She is designed to perform combat salvage, lifting, towing, off-ship firefighting, manned diving operations, and emergency repairs to stranded or disabled vessels.

In her 21,000 cubic feet (590 m3) salvage hold, Safeguard carries transportable cutting and welding equipment, hydraulic and electric power sources, and de-watering gear.

Additional retraction force can be applied to a stranded vessel through the use of up to six legs of beach gear, consisting of 6,000-pound (2,700 kg) STATO anchors, wire rope, chain, and salvage buoys.

Safeguard's propulsion machinery provides a bollard pull (towing force at zero speed and full power) of 68 tons.

Each drum carries 3,000 feet (910 m) of 2+1⁄4-inch-diameter (57 mm), drawn galvanized, 6×37 right-hand lay, wire-rope towing hawsers, with closed zinc-poured sockets on the bitter end.

The stern rollers and Norman pins are raised hydraulically and can withstand a lateral force of 50,000 pounds (23,000 kg) at mid barrel.

[8] In addition to her two main ground tackle anchors [6,000-pound (2,700 kg) Navy standard stockless or 8,000-pound (3,600 kg) balanced-fluke anchors] Safeguard can use equipment associated with her beach gear to lay a multi-point open water moor to station herself for diving and ROV operations.

[7][8][10] Safeguard has heavy lift system that consists of large bow and stern rollers, deck machinery, and tackle.

[8] When originally built, Safeguard had a fourth remotely controlled fire monitor mounted on her forward kingpost,[2] but this was later removed.