can anybody answer this?

Question

A ship runs aground on a beach its cargo falls off the public come along and take the items,the police get involved but after a while u are allowed to keep the items u found?

Answer 1

You have to report anything you salvage, to see whether you're allowed to keep it. Here's a quote from a news item:

The mood at Branscombe Beach, the scene of an free-for-all on Monday, was different yesterday. The official receiver of wreck and the police were initially happy to let people "recover" goods from the beach - assuming, perhaps optimistically, they would formally report them. But yesterday the mood turned nasty when gangs descended on the beach and smashed open sealed containers. By morning items were being offered for sale on the online auction house eBay.

Mark Rodaway, principal coastguard officer, accused the scavengers of "crass greed" and said by scattering the containers' contents across the pebble beach they had increased the damage to the environment by 800%.

Mr Rodaway said he saw parents leave children on the beach in gale force winds so that they could wade into the surf to ransack containers. "Frankly, the scenes that I witnessed were despicable."

A fence was being built yesterday to stop people getting on to the beach and police said they would try to get those who had taken goods without declaring them to hand them over. An area of hard-standing the size of a football pitch was also being constructed on which to move the debris left by the looters.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/jan/24/pollution.wildlife

Answer 2

I think this falls under Maritime Law, you might try searching Maritime Law, then when you get there, try salvage.
My Dad used to do salvage, almost like what you are describing and yes according to Maritime Law, at least where the Gulf of Mexico and the barrier islands were concerned, he got to keep the goodies as long as none of this is contraband. Like if a 20 pound bale of Cannabis were to fall off a boat that has gone aground on a sandbar, no you don't get to keep the dope.

Answer 3

No, items that fall off a wrecked ship (called "Flotsam" - as oppossed to "Jetsam" which is things thrown off a ship to lighten it) are not public property. Taking them is theft.

In the UK they must be delivered to Her Majesties Receiver of Wrecks, and in the US to the Coast Guard. If they're in danger of being destroyed or further damaged, then you're entitled to a reward, called salvage, to recompense you for your efforts in protecting them.

How much the salvage award is is dependant on how hard and dangerous it was for you to rescue the items, and how much they're worth. In both the US and UK an Admiralty Court makes the determination.

Richard.

Answer 4

You have to declare anything you take to the Receiver of Wrecks and it's up to the insurers of the ship whether you are allowed to keep the goods. Are you referring to the SS Napoli which is off the Devon coast?. Living close by, I witnessed the behaviour of many of the scavengers which left a lot to be desired

Answer 5

No, that's stealing...

If you found a wallet on the ground the proper thing would be to return it to the owner OR the police... same thing with cargo that falls off a boat or ship.

Answer 6

Ha ha, we know what you've been doing. lol

It's been a while now so depends on what you have and who knows.
If it's very high value them i would hang onto it for another 12 months, keep it out of sight, tell nobody, just sit on it until the coast is clear.

Answer 7

It depends on the cargo, maybe they are radioactive plutonium bars.

Answer 8

You see a car in the street, somebody has left the key in the ignition...is it your car?

Same rules apply.

Answer 9

well i still think its stealing..the goods dont belong to the public - but as the shipping company is usually insured..it doesnt lose out anyway...so it seems to be allowed.

Answer 10

it's wrong & u know it

taking what dosen't belong to u amounts to stealing