ABSTRACT
The modern day blame culture, which insists on finding someone at fault and liable for any incident which attracts public disquiet, is very much alive, and continues to develop rapidly, whenever there is concern for the environment. Despite ordering his crew to abandon the ship for their safety he remained with her for several days to assist salvors in their efforts to salve ship and cargo. As example, if to prevent further pollution salvors were transhipping a cargo of oil from a casualty to another vessel and the pipeline connection were to break because of stress of weather, they would be liable. Hardening attitudes on criminalisation are forcing salvors to consider their positions in relation to potentially hostile jurisdictions. Salvors cannot prevent the initial pollution but they can prevent further pollution by salving the damaged casualty and keep the remaining oil in the ship.
