Extended Operational and Trade Vocabulary

Marine Accident Investigation Agencies and Landmark Inquiries glossary

Vocabulary of marine casualty investigation: the independent investigation authorities such as AIBN, the IMO Casualty Investigation Code adopted by MSC.255(84), no-blame admissibility of safety-investigation evidence, administrative flag-State inquiries, and the landmark casualties like the Amoco Cadiz grounding that shaped accident-investigation practice.

258 defined terms.

Showing 250 on this page (page 1 of 2).

A

Accident Investigation Board Norway (AIBN): Norwegian independent multimodal safety investigation authority based at Lillestrom whose marine department investigates casualties involving Norwegian-flag vessels and serious occurrences in…
Accident Investigation Code (Casualty Investigation Code): Common short title for the IMO Code of the International Standards and Recommended Practices for a Safety Investigation into a Marine Casualty or Marine Incident, adopted by Resolution MSC.255(84).
Accident report: Final written output of a marine safety investigation containing factual findings, analysis, conclusions, contributory factors, and safety recommendations.
Administrative inquiry: Non-judicial fact-finding process used by flag State maritime administrations to determine the circumstances of a casualty for safety purposes only.
Admissibility of safety investigation evidence: Question of whether material gathered under the no-blame Casualty Investigation Code regime may be used in subsequent civil, criminal, or disciplinary proceedings.
Amoco Cadiz casualty (1978): Liberian-flag VLCC that grounded off Brittany on 16 March 1978, spilling about 220,000 tonnes of crude oil and prompting French and Liberian inquiries plus prolonged United States federal court…
Analysis section: Part of a marine safety investigation report that examines the factual information to identify the contributing factors and underlying causes of the casualty.
Andrea Doria casualty (1956): Italian Line passenger ship that collided with the MS Stockholm off Nantucket on 25 July 1956 and sank with 46 fatalities, leading to joint Italian and Swedish board of inquiry proceedings later…
Annex of the Casualty Investigation Code: Mandatory annex to Resolution MSC.255(84) containing the international standards applied to marine safety investigations.
APL Vancouver fire (2019): Container ship fire off Vietnam in January 2019 investigated by the Singapore flag administration with focus on misdeclared dangerous goods.
Appendices to the Casualty Investigation Code: Non-mandatory parts of the Code including guidance on related matters such as the human element and the conduct of interviews.
ATSB (Australian Transport Safety Bureau): Australian independent statutory agency under the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003 whose marine division investigates accidents involving Australian-flag ships and foreign ships in Australian…
Australian Marine Order 47: National instrument that supports ATSB investigations by setting requirements for casualty notification by Australian-flag operators.

B

Bahamas Maritime Authority Casualty Investigation: Investigation function of the Bahamas Maritime Authority discharging the flag State investigation duty for Bahamas-registered ships, with reports published by the BMA in Nassau and London.
BEAmer (Bureau d'Enquetes sur les Evenements de Mer): French marine accident investigation bureau established in 1997 within the Ministry responsible for the sea, headquartered in Paris and operating under the French Transport Code.
Belgian Federal Bureau for the Investigation of Maritime Accidents (FOIMA): Independent Belgian federal body created in 2012 to investigate very serious and serious marine casualties involving Belgian-flag ships or occurring in Belgian waters.
BERESCO inquiry (Amoco Cadiz): Liberian Board of Investigation convened after the Amoco Cadiz casualty that examined the failure of the steering gear and the conduct of the master and salvage tug.
Black box (VDR): Colloquial term for the voyage data recorder, the central evidence source recovered by investigators after a casualty.
Blame-free investigation: Foundational principle of the Casualty Investigation Code that safety investigations are conducted to prevent recurrence and not to apportion liability or blame.
Board of inquiry: Generic term for a formal panel of investigators convened by a flag State, port State, or coastal State to inquire into a marine casualty.
Bow Mariner explosion (2004): Singapore-flag chemical tanker that exploded and sank off Virginia on 28 February 2004 with 21 fatalities, investigated by the United States Coast Guard with findings on inert gas operations during…
Brazilian Navy Directorate of Ports and Coasts (DPC): Brazilian maritime authority (Diretoria de Portos e Costas) whose Naval Inquiry process investigates marine casualties involving Brazilian-flag ships and ships in Brazilian jurisdictional waters.
Bridge resource management findings: Class of findings in casualty reports addressing teamwork, situational awareness, and challenge-and-response culture on the navigation bridge.
BSU (Bundesstelle fur Seeunfalluntersuchung): German Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation established 2002, based in Hamburg, operating under the German Maritime Safety Investigation Law (SUG).
Bunker Sampling: Drawing of fuel samples during delivery, witnessed by agent and surveyor.

