Articles

This article unravels the Gordian Knot of claims and counter claims which often result from the collision of a tugboat, its tow and a third vessel. How the blame game gets resolved Collisions between tug and tow and other ships do occur. There are numerous scenarios of course, and it can get complicated, but let’s keep…

This article examines how changing circumstances can be costly for salvage firms, especially if salvage or wreck removal contracts are not absolutely watertight at the start of any operation. Who pays if it doesn’t go to plan? Risk versus reward is key to the likely profitability – or, in a tough market, the viability – of…

This article examines how the first real test of EU Operational Guidelines on Places of Refuge allowed authorities to go some way towards redeeming their reputation Viva España on Place of Refuge Hats off to the Spanish authorities for granting the stricken Modern Express a place of refuge at Bilbao and full marks to Smit…

This article tells how four weeks of intense negotiations led to a lone middle-aged woman making a perilous journey to deliver a ransom to hostage-takers in Nigeria. Why everybody needs a Brave Betty Recently a middle-aged woman – let’s call her Betty or, better still, Brave Betty – headed out in her small car on a…

This article examines how overturning a very Victorian ruling on collisions with towage has not necessarily simplified matters for everyone involved. Judge decides tug and tow one unit A very long time ago, a very famous (and senior) judge steered a course that led to some very lucky escapes for negligent tug owners in cases of…