The role of the American Salvage Association is to:

1. Ensure that our membership is committed to standards of readiness, conduct and performance that provide the nation an adequate salvage response.
   
   
2. Educate the general public as to the role of the marine salvor in protecting life, the environment and property from the consequences of the perils of water transportation.
   
   
3. Promote cooperation among our members to assure a most effective, successful response in major incidents.
   
   
4. Promote issues of salvage safety when working in a marine environment.
   
   
5. Promote training for today's response as well as anticipating and planning for the changes certain to evolve in the future.
   
   
6. Provide standard contracting options for salvage and wreck removal in order to eliminate negotiating delay and thereby promote prompt casualty response.
   
   
7. Promote preplanning among owners, underwriters, and regulatory agencies before the actual event.
   
   
8. Promote and encourage a regulatory framework that will result in prompt, effective response.
   
   
9. Promote communication and cooperation with all those potentially affected by the consequences of a marine casualty.
   
   
10. Promote information exchange and cooperation with other national and international trade associations and regulatory agencies for the benefit of transportation by water.