salvage operation

(DOD) 1. The recovery, evacuation, and reclamation of damaged, discarded, condemned, or abandoned allied or enemy materiel, ships, craft, and floating equipment for reuse, repair, refabrication, or scrapping. 2. Naval salvage operations include harbor and channel clearance, diving, hazardous towing and rescue tug services, and the recovery of materiel, ships, craft, and floating equipment sunk offshore or elsewhere stranded.