Sea Pirates?? Here's the real deal.

[seadogg]

As an employee of a tow-assist/salvage operation, i have to disagree with the individual's stance in the posted link. First off, there are circumstances and conditions that must be present to deem a case a "salvage". An insurance company will not just blindly pay a salvor if absolute proof of such conditions or circumstances are not proven to have existed. To elaborate, if a vessel is in no immediate or imminent danger (also known as peril), then there is no salvage situation. If, in fact, a vessel is in a scenario where destruction or damage will occur to that vessel (or it will damage another) without outside intervention then a salvage situation exists, and a company like TowboatUS, SeaTow, or SafeSea can provide assistance. In other words, if you've fouled your prop, have no means of safe propulsion in heavy seas in a narrow channel and you're unable to anchor the vessel, it's safe to assume that without intervention your vessel will be damaged or worse. The salvage company will then provide their services, later submitting a quote based on the salvaged vessels's value, job risk to crew and equipment (including sea and weather conditions), distance travelled, potential for loss or damage to the salvaged vessel (or damage that has already occured), etc. I couldn't help but notice the term "extorion" in the headline, and i find this idea laughable. Would these people prefer to be left to their own devices and lose the boat entirely, or maybe their lives??? I think not. This isn't the first time i've heard such a story, and i'm sure it won't be the last, so as a loyal employee that believes in and stands behind the service of assistance towing and salvage, i feel it's a duty to inform where i can. Whether you're a TowBoatUS, SeaTow or other towing service member, your membership is money well spent and pays for towing, fuel drops, battery jumps and soft (sand, mud, gravel) ungroundings. If you find yourself in a perilous situation where damage or total destruction is sure to take place and you're unable to avert such a situation, then that situation becomes a salvage, which adequate insurance will indeed cover. Why should we not be paid for putting our equipment and asses on the line??? Thank you to those who saw that story for the misinformed drivel it is.