For some, the word “salvage” conjures visions of priceless treasure recovered from the wreckage of long-lost Spanish galleons; for others it implies rescue tugs plowing through mountainous waves in search of a stricken vessel. In reality, patching and refloating a sunken skiff or towing in a disabled yacht are acts of salvage every bit as important as refloating a stranded supertanker. This informative guide describes the many types of salvage operations, both rare and common, that now constitute a very busy industry.

Edition: 1996