Places of Refuge

Following the incident in early 2001 when the fully-laden tanker CASTOR was unable to find a sheltered place to effect cargo transfer and repairs for about 35 days, the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) decided at its 74th session in early June 2001 to instruct the Sub-Committee on Safety of Navigation (NAV) to begin considering the issue as a matter of urgency. Together with other relevant Sub-Comittees, NAV will develop guidelines dealing with this issue, including aspects such as the action expected from coastal States providing "places of refuge" to ships in distress, an evaluation of the risks associated with the provision of places of refuge, and the action to be taken by masters of ships in distress when in need of places of refuge. What such ships need is access to relatively sheltered waters so that the necessary operations can be done with a minimum of risk to the ship, the coastal state, the environment and the salvors.

NAV's work is expected to have been finalised by the end of 2003. At a later stage, the IMO might consider preparing a "World Guide of Places of Refuge" for use by masters, salvage operators and others.

Pending the results of the on-going work within the framework of the IMO, ships affected adversely by tough weather conditions in Danish waters are asked to seek places of safe anchorage until the weather has changed. Several recommended anchoring places in Danish waters have been marked out on the official nautical charts of the area.

In cases of emergency, please contact the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre at the Admiral Danish Fleet.