European shipowners have expressed their “disappointment” that the new European Union (EU) migration pact fails to deliver any reassurances to merchant vessels and their crews.

In an open letter to the European Commission (EC), the European Community Shipowners' Association (ECSA) calls for a “guarantee” that merchant vessels be allowed to put rescued migrants ashore.

The letter, which is also co-signed by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the ITF and the European transport Workers’ Federation, urges the EC to remind EU member states of their “responsibilities to ensure prompt and predictable disembarkations when merchant ships have rescued persons in...