1、RESCUE AT SEAA guide to principles and practice in the context of refugees and migrants movements2 Antonio Sempere/Europa PressIntroductionMigrants and refugees travelling by sea are not a new phenomenon.Desperate people in all parts of the world have long risked their lives aboard unseaworthy ships

2、 and other craft.Some do so in search of work,better living conditions or educational opportunities.Others are seeking international protection against persecution,conflict or other threats to their life,liberty,or security.Often this means placing their fate in the hands of unscrupulous,criminal sm

3、ugglers.In addition to the dangerous conditions in which they travel,many face exploitation,abuse and violence during their journey.Search and rescue(SAR)services throughout the world largely depend on international shipping to assist anyone in distress at sea.Nowadays,distress signals can be rapidl

4、y transmitted by satellite and terrestrial communication techniques both to search and rescue authorities ashore,and to ships in the immediate vicinity.The rescue operation can be swift and coordinated.Nonetheless,rescue and disembarkation to a place of safety are complex operations involving a rang

5、e of actors,each of which has particular obligations under international maritime law,as well as other bodies of international law such as refugee and human rights law.3Even when the rescue has been accomplished,problems can arise in securing the agreement of States to the disembarkation of migrants

6、 and refugees.Recognizing this problem,Member States of the International Maritime Organization(IMO)adopted amendments to two of the relevant maritime conventions in 2004.1 Just as masters have an obligation to render assistance,Member States have a complementary obligation to coordinate and coopera