• Amendments to the SOLAS3
and SAR4
Conventions aim at maintaining the integrity
of the SAR services, by ensuring that people in distress at sea are assisted while
minimizing the inconvenience for the assisting ship. They require the Contracting
States/Parties to
co-ordinate and co-operate to ensure that masters of ships providing assistance
by embarking persons in distress at sea are released from their obligations with
minimum further deviation from the ship’s intended voyage; and
arrange disembarkation as soon as reasonably practicable.
They also oblige masters who have embarked persons in distress at sea, to treat them
with humanity, within the capabilities of the ship.
Guidelines on the Treatment of Persons Rescued at Sea5
were developed in order to
provide guidance to governments and to shipmasters in implementing these amendments.
They contain the following provisions:
• The government responsible for the SAR region in which survivors were recovered is
responsible for providing a place of safety or ensuring that such a place of safety is
provided (para. 2.5).
• A place of safety is a location where rescue operations are considered to terminate,
and where:
the survivors’ safety or life is no longer threatened;
basic human needs (such as food, shelter and medical needs) can be met; and
transportation arrangements can be made for the survivors’ next or final
destination (para. 6.12).
• While an assisting ship may serve as a temporary place of safety, it should be relieved
of this responsibility as soon as alternative arrangements can be made. (para. 6.13)