Duties of salvor, owner and master

Section 252 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 deals with duties of salvor, owner and master. The salvor shall have the following duties towards the owner of the vessel or other property in danger, namely:--- (a) to carry out the salvage operations with due care; The Act came into force on 15 Mar 2026.

(1) The salvor shall have the following duties towards the owner of the vessel or other property in danger, namely:---

(a) to carry out the salvage operations with due care;

(b) to exercise due care to prevent or minimise damage to the environment during salvage operations;

(c) to seek assistance from other salvors including port authorities or public authorities when circumstances so require;

(d) to coordinate with the Director-General and act in compliance with the instructions issued by him; and

(e) to accept the intervention of other salvors when reasonably requested to do so by the owner or master of the vessel or other property in danger:

Provided that if it is found that such a request was unreasonable, it shall not prejudice the amount of reward of such salvor.

(2) The owner or master of the vessel or the owner of other property which is in danger shall have the following duties towards the salvor, namely:---

(a) to cooperate with the salvor during the course of the salvage operations;

(b) to exercise due care to prevent or minimise damage to the environment during the salvage operations;

(c) when the vessel or other property is brought to a place of safety, to accept redelivery when reasonably requested by the salvor; and

(d) to provide satisfactory security for the claim, including interest and costs of the salvor for the salvage operations, at the request of the salvor.

Section 252, The Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 (Act 24 of 2025).