. Joe Rimkus Jr. / Miami Herald Staff

Joseph Farrell Jr., Resolve's founder and owner, marvels at the growth of the marine salvage business. Courtesy of Resolve

In 2007, Titan Salvage won the contract for a project near Coos Bay, Ore., to remove the New Carissa, a wrecked freighter that had been stuck offshore for eight years. The company floated out two jack-up barges that stood above the water and fashioned a self-propelled cable car to shuttle workers from the mainland without subjecting them to the dangerous surf. Courtesy of Titan Salvage