Barbados issues a bulletin on marine accident reporting

The Barbados Maritime Ship Registry has issued a bulletin No. 018 concerning marine accident reporting.

This bulletin was published on 26 February 2024.

The purpose of the bulletin is to outline the reporting obligations and procedures for marine accidents. It also clarifies what incidents should not be reported and provides information on evidence preservation, accident follow-up, and marine safety investigations.

According to the document, the Master or senior surviving officer of a Barbadian vessel must notify the BMSR (Barbados Maritime Safety Registry) of any marine accident, regardless of location. The vessel's owner or manager must also notify the BMSR unless they are satisfied that the Master or senior surviving officer has already made the report. The notification should be made immediately if a port or coastal State initiates an investigation or takes any other action in relation to an accident.

An initial report of the accident must be sent to the BMSR within 24 hours of the occurrence. The report should include brief details of the incident such as the vessel's name and IMO number, the nature of the accident, date and time, vessel's location, and next port of call if at sea. It should also confirm that port or coastal State authorities have been notified. The initial report should not be delayed until the completion of an internal company investigation.

In addition to the initial report, Form 45 - Accident/Incident reporting must be submitted within 24 hours. This form provides more detailed information about the accident and any follow-up actions taken.

The document also specifies what incidents do not need to be reported. These include defects to equipment and vessel detentions unless they are related to a marine casualty or marine incident. Injuries to passengers that did not result from activities connected with the operation of the vessel are also not required to be reported. Damage or injuries occurring ashore that do not involve the vessel's equipment are also exempt from reporting. However, owners and the Master are encouraged to report any accidents that may fall within the scope of their ISM Code reporting requirements.

Following a marine accident, the BMSR may require access to additional information and evidence. Therefore, all charts, logbooks, recorded data, and other relevant documents must be preserved. If the vessel is fitted with a Voyage Data Recorder, the data recorded by it must be saved immediately to prevent it from being overwritten. Preservation of evidence is mandatory for marine casualties.

The document also mentions that a Marine Safety Investigation (MSI) will be conducted for all very serious marine casualties. An MSI may also be conducted for other marine casualties and marine incidents if it is considered likely to provide information that can be used to prevent future accidents. The purpose of an MSI is to help prevent further avoidable accidents and improve safety at sea. The BMSR publishes MSI reports that include safety recommendations and learning to improve safety.

Failure to report a marine accident or provide required information without reasonable cause is an offense under Section 314(1) of the Barbados Merchant Shipping Act. This may result in the suspension of the vessel's certificate of registry or the deletion of the vessel from the register. The penalty for contravening Section 314(1) is a fine of USD 50,000 or imprisonment for 6 months, or both.

For more information, please see the document below (available only to subscribers):