Chapter 6 Promotion of Marine Accident Inquiries and Related Challenges
Section 1 Incorporating results into measures to prevent marine accidents
For the Marine Accidents Inquiry Agency to achieve its primary goals, namely identifying the causes of marine accidents and contributing to their prevention, it must incorporate causes of marine accidents identified in judgments and promptly and effectively incorporate its findings and appropriate guidelines into preventative measures. To this end, the Marine Accidents Inquiry Agency engages in a variety of public relations activities directed toward the preventing of the recurrence of accidents.
1. Public relations activities to prevent the recurrence of marine accidents
(1) Disclosure of information on inquiries
Marine inquiries are conducted in an open public court according to quasi-judicial procedures, and inquiries are often observed not only by those directly concerned, but also by the general public, including people from marine-related industries, students in legal training, and students in other fields. In addition, in cases having considerable social impact, such as accidents involving passenger ships colliding with piers or fishing vessels capsizing and resulting in extensive crew fatalities, or serious marine accidents related to leisure activities, the mass media is used to inform the public about inquiry proceedings and the details of judgments pronounced.
With the aim of ensuring the effective disclosure of information on inquiries, the Marine Accidents Inquiry Agency also prepares brochures and booklets outlining inquiry-related activities, which it distributes to individual inquiry agencies and commissioner's offices for the benefit of observers attending inquiries. The Agency also discloses information on its activities in cases of particular interest to the general public, such as inquiries into serious marine accidents to encourage greater awareness.
(2) Dissemination of judgments to administrative bodies and organizations in the marine industry
Judgments pronounced on marine accidents are expected to clarify facts and identify causes, as well as to indicate how facts are supported by evidence. Accordingly, judgments also contain various guidelines effective in preventing marine accidents.
Upon pronouncement of a judgment, written copies are given to examinees and other parties directly involved in the inquiry. If no subsequent action was taken, the causes of the marine accident serve only as lessons for those involved, and the identified causes of the accident in question and guidelines for its prevention may not be sufficiently reflected in preventive measures.
For this reason, the Marine Accidents Inquiry Agency has made it a rule to distribute copies of judgments, etc., to administrative bodies vested with authority to implement measures aimed at preventing marine accidents and organizations in the marine industry, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of these efforts.
2. Study and analysis of marine accidents
While marine accidents inquiries attempt to clarify the causes of accidents through the pronouncement of judgments, thereby helping to prevent similar accidents in the future, achieving this aim requires systematic study and analysis of judgments on individual cases is to identify trends and problems related to causes.
The Marine Accidents Inquiry Agency - which is positioned particularly well to make effective use not only of judgments, but also of evidence - actively examines various aspects of marine accidents, which it compiles into reports for distribution to related administrative bodies, organizations in the marine industry, and research and educational institutions.
