This study examines the shipmaster’s duty to render assistance at sea under international law. This duty is assessed in the light of contemporary challenges posed by the phenomenon of irregular migration by sea, a problem which has intensified in recent years. The approach undertaken gives special emphasis to the shipmaster’s responsibilities in rescue operations, and his role in the fulfilment of States’ international obligations in the rendering of assistance.

Table of Contents:
 Forewordxi  Prefacexii  Acknowledgements xiii  Abbreviations xv  Table of Cases xxiv  Table of Treaties xxx  Table of Legislation xxxiii  Table of Selected Instruments xxxviii  General Introduction 1 The Shipmaster’s Duty to Render Assistance at Sea: Challenges and Considerations Posed by Irregular Migration by Sea  1.1 Introduction  1.2 The Shipmaster’s Duty to Render Assistance at Sea in Irregular Migrant Rescue Operations  1.3 Safety, Seaworthiness, and Security Challenges  1.4 Commercial Challenges  1.5 Human Rights and Refugee Rights Considerations  1.6 Conclusion 2 Historic Development of the Duty to Render Assistance at Sea  2.1 Introduction  2.2 The Genesis of the Duty to Render Assistance at Sea  2.3 Early International Efforts to Regulate the Duty to Render Assistance at Sea   2.3.1The 1910 Salvage Convention   2.3.2The 1910 Collisions Convention   2.3.3The 1914 SOLAS  2.4 Conclusion 3 The Duty to Render Assistance at Sea under International Law  3.1 Introduction  3.2 The Duty to Render Assistance at Sea under Treaty Law   3.2.1The Duty to Render Assistance at Sea under the HSC    3.2.1.1 The HSC: Introduction    3.2.1.2 The Duty to Render Assistance at Sea under the ILC Provisional Articles on the High Seas    3.2.1.3 The Duty to Render Assistance at Sea: UNCLOS I Deliberations and the HSC   3.2.2The Duty to Render Assistance at Sea under UNCLOS    3.2.2.1 The Development of UNCLOS    3.2.2.2 The Duty to Render Assistance at Sea: UNCLOS III Deliberations    3.2.2.3 The Duty to Render Assistance at Sea under UNCLOS Articles 18(2) and 98   3.2.3The Duty to Render Assistance at Sea under IMO Treaties    3.2.3.1 The 1974 SOLAS    3.2.3.2 The 1979 SAR    3.2.3.3 The 2004 Amendments to the 1974 SOLAS and the 1979 SAR    3.2.3.4 The 1989 Salvage Convention  3.3 The Duty to Render Assistance at Sea under Customary International Law   3.3.1The Role of Treaties in the Creation of Customary International Law Regulating the Duty to Render Assistance at Sea   3.3.2State Measures to Enforce the Duty to Render Assistance at Sea in State Practice  3.4 The Duty to Render Assistance at Sea under Soft Law   3.4.1IMO and ICS Guidelines    3.4.1.1 Cooperation and Communication    3.4.1.2 Level of Preparedness    3.4.1.3 Actions to Be Implemented during and after the Embarkation of Rescued Persons    3.4.1.4 Disembarkation of Rescued Persons to a Place of Safety    3.4.1.5 Respect for the Human Rights and Refugee Rights of Rescued Persons  3.5 Conclusion 4 State Measures Relating to the Duty of the Shipmaster to Render Assistance under the Law of the Sea  4.1 Introduction  4.2 State Measures Relating to the Duty of the Shipmaster to Render Assistance at Sea under Treaty Law   4.2.1Flag State Jurisdiction  4.2.1.1 Safety and Seaworthiness  4.2.1.2 Crew  4.2.1.3 Security   4.2.2Coastal State Jurisdiction    4.2.2.1 Internal Waters    4.2.2.2 Territorial Sea    4.2.2.3 Contiguous Zone    4.3 State Measures Relating to the Duty of the Shipmaster to Render Assistance at Sea under Customary International Law   4.3.1Customary International Law Rules Relating to the Shipmaster’s Duty to Render Assistance Reflected in Treaty Law   4.3.2Customary International Law Rules Relating to the Shipmaster’s Duty to Render Assistance at Sea Not Found in Treaty Law  4.4 Conclusion 5 State Measures Relating to the Duty of the Shipmaster to Render Assistance at Sea under Human Rights Law and Refugee Law  5.1 Introduction  5.2 State Measures Relating to the Duty of the Shipmaster to Render Assistance at Sea under Human Rights Law   5.2.1The Interaction between the Law of the Sea and Human Rights Law   5.2.2The Jurisdictional Basis for the Application of Human Rights Law at Sea    5.2.2.1 De Jure Jurisdiction    5.2.2.2 De Facto Jurisdiction    5.2.2.3 De Facto and De Jure Jurisdiction in Rescue at Sea Operations   5.2.3State Duties to Protect Human Rights at Sea    5.2.3.1 Right to Life    5.2.3.2 Prohibition of Torture and Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment  5.3 State Measures Relating to the Duty of the Shipmaster to Render Assistance at Sea under Refugee Law   5.3.1The Extraterritorial Application of Non-refoulement   5.3.2Place of Safety and Respect for Non-refoulement   5.3.3Processing of Asylum Claims  5.4 Conclusion  6 State Responsibility and the Duty of the Shipmaster to Render Assistance at Sea  6.1 Introduction  6.2 Doctrine of State Responsibility under International Law  6.3 Attribution of State Responsibility under International Law   6.3.1General Principles to Gauge Attribution   6.3.2Conduct of Private Persons Attributable to the State   6.3.3Due Diligence and the Attribution of State Responsibility    6.3.3.1 An Obligation of Conduct, Not of Result    6.3.3.2 Reasonable Measures    6.3.3.3 Relativeness    6.3.3.4 The Exercise of Due Diligence Obligation and Violations of International Obligations by Private Persons  6.4 State Responsibility and the Shipmaster in Rescue at Sea Operations   6.4.1Flag State Responsibility and the Shipmaster in Rescue at Sea Operations    6.4.1.1 Obligations under the Law of the Sea    6.4.1.2 Obligations under Human Rights Law and Refugee Law    6.4.1.3 Case Studies   6.4.2Coastal or SAR State Responsibility and the Shipmaster in Rescue at Sea Operations    6.4.2.1 Obligations under the Law of the Sea    6.4.2.2 Obligations under Human Rights Law and Refugee Law    6.4.2.3 Case Studies  6.5 Conclusion  General Conclusions  Bibliography  Index