I think there is a general misconception with regard to marine salvage.

You can't just claim ownership or salvage of any vessel that is adrift or
abandon.

Different nations and different rules but in general, you have to attempt to
contact the owner and he has to agree that you can salvage his vessel. In
most cases an insurance company is involved and may grant you that right..

If you rescue or salvage a vessel without any attempt to contact the owner
for permission, you may only recover your cost of the salvage plus a little
for your time and effort.

Often when a vessel is on the high seas, the owner and the salvager will
agree to let a Admiralty Court decide how much the salvager would get.

I know a fellow who hangs out in the Caribbean Sea on a large old tug, with
the standard Admiralty Court release/agreement papers all ready.. "You need
help? Sign Here". He also carries 30,000 gal of diesel fuel, just in case
someone runs out of fuel on their run from Columbia to ?? (and you thought
you were paying too much at the marina pump??)

I don't claim to know all the salvage rules but the owner still has rights..

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Even worse, I don't think there is a time limit. When the Central
America was found off the Carolina coast insurance companies came out of
the woodwork to make claims on the salvage. It looks less likely that
the same will happen with the SS Republic wreck because all the insurers
were Confederate States registered.

Steve wrote:

I think there is a general misconception with regard to marine salvage.

You can't just claim ownership or salvage of any vessel that is adrift or
abandon.

Different nations and different rules but in general, you have to attempt to
contact the owner and he has to agree that you can salvage his vessel. In
most cases an insurance company is involved and may grant you that right..

If you rescue or salvage a vessel without any attempt to contact the owner
for permission, you may only recover your cost of the salvage plus a little
for your time and effort.

Often when a vessel is on the high seas, the owner and the salvager will
agree to let a Admiralty Court decide how much the salvager would get.

I know a fellow who hangs out in the Caribbean Sea on a large old tug, with
the standard Admiralty Court release/agreement papers all ready.. "You need
help? Sign Here". He also carries 30,000 gal of diesel fuel, just in case
someone runs out of fuel on their run from Columbia to ?? (and you thought
you were paying too much at the marina pump??)

I don't claim to know all the salvage rules but the owner still has rights..

Steve
s/v Good Intentions



--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

But isn't there a special rule regarding vessels that wash ashore,
abandoned? I've read of boats being stripped down to the framing the minute
they land, and everyone seems to accept the practice as legal. Seems that
logs washed ashore would receive the same treatment as driftwood or tennis
shoes.

--
Karin Conover-Lewis
Fair and Balanced since 1959
klc dot lewis at gte dot net (old -- don't use)
klc dot lewis at centurytel dot net (new)



"Steve" wrote in message
...
I think there is a general misconception with regard to marine salvage.

You can't just claim ownership or salvage of any vessel that is adrift or
abandon.

Different nations and different rules but in general, you have to attempt
to
contact the owner and he has to agree that you can salvage his vessel. In
most cases an insurance company is involved and may grant you that right..

If you rescue or salvage a vessel without any attempt to contact the owner
for permission, you may only recover your cost of the salvage plus a
little
for your time and effort.

Often when a vessel is on the high seas, the owner and the salvager will
agree to let a Admiralty Court decide how much the salvager would get.

I know a fellow who hangs out in the Caribbean Sea on a large old tug,
with
the standard Admiralty Court release/agreement papers all ready.. "You
need
help? Sign Here". He also carries 30,000 gal of diesel fuel, just in case
someone runs out of fuel on their run from Columbia to ?? (and you thought
you were paying too much at the marina pump??)

I don't claim to know all the salvage rules but the owner still has
rights..

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

That might be the case if a boat were broken up and unidentifiable..

Now-adays I would be cautious about trouching a ship wreck on the beach. You
could end up liable for any contamination or even the complete and total
removal of the vessel.

I've helped salvage a couple grounded or sunken vessels in So. Calif. and in
each instance we didn't start until the owner and insurance had given us a
right to salvage which assign the responsibility exclusively to us, to the
exclusion of others. We also assumed the all liability and the port
authority wouldn't allow us to proceed without a salvage plan and bond or
insurance.

18 months ago I came upon a nice wooden sail boat adrift off Port Townsend,
WA. I took it in tow the anchorage I was headed for, contacted all the local
authorities and finally was informed that I should tie it to a dock a Port
Hadlock.. No! I shouldn't set it adrift again. Once I took it in tow, I
became responsible for it. Turned out that it belonged to the Wooden Boat
Society. I got a big thank you and free tee shirt for my efforts.

--
My opinion and experience. FWIW

Steve
s/v Good Intentions