When the unthinkable happens, and your boat sinks, it can be a devastating and confusing experience. Understanding the complexities of your hull insurance, and the basics of sunken boat recovery and salvage, before the situation arises will help to ease your anxiety if you ever find yourself in the midst of an emergency. Above all, according to Captain Dale Plummer owner of TowBoatUS Annapolis, Baltimore, Middle River, \”have hull insurance that covers salvage and know before the emergency happens what your insurance provider can offer.\”
Ask hypothetical questions like: Is an insurance claims person available 24/7? Boats sink at night and on weekends, too. Your baby shouldn’t sit on the bottom of the river until Monday morning when your insurance guy gets back to the office. Also: If my boat sinks, how do you help me in my time of need? Your marine insurance provider should offer to contact TowBoatUS directly. If they don’t offer to help guide you, then maybe you don’t have the right marine insurer. Insurance companies vary as do types of insurance.
Captain Plummer explains, \”If your vessel is totaled, would your insurance payout equal the insured value before or after the bills for recovery, storage, etc. are paid?\” After all, you love your boat and you should be able to get a new one when the old one is gone. Ask the questions before it is too late to make the changes on your policy. Once your emergency is reported to your insurance company, TowBoatUS staff will talk you through the process, and perform negotiations with your insurance company for salvage services on your behalf. \”As a boat owner and as a salvor, I want to ease the stress on the owner.\” explains Plummer. \”As a professional, with hundreds of different salvage scenarios behind us, we know the safest, most practical options to save a sinking vessel or raise a sunken boat.\”
Salvage costs can be based on the boat’s length and factors such as your boat’s location at a pier or in open water, water depth, season, weather, if the boat’s hull is intact or severe breaches exist, and the type of equipment and crew needed to effectively raise the vessel. TowBoatUS has specialized equipment and crew for every situation. Salvage operation outcomes are based on \”No cure, No pay\” outcomes. Which means TowBoatUS has confidence in our procedures to guarantee that the boat will be rigged, raised, and delivered to your chosen service providers location as promised in the verbal or written salvage contract, or you pay nothing.
