If a ship is a drift, without any crew or people, in international waters, can anyone just board it and claim it ?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...st-Storm-Dennis-drifting-thousands-miles.html

 

Don't remember all the details but you can claim salvage rights but not just by occupying it. Taking it under tow maybe. And salvage right does not convey ownership. Admiralty Law is a whole different field of law and lawyers altogether. Abandoning ships is cheaper than repairs to keep the insurance or having it towed to a salvage yard sometimes.

 

If a ship is a drift, without any crew or people, in international waters, can anyone just board it and claim it ?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...st-Storm-Dennis-drifting-thousands-miles.html

You can board it and "salvage" it. You will not own it but you are entitled to a reward if you can get it back somewhere and the owner still wants it. Here is a link to the relevant international law. In the case of a large vessel, it is a tricky business and best left up to salvage companies with the equipment and experience to safely get a vessel back to port. I think a clearly derelict ship can also be sunk by relevant authorities if it is deemed a hazard to navigation. This "ghost" ship might meet this end if it gets off the beach and threatens shipping lanes.

https://www.bluesteinlawoffice.com/Maritime-Law-Articles/Marine-Salvage-Law.shtml

 

There's a lot of cool ship salvage video's on youtube. Hard dangerous work but looks fun, someone could make a cool videogame of it too.

 

derelict ship can also be sunk by relevant authorities if it is deemed a hazard to navigation

Indeed they can, once they have been stripped of any hazardous materials which often includes emptying and washing the fuel cavities at a significant cost. Which is why they are often just abandoned in International Waters rather than spending money to "sanitize" them for sinking. They may actually drift about for years before becoming a hazard instead of simply sinking at sea in deep water as the owner hoped for.

 

They may actually drift about for years before becoming a hazard instead of simply sinking at sea in deep water as the owner hoped for

Or they could just end up here.

 

Indeed they can, once they have been stripped of any hazardous materials which often includes emptying and washing the fuel cavities at a significant cost. Which is why they are often just abandoned in International Waters rather than spending money to "sanitize" them for sinking. They may actually drift about for years before becoming a hazard instead of simply sinking at sea in deep water as the owner hoped for.

Large derelict freighters are a environmental hazard unless towed out and sunk in deep water. We sunk a few old fishing boats off the coasts of various countries after the people were transferred during the boat people exodus operations. They made good firing practice for the old 3 inch 50 guns and .50 cal.