7/30/2019 Salvage convention
1/27
INTERNATIONALINTERNATIONAL
CONVENTIONCONVENTION
S.A Hosseini
IRISL Maritime Training Institute
7/30/2019 Salvage convention
2/27
International
Conventionon Salvage,
1989
7/30/2019 Salvage convention
3/27
International Convention on Salvage 1989
7/30/2019 Salvage convention
4/27
International Convention on Salvage 1989
Is an IMO Convention which entered into force on 14July 1996. The main provisions are:
1. Salvage operation means any act or activity undertaken to assist a
vessel or any other propertyin danger in navigable waters or in any
other waters whatsoever.
2. Vessel means any ship or craft, or any structure capable of
navigation
3. Property means any property not permanently and intentionally
attached to the shoreline and includes freight at risk.4. The master of the salved vessel will have the authority to conclude
salvage contracts on behalf of the owner, and the master or the owner
will have the authority to conclude salvage contracts on behalf of the
owner of property on the vessel.
7/30/2019 Salvage convention
5/27
Duties of the salvor
The salvor will owe a duty to the owner of the vessel or other
property in danger :
To carry out the salvage operations with due care;
To exercise due care to prevent or minimise damage to theenvironment;
Whenever circumstances reasonably require, to seek assistance from
other salvors; and
To accept the intervention of other salvors when reasonably
requested to do so by the owner or master of the vessel or otherproperty in danger; provided that the amount of his reward will not be
prejudiced if it is found that the request was unreasonable.
7/30/2019 Salvage convention
6/27
Duties of the owner and master
The owner and master of the vessel or the owner ofother property in danger will owe a duty to thesalvor :
To co-operate fully with him during the salvageoperations;
To exercise due care to prevent or minimise damage tothe environment;
when the vessel or property have been brought to a placeof safety, to accept redelivery when reasonably requestedby the salvor.
Every master must, so far as he can do so without seriousdanger to his vessel and persons on board, render
7/30/2019 Salvage convention
7/27
Rights of salvors
Salvage operations which have had a useful result give
right to a reward.
Except where special compensation is due, no
payment will be due if there is no useful result.
The salvors rights are not affected where he owns
both the salving and salved vessel.
7/30/2019 Salvage convention
8/27
Criteria for fixing the reward
the salved value of the vessel and otherproperty;
the skill and efforts of the salvors in preventing or minimising damage to
the environment;
the measure of success obtained by the salvor;
the nature and degree of danger;
the skill and efforts of the salvors in salving the vessel, other property and
life;
the time used and expenses and losses incurred by the salvors;
the risk of liability and other risks run by the salvors or their equipment;
the promptness of the services rendered;
the availability and use of vessels or other equipment intended for salvage
operations;
the state of readiness and efficiency of the salvors equipment and the value
thereof.
7/30/2019 Salvage convention
9/27
Special compensation
If the salvor has carried out salvage operations in respect of a vesselwhich by itself or its cargo threatened damage to the environment,
have failed to earn a reward , the salvor will be entitled to special
compensation from the vessels owner equivalent to his expenses, i.e.
his out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred in the salvage
operation and a fair rate for equipment and personnel actually andreasonably used.
If the salvor has prevented or minimised damage to the environment,
the special compensation payable by the owner may be increased up to
a maximum of 30% of the salvors expenses (i.e. it may be 130% of his
expenses).
If it deems it fair and just to do so, may increase the special
compensation up to a maximum of 100% of the salvors expenses.
7/30/2019 Salvage convention
10/27
Claims and actions
Nothing in the Convention will affect the salvors maritime
lien under any international convention or national law.
The salvor may not enforce his lien when satisfactorysecurity
for his claim, including interest and costs, has been paid.
The owner of the salved vessel must ensure that the owners of
the cargo provide satisfactory security for the claims against
them including interest and costs before the cargo is released.
The salved vessel and other property must not, without the
salvors consent, be moved from the port or place where they
first arrive after completion of the salvage operations until
satisfactory security has been put up.
7/30/2019 Salvage convention
11/27
Salvage agreements
There are two main types of salvage agreement:
on the basis ofordinary tariff, fixed lump sum or daily rate; and
on the basis that remuneration will be settled later, whether by agreement,
court judgement or arbitration.
Salvage services arranged on basis of ordinary tariff, lump sum, etc. is usually
cheaper and should always be obtained if time allows, e.g. where the vessel is
soft aground in a sheltered, non-tidal harbour and not in imminent danger.
Salvage on the basis that remuneration will be settled later includes services
rendered in times of imminent danger to the ship or environment. The
agreement most often used in such cases is Lloyds Standard Form of Salvage
Agreement, commonly known as Lloyds Open Form or LOF
7/30/2019 Salvage convention
12/27
Advantages of using LOF
agreement can be reached via radio (if witnessed) or other telecoms methods; there is
no need for the form to be signed until the salvage services have been completed;
the agreement is not likely to be disputed;
LOF is basically a no-cure, no-pay agreement;
English law applies to claims;
the salvor has a maritime lien in the property salved, even after its sale to another
party (e.g. where a salved ship or cargo is sold to try to avoid having to pay salvage
charges);
salved property can be quickly released on payment of security to the salvor;
the salvor gets an interim award;
disputes are referred to arbitration in London, saving legal costs;
underwriters liability cannot be increased beyond that for total loss (i.e.
underwriters will not be liable for sue and labour costs where a total loss occurs);
and
7/30/2019 Salvage convention
13/27
LOF historical development
The first Lloyds Form of Salvage Agreement 1892 has undergone 10 revisions, the latest
being LOF 2000.
In its early editions (up to LOF 1970), LOF was a straight no cure, no pay contract.
The (LOF 80) provid a safety net for salvors who agreed to the salvage ofloaded
oil tankers. The safety net guaranteed that the salvors expenses would be paid in
cases where the value of the salved property proved insufficient to provide for a
normal salvage reward. In addition, the salvor could receive an an increment of up to
a maximum of 15% of his expenses.
special compensation, was introduced in article 14 of the International
Salvage Convention, 1989. The 1990 edition of Lloyds Open Form (LOF 90)
contract gave immediate effect to article 14.
The Scopic Clause came into effect in August 1999. An improved edition, Scopic 2000,
was introduced in September 2000
7/30/2019 Salvage convention
14/27
7/30/2019 Salvage convention
15/27
Lloyds Open Form 2000
(LOF 2000) Should be used where the ship or marine environment are at
risk and the master has insufficient time to request the
owner to arrange salvage services on a the basis of a pre-
agreed rate or sum.
Does not need to be on board; the masters of the vessels
involved simply need to expressly agree to its terms before the
salvage services commence.
Is regarded by the International Salvage Union as a major
advance, with clear, user-friendly language and many
innovations.
7/30/2019 Salvage convention
16/27
Lloyds Open Form 2000
(LOF 2000) Cont Defines the conditions under which a casualty is in a safe condition
for redeliveryto the owner.
Under LOF 2000 the Contractors (salvors) agrees to use their best
endeavours to salve the property specified, and take the property tothe place stated or to a place of safety.
Has a boxed front page layout with numbered boxes( 1-9 ) for information to
be entered as follows: 1. Name of the salvage contractors; 2. Property to be
salved 3. Agreed place of safety; 4. Agreed currency 5. Date of agreement; 6.
Place of agreement; 7. Is the Scopic Clause incorporated into thisagreement? Yes/No; 8. Name and signature of person signing for and on
behalf of the Contractors; 9. Name and signature of Captain or other person
signing for and on behalf of the property, with signature.
7/30/2019 Salvage convention
17/27
Special Compensation P&I Clause SCOPIC May be invoked at the option of the salvage contractor by written
notice on the owners of the vessel being salvaged.
Determines the method of assessing special compensation where
payable Special compensation assessed in accordance with the Scopic
Clause is called Scopic remuneration
Does not change the no cure no pay principle as applying to the
salvage award, since that it separate from special compensation.
Allows the vessel owners, once the Clause has been invoked, to appoint
at their sole option a Shipowners Casualty Representative (SCR) to
attend the salvage operation in accordance with the terms and
conditions in Appendix B to the Clause.
Scopic remuneration is payable only by the owners of the vessel.
7/30/2019 Salvage convention
18/27
Considerations before accepting salvage
assistance Seek advice and instructions from the shipowner, but only if time
allows.