C

Canadian Transportation Safety Board Marine (TSB Marine): Marine branch of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, established 1990 under the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act and based in Gatineau, Quebec.
Cape Cod Canal closure casualties: Class of incidents in United States inland waters jointly investigated by the United States Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Carriage of dangerous goods investigations: Casualty inquiries whose central issue is mis-declaration, mis-stowage, or reactivity of IMDG cargoes, a recurring theme in container ship fire reports.
Casualty classification (very serious, serious, less serious): Hierarchy adopted by the Casualty Investigation Code that determines whether an investigation is mandatory or discretionary.
Casualty Investigation Code (IMO): International Standards and Recommended Practices for a Safety Investigation into a Marine Casualty or Marine Incident adopted by Resolution MSC.255(84) on 16 May 2008.
Cayman Islands Shipping Registry Marine Accident Investigation: Investigation function of the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry discharging the flag State duty for Cayman-registered vessels.
Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents: Statutory office at the head of the United Kingdom MAIB who reports to the Secretary of State for Transport and signs MAIB reports.
China Maritime Safety Administration (CMSA) Investigation: Investigation function of the China MSA under the Ministry of Transport that handles marine casualties in Chinese waters and involving Chinese-flag ships.
CIAIM (Comision de Investigacion de Accidentes e Incidentes Maritimos): Spanish permanent commission for the investigation of marine accidents and incidents, established under Royal Decree 800/2011 and reporting to the Ministry of Transport.
ClassNK MOL Comfort investigation: Technical investigation conducted by Nippon Kaiji Kyokai with the Bahamas Maritime Authority into the 2013 hull failure of the post-Panamax container ship MOL Comfort.
Coastal State investigation right: Recognition that the coastal State has a substantial interest in serious casualties occurring in its territorial sea or exclusive economic zone and may participate in or initiate an investigation.
Code for the Investigation of Marine Casualties and Incidents (1997): Predecessor instrument adopted by IMO Resolution A.849(20) that established voluntary investigation standards before being superseded in 2010 by the mandatory Casualty Investigation Code.
Collision investigation: Investigation focused on rule application under COLREG, lookout, plotting, VHF use, and AIS interpretation between meeting vessels.
Confidentiality of records: Protection given by the Casualty Investigation Code to witness statements, communications, medical information, opinions, and analyses produced during a safety investigation.
Confidentiality undertaking: Pre-deal NDA signed by buyer's broker before disclosure of vessel particulars.
Coroner's inquest interface: Interaction between marine safety investigation and coronial proceedings into deaths at sea, with the Casualty Investigation Code protecting safety records from being used to apportion blame.
Costa Concordia casualty (2012): Italian-flag cruise ship that grounded and partially capsized off Giglio on 13 January 2012 with 32 fatalities, investigated by the Italian Marine Casualties Investigative Body and the subject of…
Cougar Ace listing (2006): Singapore-flag pure car carrier that took a 60-degree list in the North Pacific on 24 July 2006 during ballast exchange, investigated by the United States Coast Guard and salvage analysed for Marine…
Cyprus Department of Merchant Shipping (DMS) Investigation: Casualty investigation function of the Cyprus Shipping Deputy Ministry for Cyprus-flag ships and incidents in Cyprus waters.

D

Danish Maritime Accident Investigation Board (DMAIB): Independent Danish investigation authority established in 2011 within the Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, headquartered in Valby and conducting safety investigations into…
DDG (Maritime Safety), DG Shipping India: Deputy Director General (Maritime Safety) branch of the Indian Directorate General of Shipping in Mumbai, which discharges the Indian flag State investigation function.
Decision of investigation: Formal decision by the State conducting the marine safety investigation as to whether and how the investigation will proceed.
DGS (Directorate General of Shipping, India): Indian flag State authority in Mumbai whose Nautical Surveyor and DDG (MS) cadre conduct casualty inquiries under the Merchant Shipping Act 1958.
Direccion General de Territorio Maritimo y de Marina Mercante (DIRECTEMAR / DGTM): Chilean maritime authority under the Chilean Navy that conducts maritime accident investigations in Chilean jurisdiction.
Directive 2009/18/EC: European Union directive establishing the fundamental principles governing the investigation of accidents in the maritime transport sector and implementing the IMO Casualty Investigation Code.
Diretoria de Portos e Costas (DPC): See Brazilian Navy Directorate of Ports and Coasts.
Direzione Generale per le Investigazioni Ferroviarie e Marittime (DIGIFEMA / DGISAR): Italian Directorate-General within the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport that performs marine accident investigations (formerly known under the DGISAR designation).
Draft report consultation: Stage at which the investigating State provides its draft report to substantially interested States and to persons whose conduct is likely to be the subject of comment, in accordance with the…
DSB Marine Section: Specific marine investigation cadre within the Dutch Safety Board.
Dutch Safety Board (Onderzoeksraad voor Veiligheid, OVV): Independent Dutch investigation board established under the Dutch Safety Board Act 2005, based in The Hague, whose maritime section investigates accidents involving Dutch-flag ships and incidents in…
Duty to Cooperate: Obligation of owner, master, cargo owner, and salvor under Article 8 to cooperate in salvage operations.

