Place of refuge for ships explained

A place of refuge for ships is a safe harbor or other secure place where a ship in distress can safely be taken to "prevent further damage or deterioration of the ship".^[1]

It is often claimed that under international maritime law, "no port may be closed to a foreign ship seeking shelter from storm or bad weather or otherwise compelled to enter it in distress, unless another equally safe port is open".^[2]

However, there are many limitations to this principle, especially when the ship may pose environmental or other dangers to the port.^{[3] [4] [5]}

Bibliography

• Anthony Morrison, Places of Refuge for Ships in Distress: Problems and Methods of Resolution, 07 June 2012 in Legal Aspects of Sustainable Development 12. https://brill.com/view/title/20927

Notes and References

1. Web site: MI News Network . January 18, 2019 . What are "Places of Refuge" for Ships? . September 9, 2022 . Marine Insight.
2. "Protection of Persons and Property at Sea and Maritime Law Enforcement", chapter 3 of A.R.Thomas and James C. Duncan (eds.), Annotated Supplement to The Commander's Handbook on the Law of Naval Operations p. 212-214 https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1566&context=ils
3. Murray . Christopher F. . 2002 . Any Port in a Storm? The Right of Entry for Reasons of Force Majeure or Distress in the Wake of the Erika and the Castor . Ohio State Law Journal . 63 . 5 . 1465–1506.
4. Noyes . John E. . January 2008 . Places of Refuge for Ships . Denver Journal of International Law & Policy . 37 . 1 . 135–145.
5. [International Maritime Organization]