The role of the American Salvage Association is to:
- Ensure that our membership is committed to standards of readiness, conduct and performance that provide the nation an adequate salvage response.
- 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.
- Promote cooperation among our members to assure a most effective, successful response in major incidents.
- Promote issues of salvage safety when working in a marine environment.
- Promote training for today's response as well as anticipating and planning for the changes certain to evolve in the future.
- Provide standard contracting options for salvage and wreck removal in order to eliminate negotiating delay and thereby promote prompt casualty response.
- Promote preplanning among owners, underwriters, and regulatory agencies before the actual event.
- Promote and encourage a regulatory framework that will result in prompt, effective response.
- Promote communication and cooperation with all those potentially affected by the consequences of a marine casualty.
- Promote information exchange and cooperation with other national and international trade associations and regulatory agencies for the benefit of transportation by water.