🧠Rescue On The Sea Of Life
We are all sailing through the sea of life; some have better vessels and navigational instruments, and others do not.
As I went through some old things today, I came across some old UNCLOS and SOLAS texts (from days long gone). And this paragraph particularly stood out… what most people don’t know is that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea creates an obligation to rescue anyone in danger at sea. Article 98 obliges states to require all masters of a ship to help anyone in danger at sea, so long as it does not also cause danger to the rescuing vessel.
To break this down, the ship-master has an obligation to assist those in distress at sea, regardless of their nationality, status, or the circumstances under which they are found.
This is a long-standing maritime tradition and a legal requirement under international law.
UNCLOS and SOLAS, “Every State shall require the master of a ship flying its flag, in so far as he can do so without danger to the ship, the crew, or the passengers:
- To render assistance to any person found at sea in danger of being lost.
- To proceed with all possible speed to rescue persons in distress, if informed of their need of assistance, in so far as such action may reasonably be expected of him.”
All of humanity is navigating through the sea of life. Being on the sea of life is not optional; we have no say; we must sail through it. Some have better boats than others; some are even less fortunate and drift on rafts. Nevertheless, everyone is on the same sea of life.
Some have better navigational instruments to guide them; others have old, broken compasses. Nevertheless, everyone is on the same sea of life.
The thing about seas is that storms are unpredictable. Sometimes you can navigate the calm waters without any storms in sight; at other times, you will be caught in devastating storms. If we applied the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to the “sea of life,”… it would oblige one ship-master to aid another (in distress). And as the law states, “to assist regardless of their nationality, status, or the circumstances under which they are found.” To render assistance to any person found at sea in danger of being lost. If informed of their need for assistance, proceed with all possible speed to rescue persons in distress.
But unfortunately, the UNCLOS and SOLAS do not apply to the “sea of life.” However, the law of humanity supersedes all other laws. If possible, we should assist family, friends, colleagues, and loved ones (or any human being, for that matter) who are going through storms in their lives. We are all on the same sea of life but in different boats, different storms.
In my early years, when I set out to explore the treacherous waters of life, a friend told me this, and it has always stuck with me, “If the day ever comes when you find yourself in troubled waters, drop your anchor, call on me… I will be there, and we will navigate through them together.”
