Seaworthy - January 2010

SEAWORTHY

The BoatU.S. Marine Insurance and Damage Avoidance Report*

Making Sense of

Towing vs. Salvage

In the last issue of Seaworthy, there was an account in “Small Stuff” of a grounded sailboat that was narrowly saved one stormy night from being battered to pieces against a stone jetty at Oceanside Harbor on the California coast. After informing the owner that his boat would be salvaged, Capt. Robert Butler of BoatU.S. Vessel Assist

San Diego had to work quickly and skillfully to get the boat back to open water before low tide. As Seaworthy noted, it was a textbook example of what it takes to complete a successful salvage on open water. The $19,000 salvage fee— 20% of the boat’s post-

In This Issue . . .

CORROSION TESTING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

MARINE GEAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

NUTS AND BOLTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

FISH STORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

*The BoatU.S. Damage Avoidance Program is
dedicated to helping you enjoy accident-free boating.
Seaworthy looks at real claims and how they might
have been avoided. Material in Seaworthy may be
reprinted with credit to “Seaworthy, the BoatU.S.
Marine Insurance and Damage Avoidance Report.”

casualty value—may seem high, considering the rescue was done within a few hours, but for centuries courts have allowed “excessive compensation” when a salvor voluntarily rescues a vessel and/or crew from peril. This is done to encourage professional mariners to invest in equipment and accept risk that will save lives and property. More recently, courts have added peril to the environment as a determinant in awarding salvage claims.

Defining Salvage

When Captain Butler informed the skipper that his boat was being salvaged, it was more than just a casual comment on the fierce weather; it had to do with the cost of the work that was about to be done and who would eventually be paying.