Storm victim: the container vessel MSC Napoli was beached off Branscombe, Devon, in January 2007, to prevent her sinking. A major salvage operation was mounted. The priorities were to remove bunkers and containers.

The world fleet consists of many ship types. They include cruise vessels with over 5,000 persons on board, Ultra Large Crude Carriers with cargoes exceeding one-third of a million tonnes of oil and very large containerships of 12,000 TEU and above. At the other end of the spectrum are the smaller ships: offshore support vessels, coastal trading vessels and feeder containerships.

The shipping industry’s safety and environmental record has improved significantly in recent years. Nevertheless, casualties continue to occur, despite the best efforts of shipowners and regulators. It is impossible, of course, to totally eradicate all risks associated with natural perils, human error and mechanical failure.

Every vessel is a potential casualty and a threat to life, property and the environment in adverse circumstances. The members of the International Salvage Union (ISU) provide emergency services in these situations. They are responsible for over 90 per cent of all salvage activity worldwide. Every year they assist more than 200 vessels involved in collisions, groundings, fires, structural failures and other incidents requiring prompt intervention by salvors.

The ISU began to publish annual salvage statistics in 1978. During the period 1978-2005 ISU salvors performed 5,135 salvage operations – 2,701 under LOF contracts. The value of the property (ships and cargoes) recovered is USD 32.32 billion.

The salvor’s operational role has widened considerably in recent decades. The traditional focus was on property recovery to prevent and mitigate financial loss. Today, however, whilst the salvor’s primary mission under LOF remains the saving of property, he has an equal obligation to protect the marine environment.

The ISU’s first annual Pollution Prevention Survey was published in 1994. In the 14 years to end-2007 ISU salvors recovered over 14 million tonnes of pollutants from ship casualties, including over 11 million tonnes of oil.

Services to serious marine casualties are usually provided under Lloyd’s Standard Form of Salvage Agreement, “No cure – No pay”, otherwise known as “Lloyd's Form”, or LOF. This contract has been in use for 100 years. It remains the most frequently utilised contract for salvage assistance in emergency situations. The latest edition, LOF 2000, is the tenth revision. Throughout its long life LOF has evolved to reflect changing needs. This is why it remains fresh and fit for purpose in the 21st Century.