Atlantic Coast Marine Group, Inc

This business fabficated details to turn a simple tow into a salvage. This amounts to insurance fraudOn Nov7,2015 I called Boat us for a tow. My boat was floating inthe ICW and was anchored.After 45 minutes a young man in a small boat showed up and towed us about 2 miles to Beaufort about 1.5 hrs.They claim the following:weather was turning bad,boat was aground,boat was taking on water,boat was in danger,they responded immediately,they found pods in water from boat.In fact, weather was beautiful,boat was not aground,boat was not in danger,coast guard never called,waited almost an hour,boat was not taking on water,tower never,even checked if it was.He arrived tied a line to boat we raisewd anchor and he started towing. This is a simple tow job.I specifically told him not to recover pods since boat was new and I wanted new parts.This is a fabricated story to committ insurance fraud.Desired SettlementA simpletow job should be between $500 & $1,000. not almost $40KBusiness Response Contact Name and Title: N. [redacted]Contact Phone: XXX-XXX-XXXXContact Email: [redacted]@atlanticcoastmarinegroup.comAtlantic Coast Marine Group, Inc.'s Response:Atlantic Coast Marine Group, Inc. ("ACMG") is engaged in the business of marine salvage and towingand has more than ten years experience doing so.On November 7, 2015 an approximately 52' motor yacht named [redacted] was underway andmaking way at what ACMG believes was its cruising speed when it violently struck a shoal. Theimpact was significant enough to have sheared off both propulsion units from the bottom of thevessel. The vessel was leaking oil and the vessel's propulsion units were weeping oil. The vesselslid across the shoal and was oriented in a downward position on the shoal's opposite side. Thevessel was aground, without propulsion and in peril. The vessel sought assistance.ACMG arrived on scene, advised the vessel its services would be salvage and not covered under anytowing plan. The vessel accepted ACMG's services. ACMG successfully extricated the vessel fromits grounded position and moved it to a haul-out facility where the vessel could be lifted from thewater. Thereafter, and because the propulsion units were believed to possess value and becausethey presented a pollution point source, ACMG returned to the scene located and recovered thepropulsion units and successfully returned the propulsion units to the marina where the vessel washauled out on land.The general maritime law of the United States inclusive of the International Convention on Salvage(IMO 1989) allow someone providing services to a vessel in peril to seek a salvage award. Theamount of the salvage award is not based on a time materials analysis, but is based on considerationof various factors including the promptness, readiness and skill of the salvor (ACMG), the nature anddegree of danger the salved vessel faced, the value of what was salvaged and the measure ofsuccess obtained by the salvor (ACMG).Here, ACMG asserted its rights under the general maritime law of the United States and presentedthe vessel's owner with a claim seeking a salvage award. The amount of the salvage award wasbased on the maritime jurisprudence and ACMG's experience seeking such awards.ACMG provided the vessel's owner (an entity designated as a trust and not to ACMG's knowledge, the "consumer" [redacted]), with a five page, single space salvage narrative and demand for a salvage award under the general maritime law of the United States. The salvage narrative explained in detail what was accomplished, explained in detail the legal basis for seeking a salvage award and how the salvage award was calculated.The vessel's owner has not paid the salvage award. The vessel's owner has not contacted ACMG or its representatives about the claim seeking a salvage award. Instead, [redacted] appears to have filed the instant complaint with the Revdex.com.ACMG vigorously denies [redacted]'s allegations which are not factually or legally accurate. ACMG invests a great deal of money in its vessels, equipment and personnel so that it can be ready to assist vessels in distress. ACMG further understands the vessel owner contacted the national organization from which it had purchased towing coverage and was informed the facts of the event do not give rise to coverage for towing. ACMG provided salvage services to this vessel and is entitled to a salvage award for having done so.ACMG has a long and hard earned reputation for excellence in the maritime towing and salvage field. Its principal is a board member of a national organization related to commercial marine assistance. [redacted]'s complaint is not justified, is unfair and seeks to damage ACMG's good reputation.ACMG stands by the salvage award it seeks. ACMG welcomes the opportunity for the dispute to be resolved and would agree to arbitrate its claim in a mutually agreed arbitration forum. Indeed, ACMG would even agree to have a lawyer who is a member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States resolve the dispute in accord with the rules of an agreed upon arbitration forum if the parties can mutually agree on who should be nominated. The point is, if the vessel's owner is interested, ACMG is willing to have a third-party arbitrator resolve this dispute rather than the federal court.Absent arbitration and given the vessel owner's refusal to try and resolve this matter in good faith, ACMG will have no choice but to pursue its rights, remedies, claims and defenses in a federal court in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.This communication is made without prejudice and ACMG reserves all of its rights, remedies, claims and defenses.Thank you.Very truly yours,Atlantic Coast Marine Group, Inc.By: N. [redacted], PresidentConsumer Response The above characterization is twisting the facts to fit Maritime law. Vessel was not leaking oil as stated above, can't say for pods. Vessel was not aground - it was floating with ancjor secure. Vessel was in as much peril as a vessel with mechanical problems or out of gas issue.What peril was my vessel in that would be different? Tower did not advise us (my witness) that it was a salvage. Id so, my zodiac could have towed the boat to the marina. Tower stated "no problem, this will be easy". And easy it was for him!! Vessel was not aground and NOT EXTRICATED from a shoal. We did hit something but was not aground. Tower asked me after the tow if I wanted pods retrieved, I say no. He never indicated that they would do it anyway or that it would be a danger. Since the pods are retrieved should they be mine ot the towers?? Seems like tower gets pods my insurance companys pays fopr retrieve tower sells pods. Its a win , win for him. This is how a tower misrepresents the facts and turns a simple short tow into a lot of money to line his pockets.