() UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) have released an updated edition of Rescue at Sea: A guide to principles and practice in the context of refugee and migrant movements.
As tragic shipwrecks continue to claim lives worldwide, this revised maritime guide provides critical tools to help global partners uphold their legal and humanitarian duties, ensuring people in distress at sea are safely rescued and disembarked.
Published during the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, the updated guide translates complex international maritime law into actionable steps. The publishing partners emphasize that the world’s oceans must be treated as a humanitarian space where the duty to save lives is upheld without discrimination.
Actionable Steps for Crews: Provides clear, practical procedures for shipmasters, merchant vessels, and state authorities during rescue operations.
Safe Disembarkation Protocols: Offers detailed guidance on landing rescued individuals in locations free from safety risks or the threat of refoulement (forced return).
Global Accessibility: To ensure widespread compliance, the global resource is available in six languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.
The necessity for stronger collective action is underscored by recent data. Dangerous sea crossings undertaken by individuals fleeing danger or seeking better prospects continue to see high mortality rates.
Global leadership stresses that these maritime tragedies are preventable through clear coordination and adherence to international law.
“There is an ongoing human tragedy of lives lost at sea during unsafe, dangerous journeys… Established legal obligations must be translated into concrete action at sea. This revised Guide ensures clarity for Governments and provides practical steps for shipmasters and crews.” — Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General, IMO
“Nobody risks their life at sea, or that of their family, unless desperate to find safety and stability… Yet, these appalling wrecks cannot be accepted as inevitable. They are preventable. The revised Rescue Guide is a practical tool to help uphold one of the clearest moral and legal duties at sea.” — Elizabeth Tan, Director of UNHCR’s Division of International Protection and Solutions
“The global shipping industry is often the first responder when people are in distress at sea. Ship masters and crews act with professionalism and humanity, frequently going beyond their commercial duties to save lives. This revised Guide provides practical clarity to support those efforts, helping ensure that rescues are conducted safely, predictably, and in line with international law, while reinforcing the shared responsibility across States and stakeholders to deliver timely disembarkation,” said Thomas A. Kazakos, ICS Secretary General.
Source: IMO
