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

French ETVs responded to the 'MSC Napoli' grounding on the UK south coast (Marine Nationale)

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.

Peter Barker reflects on the background and history that led to taxpayers being asked to pay for a service otherwise carried out successfully (and profitably) by the commercial sector, and how the land lies today.

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