E

Edmund Fitzgerald sinking (1975): United States-flag Great Lakes ore carrier lost with all 29 hands on Lake Superior on 10 November 1975, investigated by the United States Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation and separately by…
El Faro casualty (2015): United States-flag ro-ro container ship lost with all 33 crew during Hurricane Joaquin on 1 October 2015, investigated jointly by the United States Coast Guard and the NTSB which issued report…
EMSA support to investigations: Operational support including EMCIP, casualty analysis, and pollution response coordination provided by the European Maritime Safety Agency to EU national investigation bodies.
Erika casualty (1999): Maltese-flag products tanker that broke up off Brittany on 12 December 1999 spilling about 20,000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, investigated by BEAmer and contributing directly to the EU Erika I and II…
Estonia casualty (1994): Estonian-flag ro-ro passenger ferry that sank in the Baltic Sea on 28 September 1994 with 852 fatalities, investigated by the Joint Accident Investigation Commission (JAIC) of Estonia, Finland, and…
Estonia Commission (JAIC): Tripartite investigation body for the MV Estonia casualty established by the Governments of Estonia, Finland, and Sweden.
Estonian Safety Investigation Bureau (Ohutusjuurdluse Keskus): Estonian government body that performs marine accident investigations under the EU framework directive and the Casualty Investigation Code.
European Marine Casualty Information Platform (EMCIP): EMSA-operated database used by EU Member State investigation bodies to report and analyse marine casualty data under Directive 2009/18/EC.
Evaluation versus factual material: Casualty Investigation Code distinction between factual narrative (which may be more freely shared) and evaluative analysis (which is more strongly protected).
Ever Given grounding (2021): Panama-flag container ship that grounded in the Suez Canal on 23 March 2021 blocking traffic for six days, investigated by the Suez Canal Authority and by the Panama Maritime Authority as flag State.
Evidence Preservation: Procedures to preserve shipboard logs, images, and removable media for forensic and legal use.
Exxon Valdez casualty (1989): United States-flag VLCC that grounded on Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound on 24 March 1989 spilling about 37,000 tonnes of crude oil, investigated by the NTSB which issued report MAR-90/04.

F

Factual report: Component of a marine safety investigation report setting out the sequence of events, vessel particulars, environmental conditions, and operational data without analysis.
Fatigue investigation: Investigation theme addressing watchkeeping hours, MLC compliance, and the physiological effects of sleep deprivation on bridge and engine room staff.
FAVT (Federal Air Transport Agency) Mar Casualty: Russian federal investigation function (the Russian marine investigation role historically falls to Rostransnadzor) covering Russian-flag casualties.
Federal Bureau for the Investigation of Maritime Accidents (FOIMA, Belgium): See Belgian Federal Bureau for the Investigation of Maritime Accidents.
Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH): German federal agency in Hamburg and Rostock whose technical resources support BSU investigations.
Felicity Ace fire and sinking (2022): Panama-flag pure car and truck carrier that caught fire off the Azores on 16 February 2022 and sank on 1 March 2022, investigated by the Panama Maritime Authority as flag State.
Final report: Concluding public document of a safety investigation under the Casualty Investigation Code.
Finnish Safety Investigation Authority (OTKES, Onnettomuustutkintakeskus): Independent Finnish authority established under the Safety Investigation Act, based in Helsinki, with a maritime branch covering Finnish-flag casualties and incidents in Finnish waters.
Fire investigation methodology: Application of recognised fire science protocols (origin and cause determination, electrical and fuel pathways) by marine investigators to engine room and accommodation fires.
Flag State implementation (FSI) Sub-Committee: Former IMO sub-committee whose casualty analysis function passed to the Sub-Committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments (III) in 2014.
Flag State investigation duty: Obligation under UNCLOS Article 94(7) for the flag State to cause an inquiry to be held into every marine casualty or incident of navigation on the high seas involving a ship of its flag and causing…
Follow-up actions: Tracking by IMO and by flag States of how safety recommendations issued in casualty reports are addressed by their recipients.
Foundered (cause classification): GISIS Casualty Module classification used when a ship was lost as a result of stress of weather or other than the principal causes listed elsewhere.

G

General Inspectorate of the Merchant Marine (Greece): Hellenic Coast Guard inspectorate that supports HBMCI by providing initial fact-gathering and witness identification.
Generic safety lessons: IMO III Sub-Committee output that draws cross-cutting safety lessons from multiple casualty reports.
GISIS (Global Integrated Shipping Information System): The IMO database aggregating ship particulars, casualties, and PSC information.
GISIS Casualty Module: Database of marine casualties under Casualty Investigation Code.
GPIAAF (Gabinete de Prevencao e Investigacao de Acidentes com Aeronaves e de Acidentes Ferroviarios): Portuguese accident investigation cabinet that, together with the Portuguese maritime investigation function, supports the marine casualty investigation role for Portugal.
Greek Hellenic Bureau for Marine Casualties Investigation (HBMCI): Greek independent body (Elliniki Ypiresia Diereynisis Naytikon Atychimaton) established in 2012 to investigate marine casualties involving Greek-flag ships and incidents in Greek waters.
Grounding investigations: Subset of casualty inquiries focused on navigation, bridge resource management, electronic chart use, and pilotage.

