MAIB

Question 1

What is the Marine Accident Investigation Branch?

Answer 1

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch investigates marine accidents involving UK vessels
worldwide and all vessels in UK territorial waters.

Plus, The Red Ensign Group Category 1 Registries of:
• Isle of Man.
• Cayman Islands.
• Bermuda.
• Gibraltar.

The MAIB’s job is to help prevent further avoidable accidents from occurring, not to establish blame or liability.

Question 2

Why did we have the MAIB?

Answer 2

The MAIB’s job is to help prevent further avoidable accidents from occurring, not to establish blame or liability.

Solas Regulation 21
Part C
Casualties
Each administration undertakes to conduct an investigation of any casualty occurring to any of its ships subject to the provisions of the present Convention when it judges that such an investigation may assist in determining what changes in the present regulations might be desirable.

Question 3

What’s is a Marine Casualty and give examples?

Answer 3

Is an event or sequence of events that occurred directly in connection with the operation of a ship, and resulted in:
• The death of, or serious injury to, a person. In this context a serious injury renders the person unable to perform their usual duties for >72 hours, or requires their
admittance to a hospital / medical facility for > 24 hours.
• The loss of a person from a ship.
• The loss, presumed loss or abandonment of a ship.
• Material damage to a ship.
• The ship being unfit to proceed, or requires flag state approval or a condition of class before it may proceed.
• At sea, a breakdown of the ship, requiring towage.
• The stranding or disabling of a ship, or the involvement of a ship in a collision.
• Material damage to marine infrastructure external of a ship that could seriously endanger the safety of the ship, another ship or any individual.
• Pollution, caused by damage to a ship or ships.

Question 4

What is a Marine Incident and give examples?

Answer 4

Means an event which occurred directly in connection with the operation of a ship, that endangered or, if not corrected would endanger, the safety of the ship, its occupants or any other person or the environment.

• Close-quarters situations where urgent action was required to avoid collision.
• Any event that had the potential to result in a serious injury.
• A fire that did not result in material damage.
• An unintended temporary grounding on soft mud, where there was no risk of stranding or material damage.
• A person overboard who was recovered without serious injury.
• Snagging of fishing gear resulting in a dangerous heel.

Question 5

1. When are you required to report to the MAIB?

2. How can you report to the MAIB?

Answer 5

It is a legal requirement that any marine casualty or marine incident is notified to the MAIB.

1. All marine casualties and marine incidents must be notified to the MAIB as soon as practicable by the quickest means available.
2. The MAIB’s 24 hour accident reporting line: +44 (0)23 8023 2527.
   Information can also be submitted using the MAIB’s Accident Report Form (ARF), which is available on the Branch’s website: www.gov.uk/MAIB.