Marine accident

investigation
IMO perspective

 IMO & ILO IMO & ILO- Conventions Conventions

ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION AND REPORTING
UNCLOS Art. 94, (217 and 218)
SOLAS I - 21
MARPOL Art. 4, 6, 8 and 12
Annex I Reg. 9(3) and 10(6)
Annex II Reg. 10(3)(1)
STCW Reg. 1/4
LL Art. 23
SFV Art. 7
ILO No. 134 Art. 2-3
ILO No. 152 Art. 36 and 39

The following definitions, etc., apply to

IMO language:
Marine Casualty = ship accident
(NOT industrial accidents onboard)
Marine Incident = Near miss or
narrow escape from a Marine Casualty

UNCLOS
Art. 94, paragraph 7:
Inquiry if OWN ship causes:
-loss of life or serious injury to OTHER nationals
-serious damage to FOREIGN ships or installations
Requires co-operation between States involved

Art. 217:
-State investigating VIOLATION may request assistance from other State
-States shall investigate alleged violations on request

Art. 218:
Port State may investigate VIOLATIONS and request assistance in cases
of discharges)

SOLAS SOLAS
Ch. I, Reg. 21:
(a) Flag State undertakes to conduct an
investigation if it judges casualty may call
for changes of present Convention
(b) Flag State to report to IMO findings under
(a) IMO may not disclose identity or
nationality of ship or imply responsibility
upon a ship or person

MARPOL 73/78 (Art. 4, 6, 8, and 12)

Art. 4:
Violation of Conv. Req:s to be prohibited and
sanctions to be established, concerning

own ships; and

own territory
Violations to be

prosecuted; or

left to Flag State for action

Flag State to inform IMO of actions taken
Art. 6:
States to co-operate

to detect violations

to enforce MARPOL
PSC if illegal discharges suspected
Violations to be reported to Flag State
Flag State actions to be reported to

Port State

IMO

IMO definitions
MARINE ACCIDENT= MARINE CASUALTY
death or serious injury (incapacitation >72 hrs)
loss of person overboard
loss or abandonment of ship
material damage to ship
stranding or disabling of ship
involvement of ship in collision/contact
material damage caused by ship
damage to environment caused by damage to ship

IMO reporting formats

ANNEX 1 Ship identification and particulars

ship particulars
type of event
consequences
summary (of events) - text

ANNEX 2 Casualty data

casualty type
consequences
causes (primary and underlying factors)

ANNEX 3 Casualty and incident report

SAR information
ANNEX 4 Dangerous goods onboard
ANNEX 5 Damage card/intact stability records
ANNEX 6 Fire casualty records
ANNEX 7 GMDSS questionnaire
ANNEX 8 Fatigue factors
ANNEX 9 Incidental spillage (>50 tons or harmful)
location
response
legal action
natural resource damages

MSC/Circ.953
MEPC/Circ.372

IM0 Res A 849 .

CODE FOR INVESTIGATION OF MARINE CASUALTIES AND
INCIDENTS
Main objective: Improved investigation standards and
international co-operation in marine casualty investigation
applicable as far as national law allows
recognising need for co-operation between States

defines:
marine casualty
very serious casualty
serious casualty
marine incident
causes
marine casualty or incident investigation
marine casualty Investigator
lead investigating State
substantially interested State

investigation objectives:
better awareness of causes
improved remedial measures
better training
resulting in:
improved safety
improved environment protection

IM0 Res A 849 .

CODE FOR INVESTIGATION OF MARINE
CASUALTIES AND INCIDENTS (contd)

Deals in addition in general terms with

Conduct of investigation
State responsibility
State co-operation
Openness of records
Reports

IMO CASUALTY CATEGORIES

Very serious
total loss
loss of life (ship accident only)
severe pollution (defined in MEPC 37/22 para 5.8)
Serious
fire, explosion, grounding, contact, weather or ice
damage, hull cracking or suspected hull defects resulting in
unseaworthiness
immobilisation of main engine
pollution (any kind)
breakdown necessitating towage or shore assistance

Less serious
casualties not very serious or serious

Incidents
near misses

IMO IMO
CASUALTY REPORTING CASUALTY REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS REQUIREMENTS

* = requested at all casualties of this category

X = requested if lessons to be learned or Convention
changes/amendments may be proposed