Immediately request assistance if he thinks it necessary for the safety
of the ship, crew and cargo. Accept the assistance that seems the most reasonable, taking into
account the possible value of the assisting ships, her ability to perform the
salvage services and the amount of her deviation from her intended route.
Try to obtain agreement to Lloyds Open Form 2000 before accepting
any salvage services offered.
Give the salvor all possible assistance to enable him to do the job,
remembering, however, that the more that can be done by the ships crew,
the less will be the salvors reward and the cost to the shipowner and cargo
7/30/2019 Salvage convention
19/27
Considerations before accepting salvage
assistance- Cont If immediate assistance is not required and time allows assistance
should be arranged through the owner on a contractual basis
stipulating ordinary tariff, fixed lump sum or a daily rate.
Where safety of life, the ship, the cargo or the marine environment
are in immediate peril, however (as in the case of a disabled, laden
vessel drifting onto a lee shore in a densely-trafficked area), negotiations
should not delay the engagement of salvors.
In cases of immediate peril there should never be a delay to negotiate
a particular form of agreement or contract terms.
7/30/2019 Salvage convention
20/27
In deciding whether to accept salvage assistance the
master should take account of : safety of personnel;
proximity to the shore or shoal water;
weather and sea conditions;
current and tide; nature of sea bed and shoreline;
availability of assistance;
damage already sustained by ship;
risk of further damage to ship;
prospect of maintaining communications; threat of pollution; and
manpower and material requirements.
7/30/2019 Salvage convention
21/27
Accepting salvage assistance
Acceptance of an offer of services on the basis of Lloyds Open Form
(LOF) may be made orallyor byradio, fax, e-mail or other form of
communication by sending a message as follows:
ACCEPT SALVAGE SERVICES ON BASIS LLOYDS STANDARD
FORM LOF NO CURE NO PAY. ACKNOWLEDGE REPEATINGFOREGOING. MASTER (SHIPS NAME).
The authority of the master is not reduced by engagement of
salvors.
The master and crew should, however, co-operate fully withprofessional salvors.
The master should ensure that he is fully aware of all salvage
actions.
7/30/2019 Salvage convention
22/27
place of safety,
Factors to be considered The repair facilities at the place;
The possibility of safely discharging and storing cargo and of
forwarding it to its destination;
The danger of deterioration of the cargo in the place;
Whether the place is the most suitable place at which the vessel
can be repaired, with regard to nearness, convenience,
cheapness and facilities; and
Whether the vessel is capable of manoeuvring under her ownpower or not, and whether, therefore, she could still be regarded
as being in a position of danger even though moored in a safe
port.
7/30/2019 Salvage convention
23/27
Offering salvage assistance
There is a statutory obligation to attempt to save the
lives of persons in distress at sea but no such obligation
to save maritime propertyin danger of being lost.
Any attempt by the master of a merchant vessel to save
property is a commercial venture and not a statutory
obligation.
A vessel requiring a tow (e.g. a disabled, drifting vessel) is
not necessarily in distress.
7/30/2019 Salvage convention
24/27
Factor to be considered before contracting to
perform a salvage service
Does the contract of carriage give the vessel the liberty to tow?
Are there sufficient bunkers and/or fresh water on board for the tow,
and will sufficient reserves be maintained, throughout and after the
tow, to meet the stipulations of the owner or charterers? Is there a possibility of missing anycancelling date under a charter
party?
Does the nature of the cargo permit a lengthening of the voyage?
Is the vessels machinery of adequate power and in good enoughcondition for towing?
Is the value of the vessel requesting the tow, plus her cargo, of
sufficient value to merit a salvage service?
7/30/2019 Salvage convention
25/27
Factor to be considered before contracting to
perform a salvage service- Cont
Has an agreement to salvage on Lloyds Open Form terms been
made?
Has a port ofdestination or place of safetybeen agreed?
Have the owner or manager and any time charterer been
notified, so that additional hull insurance can be arranged if
necessary?
Are proper records of all events and circumstances to date
bein ke t?
7/30/2019 Salvage convention
26/27
SALVAGE
. . . "
." .
.
"" %. .
.
.
- .
7/30/2019 Salvage convention
27/27
THE ENDTHE END