H

Hazardous and Noxious Substances investigation: Investigation thread addressing carriage of chemicals and noxious liquids under MARPOL Annex II and the IBC Code, recurrent in tanker casualty reports.
HBMCI (Hellenic Bureau for Marine Casualties Investigation): See Greek Hellenic Bureau for Marine Casualties Investigation.
Hellenic Coast Guard casualty interface: Operational coast guard role in providing initial response data to HBMCI safety investigations.
Herald of Free Enterprise casualty (1987): British-flag ro-ro ferry that capsized off Zeebrugge on 6 March 1987 with 193 fatalities, investigated by the formal investigation under Mr Justice Sheen known as the Sheen Inquiry.
High Court of Admiralty (historical): English judicial body that historically conducted Wreck Commissioner inquiries before the modern MAIB framework.
Hoegh Osaka deliberate grounding (2015): Singapore-flag car carrier deliberately grounded on Bramble Bank in the Solent on 3 January 2015 after developing a severe list, investigated by the United Kingdom MAIB.
Hong Kong MARDEP MAIS (Marine Accident Investigation Section): Marine Accident Investigation Section of the Hong Kong Marine Department which discharges the Hong Kong flag State investigation function for Hong Kong-registered ships.
Human element analysis: Investigation methodology informed by IMO Resolution A.884(21) and the MAIIF Human Element Working Group focusing on individual, task, and organisational factors.
Hyundai Fortune fire (2006): Panama-flag container ship that suffered a major fire and explosion in the Gulf of Aden on 21 March 2006, investigated by the Panama Maritime Authority as flag State.

I

III Sub-Committee (Implementation of IMO Instruments): IMO sub-committee established in 2014 that, among other duties, analyses marine casualty investigation reports submitted to the IMO and identifies safety lessons.
IMO casualty analysis: Analytical process by which the III Sub-Committee and its correspondence groups review marine casualty reports to extract systemic safety lessons.
IMO Marine Safety Committee (MSC) role: Body of the IMO that adopts the Casualty Investigation Code and considers safety lessons from analysed casualty reports.
IMO Resolution A.849(20): 1997 IMO Assembly resolution adopting the original (voluntary) Code for the Investigation of Marine Casualties and Incidents.
IMO Resolution A.884(21): 1999 IMO Assembly resolution providing amendments to the Code for the Investigation of Marine Casualties and Incidents with guidance for investigating human factors.
IMO Resolution MSC.255(84): Resolution adopting the Casualty Investigation Code.
IMO Resolution MSC.257(84): 2008 resolution adopting consequential SOLAS amendments under which the Casualty Investigation Code became mandatory.
Incident (marine): Event or sequence of events, other than a marine casualty, that has occurred directly in connection with the operations of a ship that endangered or, if not corrected, would have endangered the…
Independence of the investigation: Casualty Investigation Code principle that marine safety investigation should be impartial and independent of any other form of investigation.
Indian Maritime Safety Branch: See DDG (Maritime Safety), DG Shipping India.
Inert gas system casualty lessons: Recurring theme in tanker casualty investigations including Bow Mariner addressing inerting practice during tank cleaning.
Interested party: Person whose interests, whether or not personal, may be affected by the findings of a marine safety investigation as recognised by the Casualty Investigation Code.
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions input: Participation by seafarer representative bodies in IMO casualty analysis discussions on behalf of crew interests.
International Registries Incorporated (IRI) Investigation: Investigation function on behalf of the Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator (IRI), responsible for flag State casualty inquiries for Marshall Islands-flag vessels.
Investigation Code definitions: Defined terms in MSC.255(84) including marine casualty, very serious marine casualty, serious marine casualty, marine incident, marine safety investigation, marine safety investigating State…
Investigation report submission to IMO: Obligation under the Casualty Investigation Code to submit the final marine safety investigation report to the IMO for inclusion in the GISIS Casualty Module.
Investigator-in-charge: Lead investigator designated by the safety investigation authority.
Italian Marine Casualties Investigative Body: Body within the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport responsible for marine casualty investigation, formally the Direzione Generale per le Investigazioni Ferroviarie e Marittime.

J

JAIC (Joint Accident Investigation Commission, Estonia): Joint Estonian-Finnish-Swedish commission that investigated the MV Estonia casualty and issued its final report in December 1997.
Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB): Japanese independent investigation authority established in 2008 under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, whose marine accident investigation department succeeded the…
Joint investigation: Cooperative inquiry involving more than one substantially interested state.
JTSB Marine accident investigators: Cadre within JTSB conducting Japanese flag State and coastal State marine investigations.
Judicial inquiry (France): French judicial investigation procedure that runs in parallel with a BEAmer safety investigation under the principle of strict separation.

