Sheriffs and all persons employed by them or aiding in the recovery and preservation of wrecked property, are entitled to a reasonable allowance as salvage for their services, and to all expenses incurred by them in their performance, out of the property saved. The officer having the custody of the property shall detain it until the allowance is paid or tendered. But the whole salvage claimed shall not exceed one-half of the value of the property or proceeds on which it is charged, and every agreement, order, or adjustment allowing a greater salvage is void, unless ordered and allowed by the superior court of the county.
Wrecks and SalvageSalvage
Section § 530
This law states that sheriffs and their helpers can receive a fair payment, called salvage, for their efforts in recovering and protecting wrecked property. They also get reimbursed for any costs they incur while doing this work. The property will be kept by the officer in charge until the payment is made. However, the total salvage payment cannot be more than half the value of the saved property or its proceeds. Any agreement to pay more than this is not valid unless it's approved by the county's superior court.
sheriffs wrecked property recovery salvage allowance
Section § 531
If an officer gets an order to give back lost property or pay money from it, they must give the person claiming it a written list of all costs for recovering and handling it. If the claimant doesn't agree with those costs, there's a process to sort it out as explained in this article.
Every officer to whom an order for the delivery of wrecked property or the payment of its proceeds is directed, shall present to the claimant of the property or proceeds, a written statement of the claims for salvage and expenses. If the claimant refuses to allow that amount, it shall be adjusted as provided in this article.
wrecked property salvage claims salvage expenses
Section § 532
If there's a disagreement about the amount of salvage and expenses after a shipwreck, the court will settle the amount. This can be requested by various parties involved such as the property owner or claimants. The court may handle it directly or appoint three neutral local individuals to decide, similar to referees in a civil case. Their decision becomes the official judgment.
If, in any case, the amount of salvage and expenses is not settled by agreement, on the application of the owner or consignee of the property, or the master or supercargo having charge at the time of the wreck, or of a claimant having an order for the property, or of a person claiming salvage or expenses, the superior court of the county shall determine the amount of salvage and expenses in a summary way, either by itself hearing the allegations and proofs, or by referring the questions to three disinterested freeholders of the county, who shall have the same powers and shall proceed in the same manner as referees in civil actions. Their decisions as to the whole amount and as to the sums to be paid to each person interested shall be entered as the judgment of the court.
salvage disputes maritime wreck salvage expenses
Section § 533
If someone requests a salvage contest, they need to cover the costs, and these costs can be taken from the salvaged property. Also, referees involved in the contest will be paid daily and have their expenses covered as decided by the court.
The fees and expenses of the contest shall be paid by the person upon whose application it was had, and are a charge on the property saved. Each referee is entitled to such per diem and expenses as the court may order.
salvage contest costs property saved contest expenses
Section § 534
If someone rescues a ship or its cargo from danger, they can get paid a fair amount, which is called "salvage," from what they saved. This person also has a legal claim, or lien, on the ship or cargo until they are paid.
However, if the ship being rescued and the rescuing ship belong to the same owner, the rescuer can't claim salvage. Instead, they'd get reimbursed for their actual costs through a shared expense process when one ship helps the other if in trouble.
Any person, other than the master, mate, or a seaman of a wrecked vessel, who rescues it, or its appurtenances or cargo from danger, is entitled to a reasonable compensation, to be paid out of the property saved. He shall have a lien for salvage upon the vessel and its appurtenances or cargo, as the case may be. A claim for salvage, as such, can not accrue against any vessel, or its freight, or cargo, in favor of the owners, officers, or crew of another vessel belonging to the same owners; but the actual cost at the time of the services rendered by one such vessel to another, when in distress, are payable through a general average contribution on the property saved.
rescue compensation salvage claim ship rescue
