Wreck Removal

Wreck Removal in Maritime Law

Note: There is more information on maritime/admiralty law here.

The following is a definition of Wreck Removal, produced by Tetley, in the context of admiralty law: The operation of clearing navigable waters of sunken vessels or other submerged objects which threaten the safety of navigation. Wreck removal claims are frequently secured by special legislative rights (see this maritime law term in this legal dictionary) of detention, sale and/or forfeiture, under national law. See Tetley, M.L.C., 2 Ed., 1998 at pp. 103-125; Tetley, Int’l M. & A. L, 2003 at p. 476. Wreck removal operations are often conducted under the terms of certain standard-form contracts, including, for example, those issued by BIMCO (see this maritime law term in this legal dictionary), and approved by theInternational Salvage Union (see this maritime law term in this legal dictionary), viz., the “International Wreck Removal and Marine Services Agreement (Fixed Price – “No Cure, No Pay”) (Code Name: “Wreckfixed 99”), the “International Wreck Removal and Marine Services Agreement (Lump Sum – Stage Payments) (Code Name: “Wreckstage 99”), or the “International Wreck Removal and Marine Service Agreement (Daily Hire) (Code Name: “Wreckhire 99”).