What began in 2009 as a shipwreck-hunting venture has evolved into one of the Southeast’s most trusted marine service providers. Led by Isle of Hope resident and CEO Capt. Rusty Batey, Zulu Marine Services operates today as a multi-division company specializing in shoreline stabilization, dredging, and disaster response.

The company’s story is deeply tied to the Batey family’s generations-long relationship with the sea. Rusty and his brother, Capt. Alex Batey, grew up on the water, following in the wake of their father, Capt. Jim Batey, who began his maritime career along the Georgia coast in the 1970s. His example instilled a respect for both the strength and fragility of coastal environments—a balance that guides the company’s work to this day.

From small inland lagoons to major dredging operations, Zulu Marine operates across six states with a fleet of shallow-water vessels and custom-built equipment. Its crews are known for combining precision engineering with ecological restoration, often reusing dredged material to rebuild eroded banks and strengthen tidal systems.

Zulu’s three divisions—Shoreline, Dredging, and Disaster Response—reflect its wide range of expertise. The company’s restoration projects integrate nature-based technology like SOX and Flexamat systems, while its HAZWOPER-trained response teams have been deployed to major recovery efforts, including the Golden Ray demolition in St. Simons Sound.

Innovation also drives Zulu Marine’s approach to management. Through aerial mapping and a custom online client portal, customers can monitor real-time data on shoreline conditions and project progress—a rare level of transparency in the marine industry.

For Rusty, Zulu Marine’s mission is personal: “Our work is about legacy,” he says. “We’re here to make sure the next generation inherits cleaner, stronger, more resilient waterways.”