K

KM Sinar Bangun sinking (2018): Indonesian passenger ferry that sank on Lake Toba on 18 June 2018 with more than 160 fatalities, investigated by Indonesia's KNKT (National Transportation Safety Committee).
KMST (Korean Maritime Safety Tribunal): Korean specialised tribunal under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries that both investigates marine casualties and adjudicates seafarer responsibility, operating from Seoul with regional tribunals.
KMST Central Tribunal: Apex tribunal of the KMST in Sejong that hears appeals from regional tribunals.
KMST Regional Tribunals: Regional Korean Maritime Safety Tribunals based in Busan, Incheon, Mokpo, and Donghae.
KNKT (Komite Nasional Keselamatan Transportasi): Indonesian National Transportation Safety Committee whose marine sub-committee performs casualty investigations for Indonesia.
Korean Maritime Safety Tribunal adjudication function: Quasi-judicial role of the KMST, distinct from purely safety-oriented investigation models, that determines seafarer responsibility for casualties.

L

Landmark casualty inquiry: Investigation whose findings produced significant changes to international or national maritime safety regulation, such as the British Wreck Commissioner inquiry into Titanic.
Less serious marine casualty: Casualty Investigation Code category covering marine casualties not classified as very serious or serious.
Lessons learned bulletins: Industry-facing summaries (used by MAIB, BSU, DMAIB, ATSB and others) that distil safety lessons from individual investigations for circulation to operators.
Liberian Registry Investigation: Investigation function carried out for the Republic of Liberia by the Liberian Maritime Authority and its Deputy Commissioner of Maritime Affairs.
Liberian Registry Stellar Daisy support: Liberian Registry participation in flag State coordination with the Marshall Islands during the Stellar Daisy investigation given crew nationalities and operational context.
Lord Mersey: John Charles Bigham, Viscount Mersey, the Wreck Commissioner for the United Kingdom who presided over the formal investigations into the loss of the Titanic (1912) and the Lusitania (1915).
Loss of life threshold: Criterion under the Casualty Investigation Code that triggers the very serious marine casualty classification when a death of a person occurs in connection with the operations of a ship.
LRSL (Liberian Registry investigation of MS Explorer): Liberian flag State investigation into the loss of the cruise ship MS Explorer in Antarctic waters on 23 November 2007.
Lusitania inquiry (1915): Formal investigation under Lord Mersey into the loss of the RMS Lusitania, sunk on 7 May 1915 off the Old Head of Kinsale by a German submarine torpedo.

M

Maersk Honam fire (2018): Singapore-flag container ship that suffered a major fire in the Arabian Sea on 6 March 2018 with five fatalities, with technical investigation supported by ABS as classification society and the…
MAIB (Marine Accident Investigation Branch): United Kingdom independent marine investigation body established in 1989 under the Merchant Shipping Act, based in Southampton, whose Chief Inspector reports to the Secretary of State for Transport.
MAIB Annual Report: Statutory report published each year by the United Kingdom Marine Accident Investigation Branch summarising investigations, statistics, and safety recommendations.
MAIB digest: Periodic publication by the UK MAIB summarising lessons from recent investigations.
MAIB Safety Bulletin: Urgent communication issued by MAIB during an ongoing investigation to convey immediate safety lessons to industry.
MAIB Safety Digest: Twice-yearly MAIB publication of anonymised case studies for industry training.
MAIIF (Marine Accident Investigators' International Forum): International forum of marine accident investigators that meets annually to share investigative practice and promote consistent application of the Casualty Investigation Code.
Mandatory investigation (very serious marine casualty): Casualty Investigation Code requirement that a marine safety investigation be conducted into every very serious marine casualty.
MARDEP (Hong Kong Marine Department): Hong Kong government department under which the Marine Accident Investigation Section sits.
MARINA SOIA (Special Office for the Investigation of Accidents, Philippines): Special Office within the Philippine Maritime Industry Authority responsible for investigating marine accidents involving Philippine-flag vessels.
Marine Accident Investigation Section (MAIS), Hong Kong: See Hong Kong MARDEP MAIS.
Marine casualty: Event defined in MSC.255(84) covering death, loss, damage, grounding, collision, structural failure, or pollution.
Marine Electric casualty (1983): United States-flag bulk carrier that capsized and sank off Virginia on 12 February 1983 with 31 fatalities, investigated by the United States Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation and credited…
Marine Inquiry Officer: Inspector designation used in several jurisdictions for the official authorised to conduct evidentiary interviews under domestic investigation legislation.
Marine Sulphur Queen disappearance (1963): United States-flag tanker lost with all 39 crew in the western Atlantic in February 1963, investigated by the United States Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation.
Maritime Investigation Section (USCG): See United States Coast Guard Office of Investigations and Casualty Analysis.
Marshall Islands Stellar Daisy report: Final report of the Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator investigation into the loss of the converted VLOC Stellar Daisy on 31 March 2017 in the South Atlantic with 22 fatalities.
Master mariner investigator: Senior investigator with deck command experience employed by national marine accident investigation bodies for navigation and bridge resource management cases.
Material damage to a ship: Casualty Investigation Code criterion for the serious marine casualty category covering damage that renders the ship unseaworthy.
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (Japan): Parent ministry of the Japan Transport Safety Board.
MIT (Italy) Costa Concordia safety report: Report of the Italian Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti following the Costa Concordia casualty.
Modern Express casualty (2016): Panama-flag pure car carrier that took a severe list in the Bay of Biscay on 26 January 2016 and was towed to safety in Bilbao, investigated by BEAmer.
MOL Comfort hull failure (2013): Bahamas-flag post-Panamax container ship that broke in two in the Indian Ocean on 17 June 2013, investigated under the Bahamas Maritime Authority with technical work by ClassNK.
MS Explorer sinking (2007): Liberian-flag expedition cruise ship that sank in the Bransfield Strait, Antarctica on 23 November 2007, investigated by the Liberian Registry (LRSL) as flag State.

