have maintained their presence at a fairly consistent level. However, significant decreases are recorded for flags of Greece, Japan, the UK and, particularly, Norway, (Japan retains, however, one of the largest fleets in
the region.)
50.
The decrease in European shipping should not be over emphasised (particularly as there are reasons to believe that much if not all of that decrease is accounted for by a change to a flag of convenience).
51. One surprise extracted from data supplied by Lloyds Shipping Information Service is the size of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) fleet in the region. (This was generally thought to be in decline.) The number of FRG ships had increased in Hong Kong from 150 in 1979 to 262 in 1985 and in Singapore from 191 in 1979 to 224 in 1985. Thus the flag of the FRG is as evident in the ports of Southeast Asia as the flags of other European maritime nations.
52. The efforts of the United States (which include rescues by military vessels, not noted in Annex 11) and by Norway, which in spite of its declining fleet rescued eight times during the course of the year, are particularly noteworthy and emphasise a surprising conclusion to this section.
53.
Conclusion :
At the present time, no relationship exists between the size of a country's fleet and the number of rescues carried out by its ships.
VI.
54.
DIRECT PROMOTION OF RESCUE AT SEA
The RASRO and DISERO SCHEMES operate only indirectly to increase the incidence of rescue at sea. These schemes perform an important function in that they remove disincentive to rescue by assuring shipowners and shipmasters that there will be no delays involved in the disembarkation of refugees once rescued. The schemes, however, contain no element of incentive to rescue refugees. In 1985, UNHCR has turned its attention increasingly to ways in which rescue can be directly promoted.
55.
Such promotion has been very selective in encouraging media exposure outside of maritime journals. This is to reduce the possibility that people would be encouraged to leave Vietnam in the hope of being rescued.
56.
The booklet "Guidelines for the Disembarkation of Refugees" has been substantially revised (copy enclosed) and some 20,000 copies have been distributed. Almost all captains of rescuing vessels in 1985 had a copy on board. The booklet has three important sections, it contains an appeal to rescue, sets out a clear and simple checklist on action to be taken once refugees are picked up and gives details of costs reimbursed by UNHCR. Its utility has been attested to, by rescuing captains and the maritime press. has been translated into Japanese and a Greek translation was carried by a leading Greek maritime journal.
57.
It
Personal cables of commendation have been sent to all rescuing captains from the High Commissioner. The High Commissioner has also signed individual letters of appeal to over 200 shipowners.