Rights—and wrongs of salvage claims
Salvage rights to an abandoned vessel are not claimed by simply putting a note on the mast saying you were there first and therefore it is yours, according to one of New Zealand's leading maritime law experts. A properly attached writ, according to Mr I. M. Mackay, of the firm of P.
and I. Services, Ltd, Wellington, must be issued by and bear the seal of the Supreme Court. “Just because you tie a piece of string to a ship and write your name on the vessel does not mean it is yours,” he said. To gain salvage rights under maritime law, Mr Mackay said, you must
actually salve. This does not mean you have to tow the ship into calm and sheltered waters by yourself; you may be entitled to “some of the lolly” by assisting.
“It does not matter who is first aboard; what matters is what he does in actually salvaging the vessel,” Mr Mackay said.
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Press, 13 June 1978, Page 1
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164Rights—and wrongs of salvage claims Press, 13 June 1978, Page 1
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