N

National Maritime Inquiry Committee (Brazil): Brazilian internal naval inquiry body operating under the DPC framework.
Naval Court of Inquiry (historical): Court convened by British and Commonwealth flag administrations to hear evidence about marine casualties under historic merchant shipping legislation.
Naval Inquiry (Brazil): Brazilian flag State investigation procedure conducted under the Brazilian Navy DPC.
Near miss reporting: ISM required reporting of near miss events.
New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC): Independent New Zealand Crown entity established under the Transport Accident Investigation Commission Act 1990 whose marine investigators handle New Zealand-flag and coastal casualties.
No-blame principle: Foundational rule of the Casualty Investigation Code that the sole objective of a marine safety investigation is to prevent future marine casualties and incidents and not to determine liability or…
Norman Atlantic casualty (2014): Italian-flag ro-ro passenger ferry that suffered a fire in the Adriatic on 28 December 2014 with at least 11 fatalities, investigated jointly by Italian and Greek authorities given the joint…
Notification of casualty: Duty of the flag State, port State, and coastal State to notify each other and the IMO of marine casualties as set out in the Casualty Investigation Code.
NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board): United States independent federal agency established in 1967 whose Office of Marine Safety in Washington, DC investigates major marine casualties under 49 USC Chapter 11.
NTSB Marine Accident Brief (MAB): Short factual report format used by the United States NTSB for marine casualties with limited safety findings.
NTSB Marine Accident Report (MAR): Full report format used by the NTSB Office of Marine Safety for significant marine casualties such as MAR-90/04 on Exxon Valdez and MAR-17/01 on El Faro.
NTSB Office of Marine Safety: Office within the NTSB responsible for marine investigations and producing Marine Accident Reports and Briefs.

O

Object of safety investigation: Casualty Investigation Code statement that the sole objective is to prevent marine casualties and marine incidents in the future.
Office of Investigations and Casualty Analysis (USCG): United States Coast Guard office that administers Marine Boards of Investigation, Formal Investigations, and Informal Investigations under 46 USC and 46 CFR Part 4.
Oil pollution casualty investigation: Investigation thread under MARPOL Annex I addressing source, volume, response, and shoreline impact of oil spills following a marine casualty.
Onderzoeksraad voor Veiligheid (OVV): See Dutch Safety Board.
Onnettomuustutkintakeskus (OTKES): See Finnish Safety Investigation Authority.
Operational evidence: Material such as VDR data, ECDIS logs, AIS records, ENC update history, and engine room data loggers gathered during safety investigations.
Organisational factors analysis: Layer of investigation that examines management, procedures, training, and culture within shore-based and on-board organisations.

