• supercriticalcheese@feddit.it
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    1 year ago

    I’m not an expert in maritime law, or any law for that matter, but why they had to help him?

    If he wanted to be in danger he succeeded, provided he doesn’t request the coastal guard for assistance he is not hurting anything but himself. Is It because his hamster wheel might have been a hazard to other boats?

    • barsoap@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      Article 98 UNCLOS, “Duty to render assistance”:

      1. Every State shall require the master of a ship flying its flag, in so far as he can do so without serious danger to the ship, the crew or the passengers:

      a. to render assistance to any person found at sea in danger of being lost;
      b. 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;
      c. after a collision, to render assistance to the other ship, its crew and its passengers and, where possible, to inform the other ship of the name of his own ship, its port of registry and the nearest port at which it will call.

      1. Every coastal State shall promote the establishment, operation and maintenance of an adequate and effective search and rescue service regarding safety on and over the sea and, where circumstances so require, by way of mutual regional arrangements cooperate with neighbouring States for this purpose.
      • supercriticalcheese@feddit.it
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        1 year ago

        Thank you barsoap! So even if there is no assistance request is given if the person is clearly lost or soon to be in need of assistance you need to provide assistance.