Spain Sticks to Salvage Line

There is no indication that the Spanish legislature is about to ratify the 1989 Salvage Convention, or to authorise the transfer of salvage claims to the civil courts, despite calls for it to do so. Barcelona-based maritime lawyer Ignacio de Ros told delegates to the Fifth International Conference on Maritime Law hosted by the China Maritime Law Association (CMLA) in Shanghai last week that it therefore appears that the existing 1962 law will remain in force for some time. He added that parties to salvage proceedings will remain in the peculiar position of having their private civil claims resolved by an administrative body. This situation can result in high costs and substantive delays, but it can also result in quick decisions, made by experts. Parties to salvage proceedings in Spain often complain about the system, but may be overlooking the advantages it has to offer. Source: Maritime Advocate Online