PoR - Places of Refuge

A Place of Refuge is a location—such as a port, inlet, bay, or coastline—where a ship in need of assistance can take action to stabilise its condition, protect human life, and reduce navigational or environmental risks. Decisions to grant access to a place of refuge are complex and must be made on a case-by-case basis, considering the nature of the incident and the potential consequences.

EU Legal Basis and Operational Framework

The Vessel Traffic Monitoring and Information System (VTMIS) Directive (2002/59/EC), as amended, includes dedicated provisions (Articles 20–23d) regarding ships requesting a place of refuge. These provisions aim to ensure that Member States are equipped with effective, structured, and independent systems for handling such emergencies.

The Directive builds on the IMO Guidelines on Places of Refuge (Resolution A.949(23)), and requires the use of the SafeSeaNet platform for sharing critical information during such incidents. Cooperation among Member States is encouraged, especially for cross-border incidents.

EU Operational Guidelines

Following the MSC Flaminia incident, an EU Expert Group was created in 2013 to develop EU Operational Guidelines on Places of Refuge.

These guidelines aim to:

  • Promote faster and well-informed decisions in emergencies;
  • Encourage proactive attitudes among authorities and industry;
  • Complement national response plans;
  • Serve as a model for multi-State incidents or jurisdictional gaps.

The EU guidelines were drafted in collaboration with Member States, the European Commission, EMSA, and stakeholders from the maritime industry.

They have been presented internationally, including at IMO Maritime Safety Committees MSC 95 and MSC 96, to share best practices and promote adoption by non-EU countries.

Supporting Documents and Resources