ICS responds to ‘migrant crisis’
In response to the continuing situation in the Mediterranean, which has necessitated commercial shipping to rescue tens of thousands of migrants and refugees during 2014, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the global trade association for merchant shipowners, has published new Guidance on Large Scale Rescue Operations at Sea.
ICS Secretary General, Peter Hinchliffe explained: “The shipping industry fully accepts its humanitarian obligation to assist anyone at sea whose vessel is in distress. But the scale of the crisis involving thousands of people attempting to get to Europe in craft that are neither fit for purpose nor seaworthy has raised real concerns about the safety and health of ships’ crews that may be involved in rescuing as many as 200 people at a time.”
The challenges involved in rescuing large numbers of people and then accommodating them on board ship prior to disembarkation are enormous compared to conventional rescue operations. The ICS Guidelines are therefore intended to help shipping companies prepare for this eventuality, whilst taking full of account of the safety and security of the ship should such large scale rescues be necessary.
ICS emphasises that Masters should not be expected to become involved in decisions about the legal status of the people they have rescued or whether they intend to apply for asylum.
The guidance can be downloaded free of charge via the ICS website. See www.ics-shipping.org/docs/largescalerescue .
By Jake Frith
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