Duty on masters to assist persons in distress at sea5
1
Subject to paragraph (2) below, it shall be the duty of the master of a ship, on receiving at sea a distress alert, to proceed with all speed to the assistance of the persons in distress, informing them or the appropriate search and rescue services, if possible, that he is doing so.
2
The master of a ship need not so proceed if, having regard to the MERSAR Manual—
a
the ship is unable to do so;
b
in the special circumstances of the case, he considers it unreasonable or unnecessary to do so; or
c
he is released from the duty pursuant to regulation 6(1) or (2) below.
3
Where the master of a ship has received a distress alert at sea but does not proceed to the assistance of the persons in distress he shall—
a
record in the ship’s log-book the reason for not so proceeding; and
b
if the master has responded to the distress alert by informing the appropriate search and rescue services that he is proceeding to the assistance of the persons in distress, inform those search and rescue services as soon as possible of his decision not to proceed.
4
Where the master of any ship in distress has, or the search and rescue services have, requisitioned any ship that has answered a distress alert, it shall be the duty of the master of the requisitioned ship to comply with the requisition by continuing to proceed with all speed to the assistance of the persons in distress.