Boat people…

1. Boat people… Owner’s obligations under UNCLOS and national lawincluding the importance of the law of the flag state Kristina Siig, Syddansk Universitet

2. 1808 Elanor judgment “… real and irresistible distress must be at all times the sufficient passport for human beings under any ... application of human laws.” Kristina Siig, Syddansk Universitet

3. Course of action • “Find them”/happen upon them • Immediate rescue • Bring to safety • First aid • Deliver to a place of safety – ultimately on land (??) Kristina Siig, Syddansk Universitet

4. Owners obligations???? • Naaeh … Kristina Siig, Syddansk Universitet

5. The regulation in short Customary international law: • Ships in distress has a right under customary international law to enter any foreign port – and will to an extent have immunity there from coast state law • According to customary international law, any master is under a duty to assist and rescue persons, in danger of being lost at sea (not just a moral obligation) Kristina Siig, Syddansk Universitet

6. The regulation in short International law Domestic law (DK) SOLAS CC. Sec. 253,1 (2) UNCLOS Regl. no. 506 of 6/5 2011, rule 33 SAR Kristina Siig, Syddansk Universitet

7. UNCLOS art. 98(1) Every State shall require the masterof a ship flying its flag, insofar as he can do so without serious danger to the ship, the crew or the passengers: • To render assistance to any person found at sea in danger of being lost; • To proceed with all possible speed to the rescue of persons in distress, if informed of their need of assistance, in so far as such action may reasonably be expected of him; • … after a collission… Kristina Siig, Syddansk Universitet

8. UNCLOS art. 98(1) ctd. • Who does the obligations rest upon? The State – and the Master (not the ship owners) • Distinction: Render assistance – “in danger” Rescue – “in distress” Kristina Siig, Syddansk Universitet

9. SOLAS V/33(1) The master of a ship at sea which is in a position to be able to provide assistance on receiving information from any source that persons are in distress at sea, is bound to proceed with all speed to their assistance, if possible informing them or the search and rescue service that the ship is doing so. This obligation to provide assistance applies regardless of the nationality or status of such persons or the circumstances in which they are found. If the ship receiving the distress alert is unable or, in the special circumstances of the case, considers it unreasonable or unnecessary to proceed to their assistance, the master must enter in the log-book the reason for failing to proceed to the assistance of the persons in distress, taking into account the recommendation of the Organization, to inform the appropriate search and rescue service accordingly. Kristina Siig, Syddansk Universitet

10. SOLAS V/33 (1.1) (Lex Tampa)(SOLAS 2004) Contracting Governments shall co-ordinate and co-operate to ensure that masters of ships providing assistance by embarking persons in distress at sea are released from their obligations with minimum further deviation from the ships' intended voyage, provided that releasing the master of the ship from the obligations under the current regulation does not further endanger the safety of life at sea. The Contracting Government responsible for the search and rescue region in which such assistance is rendered shall exercise primary responsibility for ensuring such co-ordination and co-operation occurs, so that survivors assisted are disembarked from the assisting ship and delivered to a place of safety, taking into account the particular circumstances of the case and guidelines developed by the Organization. In these cases the relevant Contracting Governments shall arrange for such disembarkation to be effected as soon as reasonably practicable. Kristina Siig, Syddansk Universitet

11. Salvage Convention (1989) Art. 10. • Every master is bound, so far as he can do so without serious danger to his vessel and persons thereon, to render assistance to any person in danger of being lost at sea. • The State Parties shall adopt the measures necessary to enforce the duty set out in paragraph 1. • The owner of the vessel shall incur no liability for a breach of the duty of the master under paragraph 1. Kristina Siig, Syddansk Universitet

12. SAR 1979 • Directed towards States and their cooperation, but… • Defines “distress”: • Annex 1, chapter 1, point 11: “Distress phase”: A situation wherein there is a reasonable certainty that a vessel or a person is threathnedby grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance. Kristina Siig, Syddansk Universitet

13. Special application of the rules to boat people • Organised human trafficking… • In distress “on purpose”… (part of the modus operandi) • No implied condition that the person is not “to blame” for the situation… (SOLAS v/33(1): This obligation to provide assistance applies regardless of the nationality or status of such persons or the circumstances in which they are found.) (Even if indicated in some national judgments) Kristina Siig, Syddansk Universitet

14. A direct right to disembark? • “Well”… • Lex Tampa (SOLAS 2004, Art. V/33(1.1) Kristina Siig, Syddansk Universitet

15. Danish law – (flag state) Criminal Code Sec. 253, para. 1 Med bøde eller fængsel indtil 2 år straffes den, som, uagtet det var ham muligt uden særlig fare eller opofrelse for sig selv eller andre, undlader 1) efter evne at hjælpe nogen, der er i øjensynlig livsfare, eller 2) at træffe de foranstaltninger, som af omstændighederne kræves til redning af nogen tilsyneladende livløs, eller som er påbudt til omsorg for personer, der er ramt af skibbrud eller anden tilsvarende ulykke. Kristina Siig, Syddansk Universitet

16. “somerpåbudt”: Regl. no. 506 of 6. May 2011 Regel 33 Nødsituationer – forpligtigelser og procedurer 1 Enhver skibsfører, som i søen modtager information fra en hvilken som helst kilde om, at personer er i nød til søs, og som er i stand til at yde assistance, er forpligtet til i største hast at komme dem til undsætning og så vidt muligt underrette dem eller eftersøgnings- og redningstjenesten om, at han gør dette. Forpligtigelsen til at yde assistance gælder uanset nationalitet eller status for sådanne personer eller omstændighederne hvori de bliver fundet. Hvis skibet, som modtager nødsignalet, ikke er i stand til eller efter sagens særlige omstændigheder anser det for urimeligt eller unødvendigt at komme de nødstedte personer til undsætning, skal skibets fører i skibsdagbogen indføre grunden til at undlade at gå til undsætning og i overensstemmelse med Organisationens anbefalinger informere den pågældende eftersøgnings- og redningstjeneste herom. Kristina Siig, Syddansk Universitet

17. IS in use … U 2004. 1949 V Anklagemyndigheden mod T. Thai waters, September 1996… Enters into log: Seemingly no survivors Found guilty according to § 253, no. 2 in 2004 Kristina Siig, Syddansk Universitet

18. Owner’s obligations? • Not to encourage the Master to breach his obligations • CC Sec. 23 (aiding/abetting etc.) Kristina Siig, Syddansk Universitet