Sul codice di condotta delle navi soccorritrici private

The rescue of people in distress has always been an ethical and moral imperative for seafarers, even before it became a legal obligation. Only in the past century did it become a precise legal duty under international and domestic law, provided that the rescue operation does not endanger the rescuing vessel and its occupants. Initially developed for occasional emergencies involving trained personnel, the current regulations now face unprecedented challenges. Political, economic, and climatic crises in Africa drive increasing numbers of people to the southern shores of the Mediterranean, where criminal organizations exploit their desperation by arranging dangerous sea journeys. This has transformed rescue operations into a regular service, sometimes conducted by coastal states and other times by private entities with moral or altruistic motives. The protection of human life at sea, the safeguarding of fundamental rights, the control of irregular immigration, and the defense of national borders have largely been subject to ad-hoc political measures. In this complex context, the decree-law of January 2, 2023, known as the «Code of Conduct for NGOs» has outlined the procedures foreign private rescue ship commanders must follow to avoid restrictive measures from Italian authorities.