The European way of Ukraine for the organization of search and rescue at sea

Abstract

The article examines the legal framework for the organization of search and rescue at sea in Ukraine in the context of European integration, and also investigates the existing shortcomings and overlaps in the distribution of functions and assignment of tasks between the State structures of Ukraine, and identifies the areas for reforming the organization of search and rescue at sea to improve efficiency and bring Ukraine closer to the state of search and rescue at sea in the European Union (EU).
 The relevance of the study lies in the strategic direction of Ukraine towards EU membership and the approximation of Ukrainian legislation to that of the European Union, which requires reform of legal regulation in the field of search and rescue at sea in Ukraine.
 Ukraine, as a maritime state and a member of the International Maritime Organization, has assumed an international obligation under the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, 1979, and acceded to it by Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine No. 2786-XII of November 17, 1992.
 Accordingly, the purpose of the publication is to conduct a theoretical study of the issues related to Ukraine’s implementation of the international obligation to search for and save human life in case of maritime disaster in the context of European integration and trends for its improvement.
 The methodological basis of the study is a systematic structural analysis of the organizational (institutional) and legal regulation of search and rescue at sea.
 The article also provides conclusions on the areas of legal reform and improvement of the efficiency of the organization of search and rescue at sea in Ukraine with a view to improving the legal regulation of this area of legal relations to a level which would be in line with international standards and bring it closer to the legislation of the European Union.