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Salvage, historically and legally,
is any voluntary and successful rescue of a boat, its cargo and/or it’s
passengers from peril at sea. TowBoatUS,
On-The-Water Towing plans do not cover the member for salvage or pollution clean
up costs. Many boat insurance policies do, however, cover these costs.
Check
with your insurance agent to determine if these costs are covered by your policy.
If your boat insurance policy is underwritten by BoatUS and you need salvage services, TowBoatUS Cape Coral will work
directly with BoatUS Marine Insurance underwriters and send all invoices related to the salvage of your boat directly
to them for payment. If, however, you are insured by another insurance underwriter,
you may have to pay for the salvage costs upfront and seek reimbursement from
your boat insurance company.
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Salvage operations are billed on the basis
of the length of the boat to be salvaged, the complexity
of the salvage operation, the kinds of equipment needed
and the number of personnel involved. Salvage fees range
from a simple price per foot multiplied by the length
of the vessel being salvaged to a percentage of the
full insured value of the vessel. Pollution clean up
is billed on the basis of the time, materials, and personnel
required.
The accompanying box below illustrates
the range of possible charges.
Salvage: |
Fees range
from $25 per foot of vessel length to a percentage
of the insured value of the vessel depending on
the equipment needed and complexity of the salvage.
Additional hourly charges for any vessel(s) involved
in the salvage may also apply. |
Oil
spill/fuel pollution clean up: |
Billed on the basis
of personnel time, cleanup equipment, and materials
used, and disposal charges for contaminated materials.
Personnel charges are $75 - $150 per hour per
person. Materials costs are dependent on materials
required. |
As you can see, salvage costs can mount quickly. Your best protection
against incurring a huge salvage bill is to carry adequate insurance on your
boat. To further protect your investment, it is a good idea to perform regular
and routine maintenance to ensure trouble-free boating. Boaters should make
sure their insurance policy provides for the full value of their boat, not a
percentage of its value, and that there is no deductible for salvage costs.
The BoatUS Marine Insurance program
offers this level of service.
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Towing
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Salvage
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TowBoatUS Tarpon Springs, FL |
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TowBoatUS Pensacola, FL |
"The
thin veneer we call civilization can disappear
where a shipwreck is concerned."
Richard Loran, Shipwrecks of Great Britain
and Ireland
Understanding the difference between towing and
salvage can save boaters money and aggrevation.
Historically and legally, salvage is any voluntary
and successful rescue of a boat., its cargo and/or
its passengers from a peril at sea. BoatUS, however,
narrows this definition. When contracting for
towing services on behalf of its 650,000 members,
it requires that marine assistance companies distinguish
between simple towing and/or soft groundings and
the more serious and expensive salvage efforts
where distress or danger exist.
The
distinction between towing and salvage is reflected
in the different types of programs available to
boaters. Towing assistance, like the pre-paid
service available to BoatUS members from the TowBoatUS
fleet, provides help for breakdowns and light
groundings. The far more expensive salvage claims
are covered only by yacht insurance policies.
If
the salvor wants to do the job but does not know
what the cost will be but will make claim afterwards,
the final amount will be decided one of three
ways -- negotiation with your insurance company;
binding arbitration (including the BoatUS Salvage
Arbitration Program, a lowcost option available
to any boat owner, insurance company, and marine
assistance company) or, rarely, through litigation
in federal admiralty courts.
All
boaters should review their marine insurance coverage
with their agent. The best protection against
a salvage bill is adequate insurance. Boaters
should make sure the policy provides for salvage
up to the full value of the boat, not a percentage
of its value, and that there is no deductible
for salvage costs. The BoatUS marine insurance
program offers this level of service.
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At Marine Towing and Salvage of Southwest Florida we are proud to serve the boating community, as the Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) licensed marine assistance provider in Southwest Florida.
TowBoatUS Cape Coral, Marine Towing and Salvage of S.W. Florida, offers marine assistance towing, fuel delivery, part delivery, jump starts, contract towing, marine salvage, diving services, and contract oil pollution clean-up services. |
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Understanding the difference between towing and salvage can save boaters money and aggrevation. Historically and legally, salvage is any voluntary and successful rescue of a boat., its cargo and/or its passengers from a peril at sea. BoatUS, however, narrows this definition. When contracting for towing services on behalf of its 650,000 members, it requires that marine assistance companies distinguish between simple towing and/or soft groundings and the more serious and expensive salvage efforts where distress or danger exist.
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We're not just a bunch of pretty faces....
Meet the captains who make sure you and your boat are safe!
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