IMO Secretary-General reiterates the need for action to address unsafe migration by sea
In recent week's more than 2000 migrants were rescued from the Mediterranean Sea, and several hundred lost their lives. International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu has called for greater action to address the criminal gangs arranging for illegal and unregulated sea passage by migrants that put thousands of lives at risk - both migrants and rescue services.
More than 200,000 migrants have been rescued from the Mediterranean Sea during the course of 2014, and the rescue services provided by a number of countries are overstretched. In November 2014, the Club updated Members on the end of Mare Nostrum and the start of Triton, however even with rescue practices in place; over 600 merchant ships were diverted to support persons in distress at sea at last year.
The IMO will be hosting an inter-agency meeting on the Travelling of Migrants by Sea on 4 March 2015. The meeting aims to build on the momentum gained at the UN High Commissioner for Refugees' Dialogue on Protection Challenges held in Geneva in December 2014. It is envisaged that the meeting will develop potential ways forward both by individual agencies and through the Global Migration Group, with a view to establishing a database of incidents to help law enforcement agencies to identify, arrest, prosecute and punish smugglers.
Neil Beckwith is a Senior Claims Executive for London Syndicate 3. London Syndicate 3 - The People Claims Syndicate exclusively handles all P&I/Defence matters relating to crew, stevedores, passengers, stowaways, refugees and third party visitors involving injury, illness, death, drug smuggling, immigration fines, loss of or damage to effects of crew/others and occupational disease.
Tags
You may also be interested in:
Green Shipping - Transitional Fuels
17/05/2023
It's safe to say that the maritime industry's choice of fuel will be one of the most significant drivers in its efforts to decarbonise shipping
Our correspondents in China, Huatai Marine, have provided the latest update relating to the distribution of major fishery farms along the coast of China.
A Roadmap for Ship Decarbonisation
27/09/2022
Discover the need for decarbonisation in shipping to combat global warming and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
As part of Hong Kong Maritime Week, Margaret Zhou spoke to Hong Kong Maritime Hub about how P&I cover interacts with War Risk insurance