What rights and obligations does a salvor have after saving a vessel?
A salvor who has earned the right to a salvage award for the successful voluntary salvage to a vessel in peril has a preferred maritime lien on the vessel. However, a salvor must surrender possession of the vessel to the owner on demand if the owner posts reasonable security for the claim. It is improper for the salvor to deny the owner or the owner’s agents access to the vessel or property to inspect it or preserve it. If the owner declines to post sufficient security to pay salvage charges, the salvor must turn the vessel over to the U. S. Marshall and proceed to foreclose the maritime lien.