Salvor

Salvor is a term for a person or organization that performs salvage operations, especially at sea, to recover ships, cargo, or other property in danger or wreck. The role encompasses locating, recovering, and securing endangered property and sometimes providing stabilization, pumping, or pollution control measures to prevent further damage. Salvors can be private companies, government agencies, or volunteers.

The word derives from salvage, which in turn comes from French sauver and ultimately Latin salvare.

In maritime law, salvage is a non-contractual service rendered to save property in peril. Salvors may be rewarded with a salvage award determined by courts or tribunals based on factors such as the value of property saved, the degree of danger, the skill and promptness of the salvors, and the equipment used. The International Convention on Salvage (1989) codified modern salvage rights and awards in international waters, distinguishing pure salvage from contract salvage and providing guidelines for award calculation. National laws apply in other jurisdictions.

Notable usage: The word Salvor is also used as a proper name; in popular culture, Salvor Hardin is a character in Isaac Asimov's Foundation series. More generally, the term can refer to anyone engaged in salvage operations, including commercial salvage divers and wreck-removal specialists.