Migration and SAR IMRF Paper

The maritime ‘mixed migrant’ situation – the movement of asylum-seekers and economic migrants across large areas of sea, usually in wholly inadequate craft with consequent loss of life – sadly continues in several parts of the world. To reinforce its position as a global leader in promoting effective and safe maritime SAR operations, the IMRF has published a formal position paper discussing the requirements and obligations for all those potentially involved in a maritime SAR operation – such as mariners, international SAR organisations, agencies, governments and authorities – as well as all applicable international treaties and conventions.

The IMRF continues to advocate action at the international level to address this ongoing disaster and to defend the fundamental principles of maritime search and rescue (SAR), as well as the humanitarian principle of non-refoulement implicit in the SAR principle of delivery of anyone in distress to a ‘place of safety’.

This includes advocating for and promoting the international conventions that Member States of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) must adhere to in order to provide prompt and efficient SAR response within their designated SAR region. This includes the organisation of the rescue of any person reported or found to be in distress and call upon any available vessels at sea and/or dedicated SAR units to carry out a rescue operation.

The IMRF Position Paper can be read here. It lays out relevant regulations and conventions that apply to rescue at sea and gives practical operational advice on responding to migrant incidents and armed conflict at sea.

At the 111th session of the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), an update was issued to the IMO, International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and UN HCR  guidance paper on "Rescue at Sea: a guide to principles and practice as applied to migrants and refugees". The paper provides guidance on relevant legal provisions and on practical procedures to assist in the prompt disembarkation of survivors in rescue operations and measures to meet their specific needs, particularly in the case of refugees and asylum-seekers.

The revised Rescue Guide builds on the 2015 edition, providing more detailed guidance on applicable legal standards and practical procedures to ensure the prompt rescue and disembarkation of refugees and migrants in distress at sea in locations where they would not be exposed to risks, including the risk of refoulement.

You can read the full "Rescue at Sea: a guide to principles and practice as applied to migrants and refugees" paper here.