Although the duty to rescue persons in distress at sea is well-established in international law, it is pervaded by complex legal questions amenable to different interpretations. This allows States to shift responsibility away from them even when urgent assistance is required. Thus, the PhD project set out in this MPT intends to provide much needed legal clarification, by researching what are the precise international obligations of States in the field of rescue stemming from various areas of law., it is pervaded by complex legal questions amenable to different interpretations. This allows States to shift responsibility away from them even when urgent assistance is required. Thus., the PhD project set out in this MPT intends to provide much needed legal clarification., by researching what are the precise international obligations of States in the field of rescue stemming from various areas of law