Casualty and Marine Incident Investigations

Casualty and Marine Incident Investigations are a critical function for the Belize Ship Register and the Technical Department takes the lead in the case of an incident. When a maritime accident or incident occurs involving a Belize registered vessel, IMMARBE in compliance with the UNCLOS, all mandatory instruments and the Code of the International Standards and Recommended Practices for Safety Investigation into a Marine Casualty or Marine Incident (Casualty Investigation Code) adopted by Resolution MSC.255(84) is responsible for the vessel and will launch an investigation to determine the cause of the incident and identify any factors that may have contributed to the event.  

The investigation will involve gathering and analysing a wide range of data, including witness statements of the crew members, physical evidence, and data from the ship’s onboard systems. Investigators may also review the ship’s maintenance records, crew training and certification documents and other relevant documentation.  

The findings of the casualty and marine incident investigation is reported to our regulator, International Maritime Organization, IMO. The reporting provides pragmatic input, to identify the root cause of the incident and develop recommendations to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The investigation may lead to changes in policies or regulations related to ship safety, crew training and certification, or other aspects of maritime operations. In addition, the investigations can also show that Belize registered ships are in compliance with the international standards and regulations and promote safe and efficient in maritime operations.