Casualty investigation is crucial in order to learn from maritime incidents. A regional workshop on marine casualty investigation and reporting, held in Suriname (4-8 November), brought together officials from 14 countries to enhance the rate of investigation and reporting into marine casualties and incidents and highlight the importance of cooperation at regional level.
Participants were taken through the key elements of the role of marine casualty investigator, from the understanding of the notion of marine casualty, country's responsibilities, the set-up of the investigation, to mandatory standards, identifying risk, the human element, analysis and reporting.
The comprehensive course will increase the casualty investigation capacity in the region and enhance, strengthen and harmonize the efforts of IMO Member States.
Under IMO's mandatory Casualty Investigation Code, flag States have an obligation to investigate a very serious marine casualty and others, as defined by relevant conventions, occurring on any of its ships and to report its findings to IMO. These investigations help determine what changes in the present regulations may be desirable and what remedial actions should be taken to enhance the safety of seafarers and passengers and the protection of the marine environment.
The course was delivered as phase three of a comprehensive programme which was planned on the basis of two subregional needs assessment phases. A key aim is addressing findings and observations which have arisen following Member State audits, including corrective action plans (CAP).
The 33 participants represented 14 countries: Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Curacao (Kingdom of the Netherlands), Dominica, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.
The workshop was organized and delivered under the IMO's Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP).
