Marine Link
Saturday, November 2, 2024

Salvage

Marine salvage is the process of rescuing a ship, its cargo, or other property from peril. Salvage encompasses rescue towing, putting out fires, patching or repairing a ship, refloating a sunken or grounded vessel, moving a disabled vessel in order to clear navigation channels, and raising sunken ships or their cargo. Equipment involved in salvage operations may include cranes, floating dry docks, and support vessels (such as tugboats). Commercial divers may be called upon to perform underwater tasks and monitor progress below the surface.

Protecting the marine environment from pollution from cargoes such as oil or other contaminants is often an important part of salvage activities. Usually the vessel or valuable parts of the vessel or its cargo may be recovered for its resale value, or for scrap. The vast majority of salvage operations are contracted to qualified seamen and engineers working as professional salvors. Usually, contracted agents expect no financial reward unless the salvage operation is at least partially successful.

If salvage is not performed under a contract, then the rescuer must act voluntarily and aside from any legal duty to act, other than the acknowledged duty to render assistance to those in peril at sea or to attend after a collision. If the owner or the owner’s agent is still on the ship, they can refuse offers of assistance. A vessel found entirely deserted or abandoned without hope or intention of recovery is considered derelict and is fair game for anyone who comes across it. It is not true, however, that the rescuer or salvor automatically becomes the owner of the property. The owner always has the option to reclaim his property by paying an appropriate reward.

Tags: Salvage

Manawanui listing on the reef, October 6. (Photo: Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority)

Manawanui Sinking: Speedy Cleanup Will Be Crucial, But Many Challenges Ahead

Speed will be of the essence as salvage crews attempt to stop fuel leaking from the…

Source: Samoa Police, Prisons & Corrections Services (Facebook)

New Zealand Navy Ship Runs Aground and Sinks

A Royal New Zealand Navy vessel ran aground and sank off Samoa but all 75 crew and…

(Photo: European Union Naval Force - Operation Aspides)

Salvors Begin Towing Stricken Tanker Sounion in Race to Avert Catastrophic Oil Spill

The operation has started to tow a Greek-registered oil tanker stranded in the Red…

Source: LMA

New LOF Clause Boosts Transparency Around Tug Services

The outcome of over a year’s consultation with underwriters, owners, Lloyd’s and…

Oil tanker Sounion was attacked by Houthi forces on August 21, 2024, igniting fires on board and causing the crew to abandon ship. Several days later, Houthis boarded the vessel and set off a series of explosions on board. (Credit: EU Aspides)

Risky Salvage of Houthi-hit Tanker Sounion to Restart This Week

Experts will this week resume a risky operation to salvage the Sounion tanker which…

(Photo: EUNAVFOR ASPIDES)

Salvors Say It's Unsafe to Tow Tanker Sounion Hit by Houthis in the Red Sea

Private companies involved in salvaging the Sounion tanker, which was attacked by…

Satellite image of the Greek-flagged crude oil tanker Sounion that was recently attacked by Yemen’s Houthis in the Red Sea. [Satellite image © 2024 Maxar Technologies]

Salvage of Stricken Oil Tanker Sounion Expected in Coming Days

A salvage operation to recover a Greek registered oil tanker stranded in the Red…

(Photo: EUNAVFOR ASPIDES)

Still No Oil Spill from Tanker Sounion Attacked by Houthis

As salvage operations began on an abandoned Greek-flagged oil tanker with deck fires…

(Photo: Dylan Burnell / U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

Reopening the Channel: A Look-back at the Key Bridge Accident Response

“The enormity of this disaster is hard to imagine without seeing it in person…It…

(Photo: Vigili del Fuoco)

Divers Recover Body of Last Missing Person from Sunken Yacht

Italian divers have retrieved the body of British tech magnate Mike Lynch's18-year-old daughter…

The yacht Obsession sits hard aground on a reef just off Flamenco Beach in Culebra, Puerto Rico. (Photo: U.S. Coast Guard)

Salvors Send Crane Barge to Refloat Yacht that Grounded in Puerto Rico

Salvors are sending a crane barge to lift a yacht that ran aground on a coral reef…

(Photo: SAMSA)

Oil Spill Cleanup Ramps Up as Grounded Vessel Ultra Galaxy Breaks Apart in South Africa

Efforts are ramping up to recover oil spewing from a grounded cargo vessel that's…

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