The UNHCR, IMO, and ICS have released a revised Rescue Guide to help partners uphold humanitarian and legal duties to rescue refugees and migrants in distress at sea. The guide aims to strengthen humanitarian action at sea and provide practical steps for governments, shipmasters, and crews. The release comes as tragic shipwrecks continue to highlight the urgent need for stronger collective action.
The revised edition of Rescue at Sea: A guide to principles and practice in the context of refugee and migrant movements underlines the continued relevance and life-saving impact of practical protection action. It covers rescuing people in distress at sea, including refugees and migrants, and ensuring safe disembarkation in line with international law.
The seas must be treated as a humanitarian space, and the duty to rescue people in distress at sea must be upheld without discrimination, the partners agreed. This is crucial for preventing further loss of life among people fleeing danger or seeking better prospects.
The revised Guide provides more detailed guidance on applicable legal standards and practical procedures to ensure the prompt rescue of individuals in distress at sea.
Established legal obligations must be translated into concrete action at sea. The tireless efforts of coast guards, navies, search and rescue agencies, and merchant vessels in rescuing individuals in distress at sea are crucial for preventing an even higher death toll.
The revised Guide ensures clarity for Governments and provides practical steps for shipmasters and crews. It reflects the shared commitment of UNHCR, IMO and the shipping sector, as well as humanitarian agencies and NGOs, to support States in their primary responsibility to save lives at sea.
The Mediterranean remained one of the world's deadliest corridors in 2025, with 1,953 people reported dead or missing. The South and South-East Asia route saw the highest mortality rate worldwide for refugee and migrant sea journeys.
The revised Rescue Guide is a vital tool for upholding one of the clearest moral and legal duties at sea: to rescue refugees and migrants in distress and bring them to safety.
The revised Rescue Guide underscores the need for collective action to uphold humanitarian duties and prevent further human tragedy at sea.
