Modern American Recycling Services, M.A.R.S.

Modern American Recycling Services, commonly known as M.A.R.S., is an American environmental services company specializing in the dismantling and recycling of ships, barges, and offshore oil and gas structures. Founded in 1971 by Dwight “Butch” Caton, Sr., the company began as a modest demolition and recycling operation with a small team in Ohio and Alabama. Over five decades it has grown into what it describes as the premier ship recycling and decommissioning provider in the United States, with a legacy spanning more than fifty years. The company's core business is the safe and environmentally responsible dismantling of end-of-life maritime and offshore assets. M.A.R.S. handles vessels and structures contaminated with hazardous materials such as NORM (naturally occurring radioactive material), asbestos, and mercury, using tailor-made procedures to clean and recycle these resources. According to the company, it has recycled close to ten million tons of offshore oil and gas structures, salvaged over ten thousand barges, and processed hundreds of vessels. M.A.R.S. is headquartered in Gibson, Louisiana, where it has been based for roughly three decades. Its network of facilities spans the U.S. Gulf Coast, including Gibson, Houma, and Waggaman in Louisiana; Pascagoula in Mississippi; Mobile in Alabama; and Jacksonville in Florida. The company has grown from a team of five to a workforce of approximately 350 associates across the Gulf Coast region, with additional staff at its international operations. Internationally, M.A.R.S. operates Modern American Recycling Services, Europe A/S, headquartered in Frederikshavn, Denmark. This EU-approved green recycling facility was inaugurated at the dawn of 2020 and represents a significant milestone in the company's commitment to sustainable practices. The Frederikshavn yard has a capacity of 200,000 tons of metals per year and employed 129 people as of 2025, with plans to expand further. The company also maintains an international sales team in the Netherlands and has announced plans to explore a ship recycling and decommissioning facility in Presidente Kennedy, Espírito Santo, Brazil, through Modern American Recycling Services Do Brasil, LTDA. M.A.R.S. positions itself around three core values: environmental protection, safety, and quality. It aims to provide customers with a safe, reliable, and economical way to recycle assets that have reached the end of their useful life. The company has been recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest-growing privately held companies, a five-time honoree since 2009. It remains privately held and is solely owned by its founder, Dwight “Butch” Caton, Sr.

Modern American Recycling Services, known as M.A.R.S., was founded in 1971 by Dwight “Butch” Caton, Sr., who remains the sole owner. The company was established to provide quality demolition and recycling services while protecting the environment and maintaining a safe working environment. Its early operations began with a modest team of five individuals working in Ohio and Alabama. Over the following decades, M.A.R.S. expanded its footprint across the U.S. Gulf Coast. The company has been headquartered in Louisiana for roughly thirty years, with its main office in Gibson. Its facility network grew to include locations in Gibson, Houma, and Waggaman, Louisiana; Pascagoula, Mississippi; Mobile, Alabama; and Jacksonville, Florida. The company evolved from general demolition and recycling into a specialist in the dismantling of offshore oil and gas structures, barges, and large vessels. By the 2010s, M.A.R.S. had established itself as a significant player in the U.S. ship recycling and decommissioning industry. It was recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest-growing privately held companies, a five-time honoree since 2009. According to the company, it has recycled close to ten million tons of offshore oil and gas structures, salvaged over ten thousand barges, and processed hundreds of vessels. A major international expansion came with the establishment of Modern American Recycling Services, Europe A/S, headquartered in Frederikshavn, Denmark. The EU-approved green recycling facility was inaugurated at the dawn of 2020. The Frederikshavn yard has a capacity of 200,000 tons of metals per year and employed 129 people as of 2025, with plans to expand to over 300. The company also positioned an international sales team in the Netherlands. More recently, M.A.R.S. has set its sights on Latin America. Through Modern American Recycling Services Do Brasil, LTDA., the company is exploring the construction of a state-of-the-art ship recycling and decommissioning facility in Presidente Kennedy, Espírito Santo, Brazil. The proposed facility aims to adhere to the highest environmental standards and contribute to circular economy principles in the shipbuilding industry. As of the latest available information, the company employs approximately 350 associates across the Gulf Coast region, with additional staff at its international operations, and continues to operate as a privately held, family-owned business.

• 2025

  Frederikshavn facility employed 129 people, with plans to expand to over 300.

• 2020

  Inaugurated EU-approved green recycling facility in Frederikshavn, Denmark.

• 2009

  First recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest-growing privately held companies; five-time honoree since 2009.

• 1971

  M.A.R.S., Inc. founded by Dwight “Butch” Caton, Sr. (sole owner) to provide demolition and recycling services.

Premier ship recycling and decommissioning provider in the USA, emphasizing environmental protection, safety, and quality.

• Ship recycling and dismantling

  Safe and environmentally responsible dismantling of end-of-life vessels, including those contaminated with hazardous materials.

• Barge dismantling and salvage

  Dismantling and salvaging of barges, with over ten thousand barges salvaged according to the company.

• Rig decommissioning

  Comprehensive lifecycle solutions for offshore rig decommissioning, including cleaning and recycling of structures contaminated with NORM, asbestos, and mercury.

• Large-scale vessel recycling

  Large-scale recycling of vessels at facilities including the EU-approved green facility in Frederikshavn, Denmark.

1. 1MARS Official Websitemodernamericanrecyclingservices.com
2. 2Who we are – MARSmodernamericanrecyclingservices.com
3. 3Presidente Kennedy, Brazil – MARSmodernamericanrecyclingservices.com
4. 4Modern American Recycling Services – Wikidatawikidata.org
5. 5Modern American Recycling Services – Wikipedia (Danish)da.wikipedia.org