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UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL'S MEETING ON REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA, GENEVA, 20-21 JULY 1979
CONSULTATIVE PAPER NO 2
THE SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA AND RELATED MATTERS
I
THE PRESENT SITUATION
Rendering Assistance at Sea
1. There is an obligation in international law for States
parties to the relevant Conventions to require the Master of ships
registered under their flag to render assistance to any persons in
distress at sea, provided that this would not seriously endanger
the ship. The Master is bound to respond to any distress signal.
2.
*
Article 11 of the Brussels Convention on Assistance
and Salvage at Sea 1910
Article 12 of the Geneva Convention on the High
Seas 1958
Regulation 10 of Chapter V of the London Convention
on the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) 1960
(Text at Annex)
Decisions on whether to render assistance without placing the
rescue ship in danger, and whether to effect a rescue or give first
aid, can only be taken by those on the spot in light of their
professional expertise and humanitarian instincts. There is no
guidance in international regulations. Once refugees are picked up
ships masters then have to decide whether to proceed to the first
scheduled port of call, or to take into account other considerations
such as safety or medical distress requiring them to make for the
nearest feasible landing place, or a port of refuge.
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/First Port of Call
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