Rescue and Salvage Ships - ARS Render assistance to disabled ships, salvage, diving, provide towing, firefighting and heavy lift capabilities are the tasks of Rescue and Salvage ships.

USNS SALVOR is the third ship in the SAFEGUARD class of Rescue and Salvage Ships. The SALVOR was transfered to the Military Sealift Command on January 12, 2007, and is now manned by a civilian crew and a US Navy detachment.

USS RECLAIMER was the fifth BOLSTER - class rescue and salvage ship and the first ship in the Navy to bear the name. The ship participated in the Korea and Vietnam Wars receiving six battle stars for her Korean service and one battle star for Vietnam service.

USNS SAFEGUARD was the lead ship of the SAFEGUARD class of Rescue and Salvage Ship. On September 26, 2007, she was decommissioned and transfered to the Military Sealift Command. She subsequently served under Military Sealift Command control for another 9 years before she was deactivated and laid up at Pearl Harbor, Hi.

USS GRASP is the second ship in the SAFEGUARD - class of Rescue and Salvage Ships. Transfered to the Military Sealift Command on January 19, 2006, the GRASP subsequently underwent a shipyard period for conversion for operation by civilian mariners.

USS RECOVERY was the sixth and final BOLSTER - class rescue and salvage ship and the first ship in the Navy to bear the name. After more than 48 years of service, the RECOVERY was both decommissioned and stricken from the Navy list on September 30, 1994.

The rescue and salvage ship BOLSTER was the first ship in the Navy to bear the name. The ship participated in the Korea and Vietnam Wars receiving seven battle stars for her Korean service and eight battle stars for Vietnam service.

USS OPPORTUNE was the fourth BOLSTER - class rescue and salvage ship and the first ship in the Navy to bear the name. After almost 48 years of service, the OPPORTUNE was both decommissioned and stricken from the Navy list on April 30, 1993.

USS HOIST was the third BOLSTER - class rescue and salvage ship and the first ship in the Navy to bear the name. After more than 49 years of service, the HOIST was both decommissioned and stricken from the Navy list on September 30, 1994.

Navy salvage ship USS GRAPPLE, salvage tug USNS MOHAWK (T-ATF 170) and U.S. Coast Guard Cutter JUNIPER got underway from there early Friday morning. The ships rejoined USS AUSTIN (LPD 4) and the Submersible Support Vessel CAROLYN CHOUEST on Friday afternoon as part of the recovery task force.