Salvage contract for ship - How to request ?

Handling,responsibility & recordings

Request for Salvage
The Master shall normally request salvage after consultation with the Company. However he has
complete authority to seek salvage assistance without reference to the Company if he considers
this necessary.

The Master should refer to the publication on board Peril at Sea and Salvage for professional
guidance.

Matters to be Confirmed when Concluding a Salvage Contract

The Master shall confirm the following items when concluding a salvage contract:
Instructions given by the Company (if available);
Name of Salvagers and Position of Signatories;
Contents of Salvage Contract;
Place of arbitration for Salvage Awards
Getting consent of the hull insurance company and cargo owners, where possible.

Attention to be Paid in Concluding Salvage Contract

Decided by the Master
(1) A salvage contract shall normally be concluded with consent of the Hull Insurance Company
and Cargo Owners.
(2) In an Urgent situation, the Master may conclude a salvage contract by his own decision to
protect Human lives, the Hull and Cargo, and to avoid Environmental Pollution.
(3) The Master shall take the following matters into consideration in concluding a salvage
contract :

 The contract shall be in the form of a Daily Hire Basis or Towage contract as far as the situation
permits.
When a salvage agreement is deemed necessary, the agreement shall be according to the LOF
2000 Standard Form of Salvage Agreement.
An offer of a salvage operation shall not be declined only for the reason that mutual agreement
cannot be reached on the salvage awards, taking the level of urgency into careful consideration.
If several salvage operations are offered, only the salvage operation deemed necessary to
remove danger shall be selected.

The Masters Responsibility during Salvage Operation

(1) Even in a case where a salvage contract has been concluded and the salvager carries out the
salvage operation, the Master continuous to be responsible for the persons, hull, outfit and the
cargo onboard. Therefore, the Master shall pay great attention to the safe and effective execution
of the salvage operation.
(2) No Cure No Pay is the basic principle of the Lloyds Open Form, and it is generally
understood that the rescued party shall not interfere with the rescue operation. Therefore, the
Master shall be diplomatic and cooperative towards the salvagers, so as to not disadvantage
arbitration in the future.
(3) If the Master offers his opinion on the salvage operation to the salvagers, it shall be made
clear that these are Suggestions only, so that the responsibility is not shifted to him in the future.
(4) If the Master according to his professional judgment has to interfere in a salvage operation to
safeguard human life, vessel, cargo and the environment he shall offer his protest in writing.

Recording during Salvage Operation

(1) For proper assessment of the salvage awards at the arbitration later, the Master shall record
the following items during the salvage operation :
Weather and Sea conditions, such as Wind, Waves, Tide, Current, Temperature, Sea water
Temperature, Atmospheric pressure;
A salvage operation record book shall be prepared to enter details as Number of Workers (by

each job, if possible), Working hours, Details and Movement of Salvage boats and Special Work
Boats, Type and Quantity of Main Equipment and Machinery in use, Type and Quantity of
Lightened Cargo (if any);
Protest or comments made (in writing) by the Master
If the salvager uses the machinery, outfit and equipment of the vessel, this shall be recorded;
If the hull or cargo has been Damaged or Sacrificed by the Salvager during the operation, a
written confirmation shall be obtained from the salvager.
(2) The Master shall investigate and record following, considering that the items are important
for a salvage award:
Details of the distress;
Condition around the vessel;
Dangers facing the salvagers during the salvage operation

Report to the Company

The Master shall report the following items to the Company immediately after the completion of
the salvage operation as the data to assess whether the operation has been reasonable and carried
out effectively or not, in deciding the salvage awards in the future:
Date, time, Place and Nature of Emergency;
Method used to request salvage;
Emergency Measures taken to protect the vessel;
Continuous record of Sea and Weather conditions during salvage operation;
Proximity of Coast, Geographical Features around the vessel, the nature of the Seabed, Tidal
current, Tidal height and other dangers experienced;
Availability of Alternative Salvage
Dates and Times of arrival of the Salvager, Signing of salvage contract and Starting of the

salvage operation and Details of salvage vessel(s);

A description in detail of the salvage operation at each stage, equipment used and methods for
use (Enter in time series);
Details of the Towing from the place of disaster to the port of refuge (Distance, Speed,
Required days, Weather, Towing conditions, and so on); and
The date, Time and Place of Completion of the salvage operation.

Legal assistance - Appointment of Company Solicitor

The Company may appoint a solicitor after an incident involving liability and/or third parties to
act on behalf of Owners and Underwriters in order to investigate the incident. If this decision is
made, the Master will be immediately notified and given details of the lawyer attending. The
ships personnel must not discuss the incident with anyone other than the lawyer.
In certain countries, a civil authority may be given the responsibility of investigating the
incident. In such a circumstance it is in order to discuss the case with the civil authority
investigator but, if possible, any discussion is to be delayed until the arrival of the Companys
solicitor.