ABSTRACT
Salvage is a concept unique to maritime law. If a person voluntarily saves the property of another on land, English law entitles them to no reward for their efforts. However, if the same service is performed at sea, the person saving the property, ‘the salvor’, will be entitled to a reward, not exceeding the value of the property saved. The public policy reason behind this difference between salvage services on land and at sea lies in the need to provide financial encouragement to vessels to assist other vessels in distress.
