Salvage Reward

[DERF]

Having read the snippet in MBY this month got me thinking about this.

I have never been involved in towing anyone or indeed being towed by another as an act of mercy, so what does one do in these circumstances. I've read previuosly that if you take someones rope then you are offering them salvage and should therefore keep a standard disclaimer form on board for them to sign BEFORE accepting assistance.

Now obviously this would depend on the severity of your situation and the threat to life etc. Does anyone really put in a claim for salvage in the real world?

Not sure what I'd do if I was the salvor or salvager.

What would you all do in this circumstance?

 

[longjohnsilver]

As just about anyone else, would help where possible and would be pleased to receive a bottle of wine. You never know when the favour might need to be returned.

 

[BrendanS]

I've towed people from Portsmouth Forts back to Hamble. Raggies off sandbanks. and everything in between. Honestly lost count. Never asked for anything. Like LJS I just hope that some kind soul will do the same for me one day if I need it

 

[oldgit]

Can only confirm what the others are saying.Having been rescued on more than one occasion,would never ever dream of not offering free tow and unconditional assistance under any circumstance that I could forsee.

 

[hlb]

I rescued a 40ft boat once, off Ireland, after a mayday call. The lifeboat had turned back owing no doubt to it being in the harbours annual festivities. The boat was under the cliffs with both engines failing. I towed it into Dunmore East, where upon the life boat wanted to take over, because of the spectators no doubt. So I told him to go **** himself and took the boat to the dock. Dont remember getting a thanks or anything, but whatever, it might be my turn next.

 

[DERF]

It may be my turn next is how I would think about it...

So who are these few who want to and do claim salvage?
Are they " lurkers" just waiting for a may day/pan pan.

How do you protect yourself from those that at first seem only too pleased to help and then claim slavage on your vessel?

I'm still not sure if it actuallly goes on in this country.

 

[ashanta]

I can only agree with most of what's been said. I have help a number of people but I have needed assistance myself on 2 occasions and in each case I can only give absolute praise to the yacht's people who assisted me. The cup of tea or the bottle of wine was all that was accepted for a mercyful tow and the spirit of like minded people.

Regards.
peter.

 

[hlb]

Quite amazing tho, as there all looking for a mobo when the [oops not nice] hits the fan!! Sorry crap.

 

[ashanta]

Do you want to explain?

 

[hlb]

Well all the rag thingies seem to hail me when there stuck in the mud. Mind, cant think a raga muffins goin tow tow them orft anyway!!

 

[Nautical]

I as everyone else, however, if you accept a tow from anyone who clearly states that they are acting as salvage and 'will you take their line', the minute you take the line and make fast to your vessel they have a ligitamate claim to a percentage of your vessel. Sometimes this can be made against you or other times against your insurance company. Can be anything from 10% to 50% depending in how difficult the tow and any damage or expenses to the towing vessel.

In reality this very rarely happens as most of what goes on is between private owners and like minded seafarers. Commercial vessels are more likely to make a claim so advise would be to say nothing if they offer a line, take it by all means but don't commit to anything. Back on shore you can claim you misunderstood or did'nt hear what was said.

The RNLI have a strict policy of never acting as salvage although technically I suppose they could claim salavage under maritime law.

All this from some time ago so law may have change by now.

Towed many a yacht / Mobo back to harbour and most are very grateful except one guy who tried to claim that I damaged his yacht coming alongside to pass a line. Fair enough I did bend his rails but it was that bloody bouncy we could'nt get a heaving line accross as it kept getting taken away by the wind so nothing for it but stuff up alongside and pass the big rope. Should have left the git and within 15 mins he'd have been bouncing off the rocks.

Been towed once myself due to dirty fuel and was extremely grateful, beers all round much cheaper than fixing a bent boat.

 

[ashanta]

I don't know if the circumstances of your rescues are similar to what I am referring to! My circumstances of being assisted has been due to engine failure with wind (on the nose) against tide in an ebbing estuary and on another occasion when an overheating 1GM10 that had impellor failure, despite using the 2 spares I had on board when becalmed. (A problem with all 1GM10's impellors for a number of years)
As It happens, I have towed off another yacht from a mud bank in the Tyne at Ouse Burn 500 metres from the Town Quay.
Regardless of whether I'ts a mobo or yacht there is still the need to stand by and assist. Fortunately I have not had the pleasure or displeasure to be at your mercy. No doubt you would want to educate me in the ways of power?

Regards.

peter.

 

[hlb]

Well lets just say 400 plus hp is better than 15- 20, a bit smoother to.!!

 

[jerryat]

Entirely agree with you Longjohnsilver! The only 'lengthy' tow I've done is along the coast of Majorca a few years ago, when a 30 footer's engine broke down in a nasty onshore wind. A rotten trip in a horrible sea that took hours until we finally got them safely anchored in (I think) Porto Colom.

Next morning, a tap on the hull, two bottles of very good wine and a box of chocolates, a chat on board and, best of all, a long term friendship made ... all the payment we needed! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Cheers Jerry

 

[Magnum]

Isn't it time the rules on salvage were revised? 10% - 50% of your boat's value for a tow is sheer lunacy.

 

[DERF]

You sure about the copyright on your avtar Magnum?

 

[[2068]]

It's not about "10-50% of the boats value for a tow". Salvage claims are normally assessed on a number of factors, such as the "degree of peril" of the vessel, skills and equipment used etc.

So towing a disabled (anchored) speedboat from Osborne Bay back round to Cowes in a F2 won't get you much.

Refloating that 20,000 ton tanker off rocks in a gale using your fleet of tugs and professional salvors should get you a consideration, otherwise why would you do it ?

In between is the grey area. A rescuer's claim would stand some chance for anything other than a straight tow (e.g. driving into surf, hard grounding on a lee shore etc.), but how many leisure boaters would drive their 35ft cruiser into breaking surf and shallows to try and rescue another boat ?

Insurers pay salvage claims for one reason: it's cheaper to pay 20% if a vessel is saved than 100% for the total loss.

dv.

 

[Nautical]

Thanks for that, however I was'nt just referring to pleasure craft salvage but commercial vessels also. As you say salvage Co's base their claim on the risks, assets tasked to the salvage and transit expenses along with their own insurance cost. So a simple tow will only yield a small percentage of the hull value (some will only rock up for a minimum payout so 10% of £100K and they won't even leave the harbour wall), but a coaster aground on rocks in heavy weather spewing heavy oil and in immediate danger of breaking up is going to fetch a large premium. Say a twenty year old 1000 tonner probably has value of £200K the cost of salvage for a difficult and dangerous salvage is going to be a least £100k but off set that against what the insurance company or owners would have to pay for enviromental clean up and other losses to local fishermen, local tourist trade etc so 50% of the value of the vessel seems cheap.

 

[DERF]

So is there a timescale in which the salvager has to make a claim against your or your vessel?

 

[l'escargot]

Except when it comes to the fuel bill! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif