The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulations 1999

Duty to report accidents and serious injuries

5.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) when an accident occurs the master shall send a report to the Chief Inspector by the quickest means available and within 24 hours. Reports shall, in so far as is practicable and possible, include the following information:

(a) name of ship and IMO, official or fishing vessel number;

(b) name and address of owners;

(c) name of the master, skipper or person in charge;

(d) date and time of the accident;

(e) where from and where bound;

(f) latitude and longitude or geographical position in which the accident occurred;

(g) part of ship where accident occurred if on board;

(h) weather conditions;

(i) name and port of registry of any other ship involved;

(j) number of people killed or injured, together with their names, addresses and gender;

(k) brief details of the accident, including, where known, the sequence of events leading to the accident, extent of damage and whether accident caused pollution or hazard to navigation.

(2) Where a ship is lost or presumed lost or is abandoned, then such a report shall be sent to the Chief Inspector by the owner, the master, or a senior surviving officer as soon as is practicable by the quickest means available.

(3) The master shall, so far as is reasonably practicable, ensure that the circumstances of every accident are examined. The master shall

(a) on request provide the Chief Inspector with a report, in addition to any report made under the preceding paragraphs of this regulation, or

(b) in the case of serious injuries, within 14 days provide the Chief Inspector with a report

giving the findings of such examination and stating any measures taken or proposed to prevent a recurrence.

(4) This regulation shall not apply–

(a) to an accident when the person killed or injured is a stevedore or shore-based worker and the accident occurs in a port in the United Kingdom; or

(b) to an accident which occurs in a shipyard in the United Kingdom.