marine salvage rights

[austin89]

dont know if this is the proper forum, looking for advise on marine salvage rights in Florida. Found a over-turned vessel on the ocean shoreline, boat has fla. boat registration numbers on it. no one was around. the city later came and removed boat. however, i was the first one on the scene, would I have salvage rights to the vessel, and if so, is it the owners burden to look for boat or does the salvager have to inform the owner of its vessels whereabouts.

 

[Xjudge]

Federal salvage laws state a vessel must be considered abandoned for a period of 10 years before the legal owner gives up their rights to ownership. And the government body that has jurisdiction over the water way (in this case a city as you stated) would have first rights if the legal owner abandons the vessel. And there is the possibility that vessels legal owner is an insurance company that paid off when the vessel was lost. It would be difficult, if not impossible, for an individual such as yourself to ever claim ownership of an abandoned boat.

 

[coastalventures]

salvage rights

my company is trying to find a salvage rights attorney in new jersey, as we are looking at a shipwreck there. there was a company who had salvage rights to the wreck in question, but they've gone out og business...any advice??

 

[FlyingRon]

You don't get salvage rights for saying "I saw it first." You get salvage by saving property in peril and sea and reducing environmental damage. The boat doesn't need to be abandoned to be subject to salvage. It's an intricate piece of maritime law.