MAIB Flashcards
MAIB
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch investigates marine accidents involving UK
vessels worldwide and all vessels in UK territorial waters.
The MAIB job is to help prevent further avoidable accidents from occurring, not to establish
blame or liability.
They are an independent unit within the Department for Transport. Four experienced accident investigation teams are supported by an administrative team, based in Southampton and have 35 members of staff.
A marine casualty
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.
Note, a marine casualty or marine incident does not include a deliberate act or omission that is intended to cause harm to the safety of a ship, an individual (e.g. assault, suicide or homicide) or the environment.
A marine incident
Means an event, or sequence of events, which occurred directly in connection with the operation of a ship, that do not meet the criteria to be classified as a marine casualty but that endangered or, if not corrected would endanger, the safety of the ship, its occupants or any other person or the environment.
Examples of marine incidents include:
• 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.
When to report
All marine casualties and marine incidents must be notified to the MAIB as soon as practicable by the quickest means available.
Notification must not be delayed until the completion of an internal company investigation. HOW TO REPORT
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.
On the home page, click ‘Reporting an Accident’, then the ‘Accident Report Form’ link.
