PORT OF REFUGE:

The ship may be damaged due to various reasons such as:

The ship is damaged in such an extent that it is unsafe to continue the voyage.

In the case the voyage to be diverted to the nearest safe port which is called port of refuge.

It is a “justifiable deviation”.

The ship is repaired as necessary at the port and the voyage may be resumed after the ship becomes seaworthy.

Can the port be reached safely? (Enough fuel, extent of damage).

Are the port authorities friendly/hostile?

Can the vessel enter port and remain in safely?

Repair facilities in the port.

Cost of repairs reasonable?

Can cargo be discharged/stored?

Crew repatriation facilities.

Can owner’s representatives enter/leave freely?

Spares/stores readily available?

Can ship’s spares/stores imported easily?

Survey facilities available.

Port free of war, strikes, civil commotion?

Are required charts onboard?

Inform owner, charterer, agent at original destination and give them the reasons to enter POR.

Consult with underwriter.

State requirements at POR.

Inform agent at POR.

Inform port authorities.

Contact with P & I club at POR.

Date, time, position, nature of incident

ROB of D/O, FO, FW onboard.

Present situation onboard

Weather: present and future

Master’s intention to deviate

Name of port of refuge

ETA at port of refuge

Assistance required.

Name, port of registry

Official No, IMO No

Ships particulars (GT, NT, LOA, LBP, Draft)

Reasons for entering

ETA

Amount of cargo and distribution

Details of assistance required

Obtain pilot

Enter the ship in customary manner

Obtain pratique

Issue note of protest, reserving the right to extend it

Inform owner, charterer of the ship’s safe arrival

Inform Director of Marine if the accident has resulted in loss of life.

Inform underwriter in accordance with tender clause.

Inform P&I agent and underwriter’s surveyor.

If cargo to be discharged, GA adjustor and qualified independent cargo surveyor to be present before breaking bulk (opening/closing of hatches).

Arrange damage survey by class. If no class surveyors available, make arrangements with other classification society surveyor, IACS or experienced person (if formers not available) to have the damage surveyed.

After receiving surveyor’s report/ recommendation, call for tenders with advice from underwriter representative. In tender, include statement “the lowest or any tender will not necessarily be accepted”.

Arrange repairs under supervision of surveyor/ underwriter’s surveyor.

After repair, arrange survey. If surveyor is from class, he will issue an interim certificate. If he is not employed by class, he will issue a certificate of seaworthiness.

A proper record to be kept commencing from the time of deviation to port of refuge. Copies to send to owner for P&I claims.

Note protest, giving full details of damage and repairs, copies to be dispatched to owner.

The ship can be cleared for resume voyage.