5. Preparedness
As stated previously, cruise ships that navigate in Greenlandic waters are subject to comprehensive regulations. This regulation can be considered fragmented in that it consists of number of different regulations at different levels, which together form the legal framework that shipping companies and shipmasters must act under when navigating cruise ships in Greenlandic waters. One of the central aims of this regulation as a whole is legal prophylaxis for the purpose of reducing the risk of disasters. Another aim of the regulation is to ensure that rescue operations can be carried out, should this be necessary, also if the vessel in question is a cruise ship that may have many passengers on board. With regard to this, it is crucial, on the one side, that the legal framework is supplemented with emergency response planning and associated training on board. On the other side, this needs to be supported by an efficient emergency response system on land and on sea, for example, a search and rescue system that can deal with the evacuation of passengers and crew in difficult conditions. The following provides a brief insight into the issue of preparedness and the search and rescue (SAR) system in Greenland. The aim is to present some of the central aspects that illustrate the interplay between legal prophylaxis and real-life circumstances when a cruise ship is in distress in Greenlandic waters.