REFERENCE INFORMATION: New UNHCR, IMO, ICS guide to Rescue at Sea available today

Media representatives covering the plight of refugees and migrants involved in sea crossings, as well as shipmasters, ship owners, Government authorities and others, may be interested to know that a newly updated guide to principles and practice involved in Rescue at Sea as applied to refugees and migrants has just been published. It's available in six languages.

The guide was prepared jointly by UNHCR, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS). It provides guidance on relevant legal provisions, on practical procedures to ensure prompt disembarkation of rescued persons, and on measures to meet their specific needs, particularly in the case of refugees and asylum-seekers.

The guide is available on Refworld [in English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish]