When you hear the term “marine salvage”, you may think of salvaging long-sunken ships from the bottom of the sea. But in fact, marine salvage is much more common than that. Nevertheless, this service is very important. It helps shipowners and cargo owners around the world get their things back. In addition, it keeps trade routes open and protects the environment.
This article will show you the different types of marine salvage and the process of marine salvage. Read on to find out more.
What Is Salvage?
Salvage is the process of raising a vessel from the seabed after a maritime accident. The term is therefore also used to retrieve any cargo that was loaded on board. The first stage of salvage is to bring the vessel back to the surface. The second stage is marine towing, which involves towing the vessel to a place where it can be stored by a ship-stopping management business.
Marine salvage is usually carried out by specialist companies hired by the shipowner and cargo owner to recover their property. The Brussels Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules Relating to Maritime Salvage and Salvage (1910) and the International Convention on Salvage (1989) are the two international rules covering the salvage of ships.
The Salvage Process
In general, maritime salvage can be divided into two main categories: pure salvage and the use of Lloyd’s Open Form. Let’s take a look at these two different salvage processes.
Pure Salvage
When a ship and its cargo are salvaged, this is referred to as “pure salvage” if there is no contract. Instead, the salvors should exercise their legal right to be paid for salvaging the ship. The court will then decide on the reward that the salvors should receive.
Typically, a reward of between 10% and 25% is given to the salvors. Factors such as the difficulty of the salvage operation, the value of the property, and the possible impact on the environment can influence the amount of compensation.
Lloyd’s Open Form
Another situation is contract salvage, where the salvors sign a contract before the salvage operation. This is almost always governed by Lloyd’s Open Form.
The Lloyd’s Open Form salvage agreement is the most common salvage contract in the world. It was created at the end of the 19th century and has been in use ever since. It basically tells the salvors how much they will be paid if they salvage a ship or cargo.
The Lloyd’s Open Form can be administered by the Lloyd’s Open Form Salvage Arbitration, which regulates salvage at sea. All those involved, from the ship or cargo owner to the salvors, should consider using it. This will avoid any disputes during or after the operation.
Different Types of Salvage
There are many types of salvage, although you might think there is only one. Here are the most important types of salvage and some information about them.
Port Salvage
As the name suggests, this is the process of towing a vessel back from the quay. This means that the conditions are likely to be less hostile. Ports are often calm and have less current than the open sea.
Salvage in a port is a very important task that needs to be carried out immediately. This is because a sunken or stranded ship and its cargo can pose a serious danger to other ships trying to use the port.
Salvage of Sunken Ships
This means safely recovering all or part of a sunken or stranded vessel. It also includes recovering some or all of the cargo. This can be a ship that ran aground recently or one that sank hundreds of years ago. Such as the Nuestra Señora de Atocha, discovered in 1985. In 1623, the galleon sank with an estimated $400 million in gold and other booty on board.
As you can imagine, the situations salvors may face are extremely varied. These situations can make salvage operations difficult or even impossible. To make salvage operations faster, portable submersibles are often used. Nowadays, salvors can accomplish some truly remarkable things. For example, in 2021, they set a new record by discovering the fuselage of a crashed Sea Hawk helicopter at a depth of 5,814 meters.
Equipment Salvage
The value of the contents of a ship sometimes exceeds the value of the ship itself. This means that salvors can recover only what is salvageable from the ship. Examples are engines and important goods loaded on the ship. This is also a common type of marine salvage.
Afloat Salvage
In this case, the ship is still afloat but is unable to move for some reason. A well-known example is the MV Cougar Ace, which lost its balance while transporting more than 5,200 cars near the Aleutian Islands. Salvors spent a lot of time stabilizing the ship before towing it to safety. Although the ship was eventually salvaged, most of the cars on board were thrown overboard.
Clearance Salvage
The aim of this type of marine salvage is not to return the vessel or cargo to the water but to move them out of the way. This allows other vessels to pass safely or protects the environment.
Summary
Marine salvage is a complex and critical field. It plays a pivotal role in protecting the environment, safeguarding valuable assets, and ensuring safety at sea. Whether it is wreck removal, cargo recovery, or wreck floating. Each type has its unique purpose and is used to tackle specific challenges in the maritime industry.
By understanding the different types of salvage operations, you will appreciate the expertise and precision involved in each. Marine salvage is constantly evolving as technology and processes advance. It provides effective solutions to minimize risk and restore stability, even in the most challenging situations. And Zhonghaihang’s marine salvage airbags are an important aid in this endeavour. Contact our team today and we will provide you with a professional salvage airbag design solution that
FAQ
What is the Difference Between Salvage and Wreck Removal?
Salvage is the retrieval of a vessel or cargo that still has value. Wreck removal, on the other hand, usually means that the vessel and its cargo are lost forever. Wreck removal aims to prevent damage to other vessels or the environment.
What is the Role of the Insurance Company During Salvage?
If you want to recover your vessel or cargo, you need to get in touch with your insurance company. This is because most types of marine insurance cover salvage costs. It is important to note that not all insurance plans cover salvage costs. Therefore, it is important to check this before taking out any insurance.
