Florida Marine Towing Company Files Salvage Lawsuit Seeking Arrest of Motor Yacht After Rescue Near Hillsboro Inlet
Lauderdale Towing & Salvage, Inc., doing business as Sea Tow Fort Lauderdale, has filed an admiralty salvage lawsuit in the Southern District of Florida against the motor yacht Leg-A-Seas. The verified complaint, filed under Case No. 0:25-cv-62570-AHS, seeks enforcement of a maritime salvage lien following an emergency response involving a disabled vessel near Hillsboro Inlet in Pompano Beach, Florida.
Disabled Motor Yacht Allegedly Rescued from Imminent Reef Grounding Near Hillsboro Inlet
According to the complaint, the incident occurred on August 2, 2024, while Sea Tow Fort Lauderdale was conducting routine patrol operations near Hillsboro Inlet. The towing company alleges that its captain overheard a distress call over marine radio communications from the Leg-A-Seas, a 2006 53-foot Buddy Davis motor yacht. The vessel was reportedly drifting outside the marked navigation channel and being carried by wind and tidal currents toward a rock and coral reef on the south side of the inlet.
The lawsuit claims that the motor yacht had lost all propulsion and was unable to maneuver or control its heading. Sea Tow personnel allegedly located the vessel less than twenty feet from the reef and intervened before it grounded. The towing company asserts that it secured lines to the yacht and towed it away from the hazard, returning the vessel safely into the channel and preventing substantial damage to the yacht and risk to those aboard.
Sea Tow Claims Successful Voluntary Salvage Services on Navigable Waters
The complaint characterizes the response as a voluntary and successful salvage operation under general maritime law. Sea Tow alleges that its actions removed the vessel from marine peril and that the services were necessary to prevent grounding on the reef. After stabilizing the situation, Sea Tow reportedly remained alongside the Leg-A-Seas until another towing company arrived to transport the yacht to a nearby boatyard.
Before departing the scene, the captain of the Leg-A-Seas allegedly executed a U.S. Open Form Salvage Agreement on a no-cure, no-pay basis. The agreement, according to the filing, includes an arbitration clause requiring that any disputes arising from the salvage be resolved before the Society of Maritime Arbitrators under federal maritime law.
Salvage Lawsuit Seeks Vessel Arrest and Enforcement of Maritime Lien
In its federal court filing, Sea Tow seeks to arrest the Leg-A-Seas pursuant to Supplemental Rule C of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure in order to obtain security for its salvage claim. The company asserts that it holds a valid maritime lien against the vessel as a result of the salvage services rendered and that the yacht is liable in rem for the claimed salvage award.
The complaint states that Sea Tow is seeking a salvage award of $40,546, exclusive of interest, attorneys’ fees, and costs. In addition to the arrest of the vessel, the towing company asks the court to compel arbitration in accordance with the salvage agreement once security is posted or the vessel is taken into custody.
Federal Maritime Law Allows Salvors to Pursue Arrest and Arbitration
Under maritime law, salvage claims arise when voluntary services successfully rescue a vessel from peril on navigable waters. The lawsuit relies on 9 U.S.C. § 8, which permits a salvor to initiate an admiralty proceeding through vessel seizure while still preserving the right to arbitrate the underlying dispute. Sea Tow maintains that it has not waived arbitration rights and reserves the ability to pursue additional claims against responsible parties.
Contact a Maritime Salvage and Admiralty Lawyer for Vessel Arrest and Lien Issues
Salvage disputes involving disabled vessels, reef groundings, and emergency towing operations are governed by complex federal maritime law. Vessel owners, captains, and marine service providers may face significant legal exposure when salvage agreements, maritime liens, or vessel arrests are involved. If you are dealing with a marine salvage claim, vessel arrest, or admiralty arbitration dispute, contact an experienced maritime lawyer to understand your rights and obligations under federal law.
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Disclaimer: Our firm does not represent the plaintiff in this case and is not involved in the litigation. The information provided is a summary of allegations based on publicly available court filings. We make no representations about the truth of these allegations, are not commenting on the merits of the case, and are not predicting any outcome.
