If a vessel is in danger and there is sufficient time, the master should seek the advice and instructions of the shipowners before calling for assistance, and before agreeing salvage terms with another ship.
If there is no time for this, however, the master should immediately call for and engage assistance from any available source if he believes it necessary for the safety of the ship, crew, passengers and cargo. The master has full authority to do this, as should be clearly stated in the ship’s Safety Management System documentation.
