[thrash]

The not-fun answer is that the owner probably had insurance. If so, the insurance company should pay off the passengers for the salvage operation, including a portion of the value of any freight or cargo that was saved. They may or may not pay a hazard bonus on top: after all, the passengers were saving themselves from the pirates rather than going out of their way to assist.

Don't forget any reward that might have been offered for the pirates themselves, in specific or in general.

The ship should probably be placed in ordinary, pending disposition instructions from the heirs. The insurance company would likely be the ones to advance the fees against the eventual settlement.

If you want an excuse to send the ship back out with the passengers, though, have it owe port fees, etc., from a previous visit -- enough to give the locals a lien. Then they would have a case for putting the ship to remunerative use (but also risk) rather than letting it sit and accumulate fees and interest. The Imperial Shipping Commissioner (who may wear that hat as one among several) would probably be the one to make the decision -- men, not laws, remember.