The Isle of Man Ship Registry is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) for marine accident investigation services. The MoU establishes that the MAIB will have responsibility for the investigation of certain marine casualties that occur on Manx-registered vessels. Such investigations will be made on behalf of the Isle of Man Ship Registry and therefore MAIB inspectors will have full legal powers as provided in Manx legislation.
Under the MoU, the MAIB will be responsible for the investigation of any incident on a Manx ship that is considered a ‘Very Serious Marine Casualty’. This is defined by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Casualty Investigation Code as any incident involving the total loss of a ship, a death or severe damage to the environment. Isle of Man Ship Registry surveyors will continue to investigate less serious incidents occurring on Manx Ships and Very Serious Marine Casualties on non-Manx ships which occur in Manx waters.
Isle of Man Ship Registry Director Cameron Mitchell explained the reason for this change:
“The IMO’s III Code requires that investigations of Very Serious Marine Casualties are made by inspectors who are fully impartial. Since the Isle of Man does not have an independent investigation body, we made the decision to contract this service to the UK’s MAIB who have vast experience and expertise in this area.
By joining together with the other Category 1 Red Ensign Group members, we were able to ensure the MoU represented the best possible value for money and worked in everyone’s interests. We look forward to working with the MAIB.”
You can read the full text of the MoU here.