Who foots the bill when you're rescued by non CG/RNLI?

CaptainBob

CaptainBob

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 Nov 2007
Messages
1,477
Location
North Yorkshire
www.yacht-forum.co.uk
Who foots the bill when you\'re rescued by non CG/RNLI?

Was reading about that yacht that was ironically rescued by an oil tanker while attempting a carbon-free polar expedition.

Just out of interest, who (or even, will anyone) pay money to the tanker's owner company for the time/fuel costs involved in detouring to rescue the stricken yacht?

If insurers of the yacht pay up normally - what if insurance was not available?

And if the yacht skipper/owner was without funds?

Did the tanker have much of a choice of whether or not to attend?

No opinion meant as to any of the above - just interested.
 
Re: Who foots the bill when you\'re rescued by non CG/RNLI?

AFAIK UK ships have an obligation to render assistance when a mayday is declared, when they can assist without exposing themselves to undue risk, or words to that effect.
There was available many years ago the option to apply to the Board of Trade (?) for costs involved in a rescue when salvage was not an option- probably commercial vessels only, who knows if it still exists?
 
Re: Who foots the bill when you\'re rescued by non CG/RNLI?

In general, only people will be rescued, boats are often scuttled to eliminate risk to other vessels. Occasionally, at master's discretion & if suitable lifting tackle available, small boats have been lifted aboard.

None of the rescued sailors I have read about have mentioned salvage claims - but mostly it has only been lives saved.
 
Re: Who foots the bill when you\'re rescued by non CG/RNLI?

I thought ALL ships have an obligation under international law to respond to a mayday. But only to save lives, not vessels. They come under salvage. Right?? Or not..
A
 
Re: Who foots the bill when you\'re rescued by non CG/RNLI?

Yes, I agree, I was thinking of the Board of Trade possibility when I typed UK .....
 
Re: Who foots the bill when you\'re rescued by non CG/RNLI?

You're obliged to rescue human life - as for the vessel, they could claim salvage and start handing out Lloyds open forms.
 
Re: Who foots the bill when you\'re rescued by non CG/RNLI?

Normally you are liable for a salvage claim and normally your insurer will pay. Typically your vessel will be towed into a port and an embargo placed on it until you have settled with the salvor. Insurers are fully clued-up about all this...you don't get involved. If you are not insured, that's a different can of worms and I can't advise.
 
Re: Who foots the bill when you\'re rescued by non CG/RNLI?

The situation's different from an ad-hoc rescue when it's a dedicated rescue service that's non-RNLI/CG. They operate in exactly the same way as the RNLI/CG & don't claim salvage. BUT, if you're rescued by one of these, please make a donation. They receive no funding & have no large paid team of fund-raisers. See here for just a few
 
Re: Who foots the bill when you\'re rescued by non CG/RNLI?

Years ago when perhaps the RNLI funding was more haphazard, it was often said that the lifeboatmen wore two hats: - yes, they would risk their lives to save your life, but after that, if they rescued your boat they claimed salvage just the same as a freelance tug would.
 
Re: Who foots the bill when you\'re rescued by non CG/RNLI?

When we were picked up by a Romanian freighter in March 1974, the master of the vessel decided to tow our catamaran. I remember his very words as if he were saying them today, complete with his accent:

<span style="color:blue">" I am oblie-gid to save-a the people. I am not oblie-gid to save-a the boat. If you wish, I cut the rope. Sign salvage agreement!"</span>

As I have understood it since then, the obligation is to save lives and taking them to the next port of call / the nearest safe port. If feasible, there is a also a choice of whether to save the boat, e.g. towing or lifting on board. If this option is taken up, then the rules of salvage come into the equation. On the other hand, if salvaging is not deemed feasible or viable, the boat is scuttled, run over, or otherwise sunk so as to prevent a hazard to other shipping (as has been pointed out already).
 
Re: Who foots the bill when you\'re rescued by non CG/RNLI?

[ QUOTE ]
When we were picked up by a Romanian freighter in March 1974, the master of the vessel decided to tow our catamaran. I remember his very words as if he were saying them today, complete with his accent:

<span style="color:blue">" I am oblie-gid to save-a the people. I am not oblie-gid to save-a the boat. If you wish, I cut the rope. Sign salvage agreement!"</span>

As I have understood it since then, the obligation is to save lives and taking them to the next port of call / the nearest safe port. If feasible, there is a also a choice of whether to save the boat, e.g. towing or lifting on board. If this option is taken up, then the rules of salvage come into the equation. On the other hand, if salvaging is not deemed feasible or viable, the boat is scuttled, run over, or otherwise sunk so as to prevent a hazard to other shipping (as has been pointed out already).

[/ QUOTE ]

Blimey!

What happened that meant you needed to be rescued?
 
Re: Who foots the bill when you\'re rescued by non CG/RNLI?

American idiot who had bought the boat (the wooden plug for the original Prout Snowgoose) was on watch at three in the morning. My brother and I had offered to help him sail her to Sicily. With some twenty miles to go, around midnight, the weather became too much so I took all sails down and lay to all the warps that we had on board, fastened to the root of the mast. Bear in mind that, at that time, cats had narrow beams and flipping over was an ever present possibility.

He decided that the storm had abated (30 foot waves from the north east FFS!!!) and proceeded to take in all the warps to which we were lying and hoisted the jib. In the interval - without the braking effect of the warps - the boat proceeded fast astern. The change in motion woke me and I made it out on deck just in time to see both rudders go full over and snap against the bottom of the transom. On a cat it is not possible to sail with no rudders...

On that day I swore that I would never, ever, go sailing offshore with anyone whose capabilities I did not know. Best advice I have ever given myself.
 
Re: Who foots the bill when you\'re rescued by non CG/RNLI?

[ QUOTE ]
You're obliged to rescue human life - as for the vessel, they could claim salvage and start handing out Lloyds open forms.

[/ QUOTE ]

Partly correct. All vessels are expected to respond to a Distress call / situation unless it can be shown that their intervention could increase the disaster. This is usually decided by the party in distress or the Rescue Co-Ordinator centre of which ever authority is involved. A number of distresses involving fire and other similar have meant tankers being released from obligation to attend - obvious really ! But generally yes - vessels are expected by their flag authorities to comply with Internationally accepted conduct of assistance to anyone or vessel in distress, emergency.

As to Salvage - Lloyds Form ... it's actually Lloyds Open Form is not universal but generally accepted form. It's aim is to speed up salvage and to possibly save the vessel without potracted argument over money / interests etc. There are many other salvage forms issued by various around the world but many are pretty babaric in content ! Lloyds Open Form is advised to be quoted by either party as means to expedite salvage.
I know of some salvage outfits that will decline Lloyds Open Form, as they usually work in territorial water and instructed by that Territories authorities to salvage etc. The costs, interests, any additions after the fact all falling upon Owners to pay. Failure to do so results in all assets, hull, interests in that territory being impounded and held till clearance of said daily escalating costs or Bond taken out as g'tee.

It's a subject that really expands out to a myriad of roads !!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top