On 23 September 1910, in Brussels, states sign the Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules of Law respecting Assistance and Salvage at Sea — the multilateral treaty that lays the modern foundations of salvage remuneration.

The convention applies the same rules to assistance and salvage, in whatever waters the services are rendered. Every act with a useful result gives a right to equitable remuneration; without beneficial result, nothing is due; the sum may not exceed the value of the property salved. Remuneration is fixed by agreement or by the court; tugs are paid only for exceptional services.

General entry into force: 1 March 1913. The authentic text is French; official translations appear in FRUS and the Australian Treaty Series.

It was later modernised by the 1989 IMO Salvage Convention.

For maritime law, 23 September 1910 marks the Brussels signature.

The document is available on AustLII / ATS and Admiralty Law Guide.

The Brussels salvage convention of 23 September 1910 remains the classic “no cure, no pay” milestone.

Image: Brussels / sea; Wikimedia Commons. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: Brussels Convention on Assistance and Salvage at Sea. Treaty text: Australian Treaty Series — Salvage 1910.