P

Pakistan MMSA (Mercantile Marine Department): Pakistan flag State authority that conducts investigations into casualties involving Pakistani-flag ships under the Pakistan Merchant Shipping Ordinance.
Panama Maritime Authority (Autoridad Maritima de Panama, AMP): Flag State authority of Panama whose investigation department issues reports for Panama-flag casualties including Hyundai Fortune, Sanchi, Wakashio, Ever Given, and Felicity Ace.
Parallel investigation: Investigation conducted independently and in parallel by more than one substantially interested State where joint investigation is not adopted.
Participation in another State's investigation: Right under the Casualty Investigation Code for substantially interested States to participate in the marine safety investigation led by another State to the extent practicable.
PKBWM (Panstwowa Komisja Badania Wypadkow Morskich): Polish State Commission on Maritime Accident Investigation established under the Maritime Accident Investigation Act of 31 August 2012 with offices in Szczecin.
PNA (Prefectura Naval Argentina): Argentine naval prefecture under the Ministry of Security that conducts marine casualty investigations in Argentine jurisdiction.
Polish Maritime Accident Investigation Act 2012: Statute establishing PKBWM as the Polish independent investigation body for marine casualties.
Port State investigation interest: Recognition under the Casualty Investigation Code that the port State to which the ship next proceeds may have a substantial interest in the investigation.
Portuguese Marine Accident Investigation Coordinator: National coordination role for Portuguese marine casualty investigation under the Ministry responsible for the sea.
Preliminary report: Early factual statement issued by some investigation bodies (notably MAIB Safety Bulletins and NTSB preliminary releases) ahead of the final report.
Prestige casualty (2002): Bahamas-flag products tanker that broke up off Galicia on 19 November 2002, spilling about 63,000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil; investigated by Spain (CIAIM precursor), with separate inputs from the…
Privileged record: Record protected under the Casualty Investigation Code from disclosure for purposes other than the marine safety investigation, except where a competent authority determines that disclosure…
Public hearing: Procedure used by some investigation bodies (notably the NTSB and USCG Marine Boards) to take evidence in public.

Q

Quality of evidence: Investigator's assessment of reliability and weight of each evidence element.
Quasi-judicial inquiry: Investigation model under which a body, such as the Korean Maritime Safety Tribunal, both investigates and makes determinations about responsibility.

R

Re-opening an investigation: Power under the Casualty Investigation Code for the investigating State to reopen an investigation if significant new evidence emerges.
Recommendation tracking: Process by which investigation bodies record the response of recipients to safety recommendations and classify the closure status.
Recommendations (safety): Recommendations addressed to entities (flag State, port State, operator, classification society, manufacturer) that have the ability to act on the safety lessons identified by an investigation.
Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator: Flag State authority of the Marshall Islands, with administration provided by International Registries Incorporated (IRI).
Restricted records: Material such as cockpit voice or VDR audio, medical records, witness statements, and analysis treated by the Casualty Investigation Code as warranting heightened protection.
Right of seafarer (interview): Procedural protection afforded to seafarers under the Casualty Investigation Code including being informed of the subject of the investigation, the right to refuse self-incrimination, and access to…
Royal Commission inquiry (historical): Higher-tier inquiry mechanism in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth jurisdictions, used historically for severe maritime disasters.

S

Safety recommendation classification: Categorisation by investigation bodies of recommendations as open, closed-acceptable, closed-unacceptable, or superseded.
Salvage interface: Coordination between safety investigators and salvors to ensure preservation of evidence during wreck removal and pollution response.
SAMSA (South African Maritime Safety Authority): South African statutory authority whose Marine Accident Investigation function handles casualties involving South African-flag vessels and incidents in South African waters under the Merchant…
Sanchi casualty (2018): Panama-flag products tanker that collided with the bulk carrier CF Crystal in the East China Sea on 6 January 2018, with subsequent fire and sinking; investigated jointly by Iran, Hong Kong (CF…
Search and rescue interface: Coordination between casualty investigation and SAR operations, with investigators relying on SAR records for early factual evidence.
Serious marine casualty: Casualty Investigation Code category covering casualties such as a fire, explosion, grounding, contact, heavy weather damage, ice damage, hull cracking, or suspected hull defect, where the casualty…
Sheen Inquiry (Herald of Free Enterprise): Formal investigation under the UK Merchant Shipping Act 1894 conducted by Mr Justice Sheen into the loss of the Herald of Free Enterprise; Court Report Number 8074 of July 1987.
Ship operator responsibilities: Duty under the Casualty Investigation Code on operators to cooperate with the marine safety investigation, preserve evidence, and produce documentation.
SHK (Statens Haverikommission): Swedish Accident Investigation Authority established 1978, based in Stockholm, whose maritime function investigates Swedish-flag and Swedish-waters casualties.
Singapore Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB): Singapore Ministry of Transport bureau that investigates marine accidents involving Singapore-flag ships and casualties in Singapore waters under the Transport Safety Investigations Act 2018.
Sister ship action: Safety action by an operator following a casualty investigation to apply lessons across sister ships in the fleet.
SOLAS Regulation XI-1/6: SOLAS regulation made mandatory on 1 January 2010 that requires contracting Governments to apply the Casualty Investigation Code adopted by Resolution MSC.255(84) to marine safety investigations.
South African Marine Accident Investigation: See SAMSA.
SS Marine Electric: See Marine Electric casualty (1983).
SS Poet disappearance (1980): United States-flag general cargo ship lost with all 34 crew in the North Atlantic after departing Philadelphia on 24 October 1980, investigated by the United States Coast Guard Marine Board of…
State conducting the marine safety investigation: Defined term in MSC.255(84) for the State that takes responsibility for the conduct of the investigation as mutually agreed by substantially interested States.
Stellar Daisy casualty (2017): Marshall Islands-flag converted VLOC that sank in the South Atlantic on 31 March 2017 with 22 fatalities, investigated by the Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator.
Stranding (cause classification): GISIS Casualty Module category for ships that became stranded as a result of grounding.
Sub-Committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments (III): See III Sub-Committee.
Substantially interested state: State defined in MSC.255(84) that has a significant interest in the casualty, including flag, coastal, port, and seafarer nationality states.
Suez Canal Authority investigation (Ever Given): Investigation undertaken by the Suez Canal Authority in parallel with the Panama Maritime Authority flag State investigation following the Ever Given grounding of 23 March 2021.
Survival craft investigation lessons: Recurring theme in casualty reports (Estonia, El Faro, Costa Concordia) addressing launch arrangements, evacuation timing, and crew training.

