What is the law of marine salvage?
Maritime law is a body of laws that apply to the various activities that occur on and around bodies of water such as oceans, rivers, and lakes. In the state of Washington, the law of marine salvage is a law that pertains to the rights of persons who recover lost or damaged vessels, goods, or property from the water. This law ensures that the salvors’ efforts are compensated in some way for the services they provide, either by a reward from the owner of the goods or, if the goods are abandoned, by the court-ordered sale of the goods and the proceeds of the sale. The law of marine salvage is similar to the law of finders in that the salvor has a duty to notify the owner of the goods or property, and then to take steps to protect it from any further damage. Different rules would apply to the case if the goods or property have been abandoned. In this case, the salvor has to take reasonable steps to give notice to the owner and then to take steps to preserve the goods or property in the best way possible, such as by selling them or delivering them to a suitable storage location. The salvor may then be able to keep the proceeds of the sale or may be entitled to a reward from the owner. In addition to having a duty to the owner of the goods or property, the salvor must also take steps to protect any third parties who may have an interest in the goods or property. This includes taking efforts to protect any environmental interests, such as making sure that the goods and any pollutants associated with them are not dumped back into the water. In exchange for their efforts in recovering lost or damaged goods or property, the court may order the owner to reward the salvors either wholly or partially, depending on the circumstances. The court may also impose costs on the owner of the damaged goods or property, such as towing fees or storage costs, which the salvors may be able to recover from the owner.
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