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What are your thoughts about Louise and Larry competing with the owner's tugs and managing to steal the boat?

Technically, they weren't stealing. That's how the salvage tows work. The first one to secure the abandoned boat gets to tow it and make a claim on its contents. The insurance pays them for the recovered boat and items. At least that's how it works in the U.S.

The couple were zealous entrepreneurs, though their business didn't seem to give them enough. Trying to steal the ship revealed their greed and desperation to save their business.

Nerea wrote: ↑01 Apr 2019, 12:33 The couple were zealous entrepreneurs, though their business didn't seem to give them enough. Trying to steal the ship revealed their greed and desperation to save their business.

They weren't trying to steal it. It is how the abandoned ship industry works. If all people on the boat come off due to an emergency, it's an abandoned ship. Tug rescue operations try to be the first to get there to claim it and earn the money for the rescue.

Larry and Louise were taking a risk when they set out to rescue the Express. They did not know what they were going to find. This was a risk that they felt they needed to take. They needed the "big payday" to keep their business afloat. It was a gutsy move something they felt they had to do.

It sure showed that they were tenacious and fearless. Since it was so dangerous, stormy, and cold, I kept thinking just let them have it! I also had the feeling that it seemed like stealing, yet the maritime laws must be different than the general public's thinking on abandoned ships and boats.

I thought it was fair game once the Seattle Express was already abandoned. Too bad that it had cost Larry's life but they won that race.

They were certainly betting all they had on it. Warhorse was older and slower than Buckhorn's tugs, but they had a head start. Their action isn't considered stealing though. According to maritime law, any abandoned ship is a free claim, and anyone who gets a line on it a bring it to dock is entitled to a reward.

CatInTheHat wrote: ↑01 Apr 2019, 10:05 Technically, they weren't stealing. That's how the salvage tows work. The first one to secure the abandoned boat gets to tow it and make a claim on its contents. The insurance pays them for the recovered boat and items. At least that's how it works in the U.S.

I am also in for this idea. Technically, they did not steal. The announcement came in and they decided to try their luck in towing it back.

The ones who seem to be on the wrong side were the owners of the Buckhorn tugs. Larry and the other crew faced a lot of threats from them. This was an opportunity that they found and made good use of it. I am, therefore, of the opinion that they did not steal the ship. It was work.

I didn't see it as them stealing the boat. They got there first, it was their haul.

Well, it doesn't seem stealing to me. An abandoned ship is fair game, though it does raise the question if bringing it to the docks warrants a reward or an investigation?

I agree with the above notes that it wasn't stealing because it is legal since it was abandoned.

CatInTheHat wrote: ↑01 Apr 2019, 10:05 Technically, they weren't stealing. That's how the salvage tows work. The first one to secure the abandoned boat gets to tow it and make a claim on its contents. The insurance pays them for the recovered boat and items. At least that's how it works in the U.S.

Oh, I didn't know about this. At first, it was a bit greedy but I thought it was abandoned so no biggie. And thanks for giving this information, everything made sense now.

At first I kind of felt like they were stealing it, but as I read on I saw that this wasn’t the case. I can’t imagine how hard salvaging ships would be. Aside from the elements, securing the ship and making sure no one does anything under handed to take it from you would be really hard work. It was interesting to learn about this. I never really thought much about what happens to abandoned ships. I guess I assumed that whoever owns them would go get them if they wanted to recover them. I enjoyed learning while reading a good story too.