5.1 Questioning and notification by the master
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Resolutions - Maritime Safety Committee - Resolution MSC.312(88) – Revised Guidelines on the Prevention of Access by Stowaways and the Allocation of Responsibilities to Seek the Successful Resolution of Stowaway Cases – (Adopted on 2 December 2010) - Annex – Revised Guidelines on the Prevention of Stowaway Incidents and the Allocation of Responsibilities to Seek the Successful Resolution of Stowaway Cases - 5 Responsibilities in relation to the resolution of stowaway cases - 5.1 Questioning and notification by the master

5.1 Questioning and notification by the master

 It is the responsibility of the master of the ship which finds any stowaways on board:

  • .1 to make every effort to determine immediately the port of embarkation of the stowaway;

  • .2 to make every effort to establish the identity, including the nationality/citizenship and the right of residence of the stowaway;

  • .3 to prepare a statement containing all available information relevant to the stowaway for presentation to the appropriate authorities (for example, the public authorities at the port of embarkation, the flag State and any subsequent ports of call if relevant) and the shipowner. In this respect the reporting form provided in the Appendix should be used and completed as far as practicable;

  • .4 to notify the existence of a stowaway and any relevant details to the shipowner and appropriate authorities at the port of embarkation, the next port of call and the flag State; with the understanding that when a stowaway declares himself/herself to be a refugee, this information should be treated as confidential to the extent necessary for the security of the stowaway;

  • .5 not to depart from the planned voyage to seek the disembarkation of a stowaway discovered on board the ship after it has left the territorial waters of the State where the stowaways embarked unless permission to disembark the stowaway has been granted by the public authorities of the State to whose port the ship deviates, or repatriation has been arranged elsewhere with sufficient documentation and permission given for disembarkation, or unless there are extenuating safety, security, health or compassionate reasons;

  • .6 to ensure that the stowaway is presented to the appropriate authorities at the next port of call in accordance with their requirements;

  • .7 to take appropriate measures to ensure the security, general health, welfare and safety of the stowaway until disembarkation, including providing him/her with adequate provisioning, accommodation, proper medical attention and sanitary facilities;

  • .8 to ensure that stowaways are not made to work on board the ship, except in emergency situations or in relation to the stowaway's accommodation on board; and

  • .9 to ensure that stowaways are treated humanely, consistent with the basic principles.

Parent topic: 5 Responsibilities in relation to the resolution of stowaway cases
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