The problem of places of refuge for ships in distress is a pressing issue in maritime circles. Places of Refuge for Ships in Distress by Anthony Morrison examines the problem in the context of international and national law and analyses the remedies that have been suggested for resolving this troubling issue. The book examines places of refuge under international law, the laws of four major maritime States and the European Union. Places of Refuge for Ships in Distress analyses two proposed solutions – voluntary guidelines and a new convention. The book asserts that additional solutions are needed and examines potential alternatives. Places of Refuge for Ships in Distress is particularly useful, not only as an assessment of the specific problem, but also the wider examination of international maritime and environmental law that underpins any solution. It will serve as an essential resource to individuals involved in international, maritime and environmental law and those concerned with the threat to the environment posed by the carriage of dangerous goods by sea.

Written by scholars and practitioners, this work consists of 20 multidisciplinary chapters addressing the law, policy and management aspects of the problem of places of refuge for ships in need of assistance. Specific chapters focus on the experiences and approaches of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, United Kingdom and United States.

By examining the problem of places of refuge for ships in distress and proposed solutions under international, national and regional law, Places of Refuge for Ships in Distress by Anthony Morrison highlights the need for further solutions and presents alternative solutions.

By examining the problem of places of refuge for ships in distress and proposed solutions under international, national and regional law, Places of Refuge for Ships in Distress by Anthony Morrison highlights the need for further solutions and presents alternative solutions.

Essay from the year 2019 in the subject Politics - International Politics - Topic: Miscellaneous, grade: 4.5, Göteborg University (School of Economics, Business and Law), course: International Law in the Maritime Context, language: English, abstract: This case study presents two critical questions: What are the dangers of exposing a distressed tanker to the open seas over extended period of time? To what extent would providing relief (access to port) to a ship in distress harm the coastal state rendering such assistance? These two questions present one of the most controversial and pressing legal issue within law of the sea in the wake of high profile incidents of vessel-source pollution. The unwillingness of coastal states to grant access to their ports to vessels in distress at sea has attracted parallel opinions from different schools of thought. This could perhaps be attributed to the fact that UNCLOS (1982) which is considered as the constitution of the ocean; fails to provide an express legal order to matters relating to such access. An analysis of the shortcomings within the 1982 LOSC on issues relating to refuge for ships in distress at sea forms the basis of this discussion. Build-up to the discussion will include a brief overview to the customary law perspective on issues of refuge for such ships and the international attitude to this issue through present state practices.

The need for specific legal arrangements governing ships in distress and places of refuge is one of the most topical problems in both public and private maritime law. The headline grabbing shipping disasters involving the loss of the Erika (1999) and the Prestige (2002) attracted the attention of the IMO, the Comité Maritime International, the European Union, national maritime authorities around the globe and the maritime industry in general. Ultimately the impact of pollution on local economies and the environment was enough to arouse the concern of a broad swathe of public opinion. Places of Refuge provides clarity on: • The scope of the right of access • The conditions under which coastal authorities may deny access • The liability of authorities granting or denying access • The basis and the conditions of financial securities • The obligation to establish contingency plans

Between 2001 and 2002 the Maritime Institute of the Universiteit Gent and the Centre for International Law of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel joined efforts and hosted Emeritus Professor Dermott Devine as holder of the International Francqui Chair, around the central themes of fisheries and coastal state jurisdiction with respect to marine pollution. As Emeritus Director of the Institute of Marine and Environmental Law, Professor Devine was available for discussion and participation in the scientific life of the different Belgian universities having similar fields of interest. Within this context six classes of excellence were organized with the participation of interested Belgian colleagues across the board, belonging to universities adhering to different basic philosophies and even forming part of different linguistic communities. These classes culminated in a final symposium where Professor Devine gave a birds-eye view of the general theme, overarching and synthesizing the different subjects covered during the previous classes of excellence. This book offers a reworked compilation of all the contributions of the key-note speakers to the classes of excellence.