Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025

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Number 2 of 2025

MERCHANT SHIPPING (INVESTIGATION OF MARINE ACCIDENTS) ACT 2025

CONTENTS

PART 1

Preliminary and General

Section

1. Short title, collective citation, construction and commencement

2. Interpretation and application

3. Regulations

4. Expenses of Minister

5. Repeals and revocations

PART 2

Marine Accident Investigation Unit

6. Appointed day

7. Marine Accident Investigation Unit

8. Functions of MAIU

9. Appointment of investigators

10. Functions of Chief Investigator

11. Conflicts of interest

12. Removal from marine safety investigation

13. Consultants and advisers

14. MAIU to keep itself informed on certain matters

15. Annual report

PART 3

Marine Accidents and Reporting

16. Marine safety investigations

17. Initial notification of marine accidents

18. Comprehensive report of marine accidents

19. Purpose of marine safety investigations

20. Notification of European Commission

21. Mutual assistance

22. Power to conduct marine safety investigations

23. Search warrant

24. Powers of investigators – objects

25. Powers of investigators – directions

26. Powers of investigators – records and other information

27. Preservation of evidence

28. Confidentiality

29. Medical or physical examination

30. Detention of and interference with ships, etc.

31. Re-opening of safety investigation

32. Publication of report

33. Draft report and observations

34. Immunities from claims

PART 4

Dissolution of MCIB

35. Dissolution of MCIB

36. Transfer of rights and liabilities

37. Records of MCIB

38. Liability for loss occurring before appointed day

39. Final accounts and final annual report of MCIB

40. Provisions consequent upon conferral of functions

41. MCIB immunity from claim

42. Transitional investigation provisions

43. Admissibility in evidence of documents

PART 5

Offshore Service Vessels

44. Definitions

45. Application of Part

46. Offshore service vessel and industrial personnel rules

47. Powers of authorised persons

48. Industrial personnel safety certificate

49. Endorsement, extension, suspension and revocation of certificates

50. Detention of offshore service vessels

51. Penalties

52. Consequential and miscellaneous amendments

Acts Referred to

Data Protection Acts 1988 to 2018

Freedom of Information Act 2014 (No. 30)

Maritime Safety Act 2005 (No. 11)

Mercantile Marine Act 1955 (No. 29)

Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) Act 2000 (No. 14)

Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Act 1952 (No. 29)

Merchant Shipping Act 1894 (57 & 58 Vict., c.60)

Merchant Shipping Act 1966 (No. 20)

Merchant Shipping Act 1992 (No. 2)

Merchant Shipping Act 2010 (No. 14)

Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to 2022

Number 2 of 2025

MERCHANT SHIPPING (INVESTIGATION OF MARINE ACCIDENTS) ACT 2025

An Act to provide for the dissolution of the Marine Casualty Investigation Board and for its replacement with a unit within the Department of Transport to be known as the Marine Accident Investigation Unit; to provide for the investigation and reporting of marine accidents; to repeal the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) Act 2000 ; to provide for the regulation of offshore service vessels; for those and other purposes to amend the Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Act 1952 , the Merchant Shipping Act 1992 and the Merchant Shipping Act 2010 ; and to provide for related matters.

[14th April, 2025]

Be it enacted by the Oireachtas as follows: