Merchant Shipping
The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulations 2012
Made4th July 2012
Laid before Parliament9th July 2012
Coming into force31st July 2012
1 Citation, commencement and revocation¶
2 Interpretation¶
- “access” means the process of embarking on or disembarking from a ship, by whatever means employed;
- “accident” has the meaning given in regulation 3;
- “the Act” means the Merchant Shipping Act 1995;
- “Chief Inspector” means the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents appointed by the Secretary of State under section 267(1) of the Act, and any Deputy Chief Inspector;
- F6...
- “Court”, in the case of judicial proceedings or an application for disclosure made in England, Wales or Northern Ireland means the High Court , or in the case of judicial proceedings or an application for disclosure in Scotland means the Court of Session;
- F7...
- F8...
- F9...
- “IMO” means the International Maritime Organisation;
- “IMO Code” means the Code for the Investigation of Marine Casualties and Incidents annexed to Resolution A.849(2.0) of the IMO Assembly of 27th November 1997 as amended at the time of the making of these Regulations;
- “IMO Code” means the Code of the International Standards and Recommended Practices for a Safety Investigation into a Marine Casualty or Marine Incident (Casualty Investigation Code) adopted by the IMO by Resolution MSC.255(84) on 16th May 2008;
- “incapacitation” means a person's inability to undertake their full range of normal activities;
- “inspector” means an inspector of marine accidents appointed by the Secretary of State under section 267(1) of the Act and in the context of the safety investigation of a particular accident includes any person appointed to investigate that accident under regulation 11(2);
- “MCA” means the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, an executive agency of the Department for Transport;
- “pleasure vessel” means—
- any vessel which is—
- wholly owned by an individual or individuals and used only for the sport or pleasure of the owner or the immediate family or friends of the owner, or
- owned by a body corporate and used only for the sport or pleasure of employees or officers of the body corporate, or their immediate family or friends,
and is on a voyage or excursion which is one for which the owner is not paid for or in connection with operating the vessel or carrying any person , other than as a contribution to the direct expenses of the operation of the vessel incurred during the voyage or excursion, or- any vessel which is wholly owned by or on behalf of a members' club formed for the purpose of sport or pleasure which, at the time it is being used, is used only for the sport or pleasure of members of that club or their immediate family, and for the use of which any charges levied are paid into club funds and applied for the general use of the club;
and no payments other than those mentioned above are made by or on behalf of the users of the vessel, other than by the owner, and in this definition, “immediate family” means in relation to an individual, the husband, wife or civil partner of the individual, and a brother, sister, ancestor or lineal descendant of that individual or of that individual's husband, wife or civil partner; - “preliminary assessment” means a preparatory evaluation by the Chief Inspector which is intended to establish the likely causes and circumstances of an accident with a view to deciding whether or not a safety investigation should be undertaken;
- “relevant vessel” means any vessel other than a vessel—
- falling within regulation 4(1)(a)(i) to (iii);
- that is a warship;
- that is not propelled by mechanical means;
- that is a wooden vessel of traditional build which is not primarily propelled by mechanical means, including a dhow or junk which is made of wood and provided with sails; or
- that is a fishing vessel of less than 15 metres length overall;
- F11...
- “safety investigation” means an investigation or inquiry into an accident conducted with the objective of preventing future accidents.
- “senior surviving officer” means the senior surviving officer in the deck department and if there is no surviving officer in the deck department; then whoever is the senior surviving officer between—
- the senior surviving engineer officer; or
- the senior surviving electro-technical officer;
- “serious injury” means—
- any fracture, other than to a finger, thumb or toe;
- any loss of a limb or part of a limb;
- dislocation of the shoulder, hip, knee or spine;
- loss of sight, whether temporary or permanent;
- penetrating injury to the eye;
- any injury to a person employed or carried in a ship which occurs on board or during access which results in incapacitation for more than three consecutive days excluding the day of the accident;
- any other injury—
- leading to hypothermia or unconsciousness,
- requires resuscitation, or
- requiring admittance to a hospital or other medical facility as an in-patient for more than 24 hours;
- “severe pollution” shall have the same meaning as that set out by the IMO M3;
- “ship's boat” includes a liferaft, painting punt and any boat normally carried by a ship;
- “Substantially Interested State” has the meaning given in the IMO Code;
- “United Kingdom ship” means a ship registered in the United Kingdom or a ship that is not registered under the law of any State but is eligible for registration in the United Kingdom under the Act;
- “voyage data recorder” means the electronic or mechanical equipment which may be installed on a ship to record key navigational and control information.
3 Meaning of “accident”¶
4 Application¶
5 Objective of a safety investigation¶
6 Duty to report accidents and serious injuries¶
7 Preliminary assessments¶
8 Ordering of a safety investigation¶
9 Subsequent or reopened investigations¶
10 Preservation of evidence¶
11 Conduct of a safety investigation¶
12 Co-operation with other States¶
13 Disclosure of records¶
14 Reports of safety investigations¶
15 Publications other than reports of safety investigations¶
16 Recommendations¶
17 Extension of time¶
18 Service of documents¶
Any notice or other document required or authorised by any provision of these Regulations to be served on or given to any person may be served or given—19 Penalties¶
20 Review¶
SCHEDULE 1 ¶
MARINE CASUALTY OR INCIDENT NOTIFICATION DATA
Regulation 6
The information is—¶
SCHEDULE 2 ¶
Information to be included, where relevant, in reports in relation to an accident
Regulation 14
Summary¶
Factual information¶
Narrative details¶
9 Analysis¶
Analysis and comment, as necessary, to enable the report to reach logical conclusions, establishing all of the contributing factors, including those with risks for which existing defences aimed at preventing an accidental event, and those aimed at eliminating or reducing its consequences, are assessed to be either inadequate or missing, including—10 Conclusions¶
The main conclusions, including conclusions as to the established contributing factors and missing or inadequate defences (material, functional, symbolic or procedural) for which safety actions should be developed to prevent marine casualties.Safety Recommendations¶
14 Appendices¶
If appropriate, the following non-exhaustive list of information may be attached to the report (in paper or electronic form)—Footnotes
- M11995 c.21.
- M2S.I.2005/881.
- M3International Maritime Organisation MSC-MEPC.3/Circ.3 of 18th December 2008 Casualty-related matters: reports on marine casualties and incidents (Ref.T1/12.01, p.2, footnote). See also MEPC 37/22 which records the agreement of the definition of “severe pollution”,www.imo.org/blast/blastDataHelper.asp?data_id=30432&filename=MSC-MEPC.3-Circ.3.pdf.
- M4As defined in section 313(2)(a) of the Act.
- M5MSC-MEPC.3/Circ.2 Annex Page 12 Draft Marine Safety Investigation Reports
- F1Words in reg. 6(4) substituted (31.12.2013) by The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/2882), regs. 1, 2(3)
- F2Reg. 13(8) inserted (31.12.2013) by The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/2882), regs. 1, 2(4)
- F3Sch. renumbered as Sch. 1 (31.12.2020) by The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 13(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F4Words in Sch. 1 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 13(3); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F5Sch. 2 inserted (31.12.2020) by The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 14; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F6Words in reg. 2(1) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 3(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F7Words in reg. 2(1) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 3(3); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F8Words in reg. 2(1) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 3(4); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F9Words in reg. 2(1) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 3(5); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F10Words in reg. 2(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 3(6); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F11Words in reg. 2(1) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 3(7); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F12Words in reg. 2(1) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 3(8); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F13Words in reg. 2(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 3(9); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F14Reg. 4(1)(c) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 4; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F15Words in reg. 6(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 5; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F16Words in reg. 7(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 6(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F17Reg. 7(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 6(3); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F18Words in reg. 8(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 7; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F19Words in reg. 11(9) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 8(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F20Words in reg. 11(10) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 8(3); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F21Reg. 11(13) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 8(4); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F22Reg. 12(5)(5A) substituted for reg. 12(5) (31.12.2020) by The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 9(3); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F23Reg. 12(1)(a) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 9(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F24Words in reg. 12(6) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 9(4)(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F25Words in reg. 12(6) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 9(4)(b); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F26Word in reg. 12(6)(a) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 9(4)(c); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F27Word in reg. 12(6)(b) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 9(4)(d); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F28Reg. 12(6)(c) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 9(4)(e); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F29Word in reg. 12(7) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 9(5); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F30Reg. 12(8)-(10) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 9(6); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F31Words in reg. 13(2)(d) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 10; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F32Words in reg. 14(2)(b) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 11(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F33Reg. 14(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 11(3); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F34Reg. 14(11)(f) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 11(4); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F35Reg. 14(12) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 11(5); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F36Words in reg. 16(8) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 12(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F37Words in reg. 16(8) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) and the Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1400), regs. 1, 12(b); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- C1Regulations extended (with modifications) (16.10.2025) by S.I. 1989/1350, art. 2 (as substituted by The Hovercraft (Application of Enactments) (Amendment) Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/1094), arts. 1(2), 2(2))