Routes & RisksNews
Brazilian Navy: merchant ship rescues four people from capsized boat 88 miles off Ilhabela
Singapore-flagged Coral was called by radio by the Port Captaincy and took the survivors to the Port of Santos. No one was injured.
Why it mattersThe case shows a less visible side of shipping: the merchant ship as part of the search and rescue system. The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) requires a master who receives a distress call to proceed to assist people in danger. On the high seas, far from rescue bases, the nearest ship is often the first to arrive.
For cargo owners, a rescue can cost hours. The shipping rules used in many bills of lading, such as the Hague-Visby Rules, treat deviation to save life at sea as permitted, not as a breach of contract. It is not yet known whether Coral had to change course or whether Santos was already its destination.
The Navy used the case to repeat its advice to boaters: carry out preventive maintenance, check lifesaving equipment, follow the weather forecast and heed bad weather warnings. Emergencies at sea can be reported on 185.
5 hr. ago · 3 min readChecked against a primary source
