proprietary salvage rights

Proprietary salvage rights allow an individual or company, known as the salvor, to claim ownership of property they recover from a vessel or vessel’s cargo after a maritime incident, provided they follow legal procedures. Unlike general salvage rights, proprietary rights grant the salvors a proprietary interest—meaning they can potentially own or benefit from the recovered property—if they have a prior legal or contractual right or if they meet certain conditions under maritime law. These rights encourage salvors to assist in rescue efforts, rewarding them with a share or ownership of the recovered property, especially when their intervention preserves value.