The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulations 2005

Ordering of investigation

7.—(1) The Chief Inspector may cause any accident to be investigated.

(2) Where a report has been received under paragraphs (1), (2), (4) or (5) of regulation 6, the Chief Inspector shall decide whether or not an investigation, including any preliminary examination, should be carried out and shall notify the parties to the accident of his decision within 28 days following receipt by him of the report.

(3) Before deciding whether an investigation should be carried out and if so, what form it should take, the Chief Inspector may cause to be obtained such information as he considers necessary concerning the accident and any remedial action taken as a result, and any person mentioned in regulation 6(1) or (2), as well as any other person who is in possession of it and has been requested to do so by an inspector, shall provide such information to the best of their ability and knowledge.

(4) In the case of an accident to which regulation 3(a) applies, the Chief Inspector may decide not to carry out an investigation if he is satisfied, or it is otherwise established to his satisfaction, that—

(a) any loss of life resulted from suicide or natural causes, or

(b) any major injury resulted from attempted suicide,

and in such circumstances he may discontinue any investigation which has already been commenced.

(5) Public notice that an 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 the Inspector in such a manner and within such a time as is specified in the notice.

(6) The Secretary of State may require the Chief Inspector to investigate any accident or to expand the scope of an investigation to include any further consequences of an accident, including—

(a) salvage and pollution aspects; or

(b) the conduct of search and rescue operations

• and in such circumstances the Chief Inspector may conduct an investigation into the further consequences of an accident which may be separate and distinct from the investigation into the initial accident.