Ordering of a safety investigation
8.—(1) The Chief Inspector must ensure a safety investigation is carried out in relation to any accident that is a very serious marine casualty as regards a vessel covered by the Directive.
(2) The Chief Inspector may decide to undertake a safety investigation in relation to an accident that is a serious marine casualty having carried out a preliminary assessment in accordance with regulation 7(1) and (2).
(3) The safety investigation shall include but is not limited to—
(a)the collection and analysis of evidence;
(b)the identification of causal factors, and
(c)where appropriate, the making of safety recommendations.
(4) The Chief Inspector may carry out a safety investigation in relation to an accident that is a marine casualty.
(5) Where the Chief Inspector has received a notification under paragraph (1) or (2) of regulation 6 or a report under paragraph (4) of that regulation, the Chief Inspector must decide whether or not a safety investigation should be carried out and shall publish details of that decision as soon as is reasonably practical, in such manner as is seen fit.
(6) Before deciding whether a safety investigation should be carried out and if so, what form it should take, the Chief Inspector may obtain such information as the Chief Inspector considers necessary concerning the accident and any remedial action taken as a result.
(7) Any person mentioned in regulation 6(1) or (2), as well as any other person who is in possession of information requested by an inspector for the purposes of paragraph (6), shall provide such information to the best of their ability and knowledge.
(8) In the case of an accident to which regulation 3 applies, the Chief Inspector may decide not to carry out a safety investigation if satisfied, or it is otherwise established to the Chief Inspector’s satisfaction, that—
(a)any loss of life resulted from suicide or natural causes, or
(b)any serious injury resulted from attempted suicide,
and in such circumstances the Chief Inspector may discontinue any safety investigation which has already been commenced.
(9) Public notice that a safety investigation has been commenced may be given in such manner as the Chief Inspector may think fit, and may invite any persons who so desire to present relevant evidence to an Inspector in such a manner and within such a time as is specified in the notice.
(10) A safety investigation shall be started as promptly as is practicable by the Chief Inspector after an accident occurs, and in any event no later than two months after the Chief Inspector is notified of its occurrence.