Max Hardberger

Max Hardberger is a maritime attorney, ship captain, and vessel extraction specialist known for recovering seized and illegally detained ships from ports worldwide. He holds a Juris Doctor, a Master of Fine Arts from the Iowa Writers' Workshop, and an Unlimited Master license (Panama). He is the founder of Vessel Extractions LLC and the author of Seized: A Sea Captain's Adventures Battling Scoundrels and Pirates from the World's Most Dangerous Ports (Broadway Books / Random House), a memoir of his ship recovery operations. His work has been featured by NPR, TIME, and The Learning Channel. Hardberger's maritime law practice and operational experience place him at the intersection of admiralty law, commercial shipping disputes, and the practical realities of vessel seizure in developing-world ports.