Maritime Assistance Services

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As a Maritime Assistance Services (MAS) services are referred to a coastal state holds for ships to assist in special situations.

The MAS is based on Recommendation A.950 (23) of December 5, 2003 issued by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which recommends that coastal states provide appropriate services.

The "special situations" for which MAS may be required are specified in resolution A.950 (23) as follows:

  1. The ship is involved in an accident (e.g. loss of cargo, accidental release of oil) which does not affect its seaworthiness but must be reported.
  2. In the opinion of the captain, the ship needs support, but is not in an emergency (e.g. immediate sinking, fire, ...) that requires people to be taken off board.
  3. The ship is in an emergency situation, but the people on board have already been recovered and only those people who were entrusted with handling the situation are still on board.

With this definition, situations for which MAS may be required are clearly separated from the normal seafaring emergencies. In particular, all situations involving the saving of human lives do not fall under MAS .

According to resolution A.950 (23) it is not necessary for the coastal states to set up a completely new organization for the provision of the MAS. The functions of a MAS can also be carried out by existing organizational units of an administration (e.g. Maritime Rescue Coordination Center , port administration, coast guard , etc.).

According to Resolution A.650 (23), the tasks of a MAS are:

  1. Receipt of reports, consultations or notifications that the IMO regulations provide in the event of an accident,
  2. Monitoring of a ship if an accident mentioned in 1. has been reported that may lead to a need for support,
  3. Contact point between the master and the coastal state if an appropriate exchange of information is necessary,
  4. Contact point between the parties involved in a rescue operation by a private rescue company, which takes place at the request of the shipping company and the coastal state if the coastal state considers it necessary to monitor the rescue operation.

The tasks of the MAS mentioned above should be carried out in a 24-hour service.

For Germany, the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development has named the transport centers operated by the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration as contact points for MAS.

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