Gozo fishermen get yacht in compensation

The Gozo Courts ruled in favour of three fishermen who salvaged a yacht that was abandoned southwest of Gozo in November last year.

Michael, Joseph and Lawrence Axiaq filed a writ against Samy El Sheikh, owner of the yacht Xenia V and against the yacht.

Plaintiffs claimed that while fishing some 35 miles out of Gozo on November 19, 2002, they came across the yacht, that had been abandoned. They left their own fishing vessel and boarded the yacht after having first informed the port authorities. Plaintiffs towed the yacht to the Marsamxett Yacht Marina where it was inspected by the Customs Department.

They requested the court to condemn the yacht's owner to compensate them for the salvage operation.

Dr El Sheikh testified before the courts that the Italian Coast Guard had rescued him, his wife and their child from the yacht after it developed mechanical problems in rough seas. The yacht had to be abandoned as it could not be salvaged owing to the bad weather. In the course of the litigation, Dr El Sheikh renounced to the yacht in favour of plaintiffs as compensation for the salvage.

Magistrate Paul Coppini therefore found in favour of plaintiffs, and declared that they were entitled to compensation for the salvage. The court authorised plaintiffs to take all the necessary steps for the transfer of the ownership of the yacht in their favour.