Emergency rescue towing: who should shoulder the cost when ships founder?

Half a century after South Africa pioneered state-funded emergency towing vessels, debate continues over whether governments or commercial operators should finance rapid maritime rescue and pollution prevention services.

Germany's latest emergency response vessel 'Scharhorn' (Abeking and Rasmussen)

Half a century after South Africa pioneered state-funded emergency towing vessels, debate continues over whether governments or commercial operators should finance rapid maritime rescue and pollution prevention services.