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Such
as food and drinking water, survival bags,
plastic sheeting, first aid and medical
supplies and chlorine based cleaning products
and equipment and PPE (for crew to protect
against potential risks to health) including
additional life jackets and flotation devices
for crew (in case of infection or contamination),
anti-bacterial gel/sanitiser in individual
packages and dispensers, fluid-resistant,
impermeable long sleeve coveralls or coats
with long sleeve, gloves (both cotton/fabric
and latex or nitrile), respiratory protection
and eye protection.
It's
a tall order and ICS believes that the coastal
authorities in North Africa can do much
more to prevent the migrants craft from
setting out to sea in the first place, especially
where traffickers and people smugglers are
involved.
But
the European Union and its Member States
also need to assist the authorities in North
Africa and meet their moral responsibility
as governments to support search and rescue
operations and those merchant ships that
are often the first on the scene. ICS suggests
that more rescue resources need to be committed
to the region by all EU Member States and
that disembarkation facilities need to be
provided without equivocation.
Illegal
and inhumane trafficking and deliberate
abandonment of migrants in shipping lanes
needs to be urgently stamped out. Mr Hinchliffe
praised the proposal by the Secretary-General
of the UN's International Maritime Organisation
(IMO) for those UN agencies concerned with
the plight of migrants and refugees at sea
to combine their resources in an inter-agency
approach.
Earlier
this week, ICS issued Guidelines on Large
Scale Rescue Operations at Sea, which can
be downloaded from the ICS website here:-
http://www.ics-shipping.org/docs/largescalerescue
Part
of it contains a Master's Checklist for
a large scale rescue operations at sea,
which more clearly shows what has to be
done to meet obligations.
1.
Determine if a distress situation exists
based on the information available to the
master;
2.
Plan a rescue in accordance with ship specific
plans and procedures, modified as appropriate
by the master for the situation;
3.
Make preparations for a rescue including:
a) Approach method - it is recommended that
rescue is normally conducted using a rescue
boat or lifeboat, rather than bringing the
ship alongside the craft in distress and
b) Embarkation plan - to ensure the calm
and orderly embarkation of all persons to
be recovered;
4.
Conduct the rescue: a) Carry out ship specific
plans and procedures - focus on crew safety,
appropriate PPE and good communications;
and b) Establish trust - instil calm by
reassuring rescued persons and, if available,
provide life vests, water and nutrition;
5.
Prepare accommodation: a) Prepare a safe
and secure area of the ship and provide
crew with appropriate PPE at least a disposable
mask and gloves; b) Be prepared to segregate
women/children and any obviously sick or
injured persons but also allow for family
groups to remain together; c) Count the
number of people on board, noting children
and medical cases; d) Maintain sanitary
conditions to protect the health of rescued
persons and the crew and e) Provide water,
nutrition and basic medical care within
the capabilities and limitations of the
ship.
6.
Plan security: a) Establish watch routines
for monitoring security; b) Limit access
to the ship and dangerous areas; and c)
Remain vigilant to potential conflict between
rescued persons;
7.
Engage with the RCC [rescue co-ordination
centre] to agree a place of safety for disembarkation
based on the particular circumstances of
the rescue and the planned voyage of the
ship;
8.
Plan post disembarkation actions: a) Clean
and disinfect areas of the ship used for
accommodation, sanitary provisions and medical
care; b) Check for stowaways; and c) Dispose
of used PPE and any contaminated waste appropriately.
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