IMO (INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION) CONVENTIONS
International Convention for the Safely of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, as amended
Regulation I/21, Casualties, provides:
(a) 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 desirable4.
(b) Each Contracting Government undertakes to supply the Organization with pertinent information concerning the findings of such investigations. No reports or recommendations of the organization based upon such information shall disclose the identity or nationality of the ships concerned or in any manner fix or imply responsibility upon any ship or person.
International Convention on Load Lines, 1966
Article 23, Casualties, provides:
(1) Each Administration undertakes to conduct an investigation of any casualty occurring to ships for which it is responsible and which are subject to the provisions of the present Convention when it judges that such an investigation may assist in deterring what changes in the Convention might be desirable.
4 Refer to the following resolutions adopted by the Organization:
A.203(VII)-Recommendation on the conclusion of agreements and arrangements between States on the question of access and employment of foreign seaborne salvage equipment in territorial waters
A.322(IX)-The conduct of investigation into casualties
A.442(XI)-Personnel and material resource needs of Administrations for the investigation of casualties and contravention of conventions
Refer also to:
MSC/Circ.70/Rev.1 Questionnaire on the maritime distress system
MSC/Circ.224 Submission of damage cards and intact stability casualty records
MSC/Circ.388 Fire casualty records
MSC/Circ.433 Reports on investigations into serious casualties
MSC/Circ.539/Add.2 Reports on casualty statistics concerning fishing vessels and fishermen at sea
MSC/Circ.559 Guidelines to ensure the reporting to the Organization of incidents involving dangerous goods and marine pollutants in packaged form on board ships and in port areas
MSC/Circ.621 Guidelines for the investigation of accidents where fatigue may have been a contributing factor
