ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΑΓΓΛΙΚΑ Ε ΠΛΟΙΑΡΧΩΝ

In shipping law, salvage is the allowed to persons who voluntarily assist in saving a vessel or its cargo from impending or actual from the sea. Except for salvage performed under contract, the rescuer, known as the salvor, must act without being under any legal duty to do so. As long as the owner or the owner’s agent remains on the ship, offers of salvage may be refused. Typical acts of salvage include releasing ships that have run aground or on , raising sunken ships or their cargo, or putting out fires. The salvor has a maritime lien on the sal- vaged property, in an amount by a court based on the facts and circumstances of the case. The salvor may the property until the claim is or until security to meet an award is given. So, the term “salvage” refers to the practice of aid to a vessel in distress. At sea, a ship in distress will typically agree to “Lloyd’s Open Form” with any potential salvor. The Lloyd’s Open Form (LOF) is the standard contract, although other forms exist. The Lloyd’s Open Form is headed “No cure — no pay”; the intention being that if the attempted salvage is unsuccessful, no award will be made. However, this principle has been in recent years, and awards are now permitted in cases where, although the ship might have sunk, pollution has been avoided or mitigated.