Based in Connecticut, Ronald F. Milardo heads Cooper Capital Specialty Salvage, LLC, and manages the salvage of marine assets, often in the wake of natural disasters. Ronald F. Milardo works in an industry focused on the rescue, repair, and refloating of compromised vessels. Given the specter of environmental damage, such operations are mandatory.

The distinction between salvage and wreck removal is that the latter applies when the boat has little or no value but poses marine pollution threats if not dealt with. By contrast, vessels are salvaged in cases containing valuable material that can be retrieved and resold. Those who participate in such complex operations are known as salvors. They are seamen and engineers responsible for operating heavy machinery, such as floating docks and cranes that lift and maneuver the ships to a point where they can be towed to land without incident.

The scale, expense, and type of salvage operation depend highly on the location of the damaged vessel or wreck. Offshore salvage on open waters, exposed to massive waves and inclement weather, can be extremely expensive and time-consuming. Requiring the use of salvage vessels and tugs, it often also involves the transportation of portable diving facilities to the site via helicopter or small boats. Harbor salvage (and salvage in other protected waterways) is often a less urgent and labor-intensive operation and makes use of existing infrastructure such as dredges, construction tenders, barges, and cranes.