What is the potential maritime liability of a salvage ship that leaves the ship it was salvaging?

Question

Using LOF2000 terms, the salvage ship spends two days salvaging the immobile ship then leaves to go to an urgent call, hoping that nearby tugs would tow the ship to harbour. The ship was eventually towed to harbour by the two tugs.

Answer 1

its simply in anyones hands if they leave it. just like the people who left it.

Answer 2

The first salvage ship lodges a LLOYDS ( verbally and then by fax) form and has the first rights to salvage. If it engages two tugs to complete the task they are in effect contracted by the Salavger and as such have no claim to the salvage value or cargo of that ship.