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Obituary: Brandon Durar, a legend who shaped towage and salvage
Brandon Durar has passed away after spending more than 45 years advancing marine deck machinery for the global tug, salvage and workboat markets
After four decades of transforming the workboat, towage and salvage sectors, Brandon Durar has passed away.
The founder of JonRie InterTech has been a stalwart within the maritime industry and helped redesign many salvage and towage vessels in a 46-year career.
Mr Durar built his career from small beginnings by gaining a practical understanding of marine deck equipment and what operators needed from the critical, reliable and safe machinery.
He entered the maritime industry in 1980 as a designer and draftsman with marine deck equipment manufacturer, Almon A. Johnson (AAJ).
In this role, he became involved in the design and installation of towing and traction winch systems for the US Navy’s ARS-50 Class rescue and salvage vessels.
He later became chief engineer and general manager, helping guide AAJ’s growth while earning a reputation as a steady, knowledgeable, and practical problem solver.
His support of US Navy salvage vessels became a defining part of his career.
Mr Durar remained closely connected to naval operations, providing engineering expertise and technical support for demanding marine applications where deck machinery had to perform dependably.
In 2000, Brandon founded JonRie InterTech, naming the company after his children, John and Marie.
What began as a small independent business grew into a respected name in marine deck equipment, built through long hours, customer service, and a commitment to dependable products.
His approach was straightforward: listen to operators, understand how equipment was used in real working conditions, and deliver practical solutions that made vessels safer, more efficient and easier to operate.
As president of JonRie, Mr Durar competed in a specialised market dominated by long-established manufacturers.
JonRie earned the trust of operators and shipyards looking for complete, reliable deck equipment for tugboats, salvage vessels, dredgers, research ships and commercial workboats around the world.
In 2023, JonRie joined forces with Seattle, Washington-headquartered Markey Machine, bringing together two respected marine equipment companies.
Mr Durar served as president of the JonRie Division of Markey Machine, helping guide the transition while continuing to support owner and operators and sharing his experiences with younger engineers and industry newcomers.
Outside work, he was known for his enthusiasm for racing and motorsports. Mr Durar was a lifelong Nascar and Formula One fan.
He enjoyed the competition, engineering, and performance that connected the racetrack to the maritime industry.
Mr Durar’s legacy lives on in the equipment he helped bring to the workboat, tugboat and salvage market, in the vessels he supported, and the people who learned from him.
Riviera will host TUGTECHNOLOGY ‘27 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, 19-20 May 2027. Use this link for more information and to register.
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