I'd like some of the experienced folk here, to clarify how salvage rules will be applied in the case of Rena... I'm assuming that when the salvors were first brought in, it was on a standard Lloyd's Open Form contract, given how short the notice was. Well, they've put a *lot* of time and effort into this project, but at least from bird's-eye view of the case, it wouldn't really count as a "cure" I don't think?? I mean, alot of oil went into the water, as well as a significant number of containers (though not over 50% in either case), and they did *not* refloat her before she broke up.
Most discussions on the New Zealand websites, including Antipodean Mariner, are assuming that the salvors will get paid, and certainly I think they should... but it doesn't entirely look to me as though the existing situation could be called a "cure" in a legal sense...
So I'm just asking for insights into how a situation like this is evaluated in real life...