The Master Mariner responsible for such historically important finds as the 'Vung Tau', 'Douro' and other significant wrecks, is Sverker Yngvesson Hallstrom, whose expertise is attributed to vast experience in the offshore oil and salvaging industries.

Born in Stockholm, Sweden, on 2 November 1945, Hallstrom cites the roots of his fascinating career as a shipwreck explorer and salvager as stretching way back to his childhood years. With his artist parents, the young Hallstrom and his siblings spent many long summers on the islands of the Stockholm Archipelago. Here, they would help their father catch fish and spend hours combing the beaches for wood and other objects that had drifted ashore from passing ships or shipwrecks.

His interest and romantic imagination were roused, leading him to travel the seas, initially as an apprentice in a ship's engine room. In his younger years, he also qualified as a Civil Engineer. But, after a period working as a construction engineer, he returned to sea, this time as an officer.

However, it was not long until his true vocation became apparent to him. While on holiday in Singapore, Hallstrom joined salvage company Selco, and, at a later stage, the OSA (Offshore Supply Association) to drive their Anchor-handling Tug Supplyboats (AHTS). His work took him to the West African countries of Nigeria, Cameron, Gabon and Angola, as well as Papua New Guinea, Brazil, Malaysia and Taiwan. He then joined Singapore-based American Company, McDermott, to drive their Anchor-handling Tugs in South East Asia.

His involvement in a wide range of subcontracted work here earned Hallstrom his particular expertise in the use of Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV's) for various types of underwater worktasks and inspections. This was, among others, for Brown & Root, Rockwater, Shell (Brunei), Shell (Sarawak), EPMI (Esso Production Malaysia), Unical (Thailand), Total (Thailand) and a few of the main diving contractors such as Taylor Diving (early 1980's), British Underwater Engineering, Fraser Diving and Divcon.

Settling in Singapore, Hallstrom finally started his own company - Hallstrom Holdings Pty Ltd - focusing on the area which had always most fascinated him, underwater technology. Though based in Singapore, Hallstrom now operates on a world-wide basis.