Places of Refuge for Ships: Emerging Environmental Concerns of a Maritime Custom

This book is about the contemporary problem of places of refuge for ships in need of assistance. There is an uncodified humanitarian custom providing a right to a ship in distress to assistance and protection by coastal authorities, including access to a place of refuge when necessary. With modern ships carrying large volumes of hazardous cargo and fuel, a disabled ship can pose a significant threat to the marine environment and interests of an affected coastal state. After being refused refuge, the ‘Erika’ and ‘Prestige’ became casualties causing severe environmental damage. Today, while the humanitarian right to assistance remains, the threat to the marine environment and the coastal state has to be considered in the granting of refuge. Written by scholars and practitioners, the book consists of 20 multidisciplinary chapters addressing the law, policy and management aspects of the problem. Specific chapters focus on the experiences and approaches of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, United Kingdom and United States.