T

TAIC (Transport Accident Investigation Commission, New Zealand): See New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission.
Technical examination of machinery: Forensic engineering work commissioned by investigators to determine the failure mode of machinery components implicated in a casualty.
Time-bar for investigation: Practical limit on the period within which evidence-gathering and report publication can effectively be completed before perishable evidence is lost.
Titanic British Wreck Commissioner inquiry (1912): Formal investigation conducted by the British Wreck Commissioner Lord Mersey under the Merchant Shipping Act 1894 into the loss of the RMS Titanic, with the report dated 30 July 1912.
Titanic United States Senate inquiry (1912): Investigation by a sub-committee of the United States Senate Committee on Commerce chaired by Senator William Alden Smith into the loss of RMS Titanic on 15 April 1912.
Torrey Canyon casualty (1967): Liberian-flag VLCC that grounded on Pollard's Rock, Seven Stones, on 18 March 1967 spilling about 119,000 tonnes of crude oil, investigated by Liberia as flag State and the subject of a UK…
Total loss criterion: Casualty Investigation Code criterion for the very serious marine casualty category based on the total loss of the ship.
Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003 (Australia): Australian legislation governing the ATSB and the conduct of marine safety investigations.
Tricolor casualty (2002): Norwegian International Ship Register pure car carrier that collided with the Kariba in the Dover Strait on 14 December 2002 and capsized, investigated by Norwegian and Bahamian authorities.
TSB Canada Marine reports: Marine investigation reports issued by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada under the format M-YY-PNNNN.
TSIB (Transport Safety Investigation Bureau, Singapore): See Singapore Transport Safety Investigation Bureau.

U

UNCLOS Article 217: UNCLOS provision on enforcement by flag States in respect of pollution from vessels including the obligation to investigate alleged violations.
UNCLOS Article 94: United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea provision setting flag State duties including the duty in Article 94(7) to cause an inquiry into specified casualties.
Underwater survey: Diver or ROV inspection of a wreck or grounding site commissioned by investigators to record damage and recover evidence such as the VDR capsule.
United Kingdom Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulations: Statutory instrument implementing the Casualty Investigation Code in the United Kingdom and setting out the powers of MAIB inspectors.
United States Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation: Highest level of USCG investigation convened under 46 CFR Part 4 for major casualties such as El Faro, Marine Electric, Edmund Fitzgerald, and Bow Mariner.
United States Coast Guard Office of Investigations and Casualty Analysis (CG-INV): Headquarters office of the USCG that oversees the conduct of marine casualty investigations across Coast Guard districts.
USCG Formal Investigation: Mid-tier USCG investigation procedure used for serious casualties not warranting a Marine Board.
USCG Informal Investigation: Lower-tier USCG investigation conducted by an investigating officer at the unit level for routine casualties.

V

VDR download protocol: Procedures for forensic recovery, integrity protection, and analysis of voyage data recorder content used by national investigation bodies and recommended by IMO.
Verification of safety actions: Step in the investigation lifecycle in which the investigating body checks that interim safety actions taken in response to preliminary findings have been implemented.
Very serious marine casualty: Casualty Investigation Code category covering marine casualties involving the total loss of the ship, a death, or severe damage to the environment.
Voluntary reporting scheme: Confidential industry reporting channel (such as CHIRP Maritime) used alongside formal investigation regimes.
Voyage Data Recorder (VDR): SOLAS V/20 black-box equivalent for ships.

W

Wakashio grounding (2020): Panama-flag capesize bulk carrier that grounded off Pointe d'Esny, Mauritius on 25 July 2020 and subsequently spilled about 1,000 tonnes of very low sulphur fuel oil, investigated by the Panama…
Witness interview protocol: Investigator method ensuring voluntary, recorded, and rights-respecting interviews under the Casualty Code.
Witness rights: Procedural protections for witnesses interviewed in a marine safety investigation including being informed of the subject of the investigation and, where domestic law allows, the right not to…
Working group on casualty analysis: Correspondence and intersessional working groups of the III Sub-Committee that prepare lessons-learned outputs for adoption by IMO.