Casualty Investigation Code

The MSC adopted a new Code of International Standards and Recommended Practices for a Safety Investigation into a Marine Casualty or Marine Incident (Casualty Investigation Code). Relevant amendments to SOLAS Chapter XI 1 were also adopted, to make parts I and II of the Code mandatory. Part III of the Code contains related guidance and explanatory material. The Code will require a marine safety investigation to be conducted into every marine casualty involving the total loss of the ship or a death or severe damage to the environment. The Code will also recommend an investigation into other marine casualties and incidents, by the flag state of a ship involved, if it is considered likely that it would provide information that could be used to prevent future accidents. The new regulations expand on SOLAS Regulation I/21, which requires administrations to conduct an investigation of any casualty occurring to any of its ships when it judges that such an investigation may assist in determining what changes in the present regulations might be desirable.