7 Summary

This course sought to introduce you to international laws regarding search and rescue (SAR), highlighting the obligations that vessels and states have in ensuring that people are rescued when they are in danger or distress, regardless of their status.

It outlined rights that migrants have to leave their countries and their rights not to be returned to them if they might be subjected to human rights abuse, without due consideration to ensuring that the individual merits of their cases are examined.

It also examined issues relating to the mental health and wellbeing of those who save lives at sea and strategies for self-care to address these.

This short course can only touch upon some of the fundamental areas of law that govern the sea. There are other areas which the law touches upon, such as the regulation of the safety of vessels, which were outside the scope of this course but are still important for maritime SAR work.

Nevertheless, the course team hope that it has been a useful introduction and we invite you to attempt the multiple-choice, end-of-course quiz  where, upon passing, you will receive a digital badge.