Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025
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Powers of investigators – objects | ||
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24. (1) Where possession of an object, including electronic records, is taken by an investigator under section 22 (2), the investigator— | ||
(a) may, subject to paragraph (b), cause such tests, including tests to destruction, to be conducted on the object as are necessary for the purposes of the marine safety investigation or preliminary assessment, | ||
(b) shall to the extent that it is practical and safe to do so and does not unreasonably impede the progress of the marine safety investigation or preliminary assessment— | ||
(i) take all reasonable measures to invite the owner of the object, and any person who appears on reasonable grounds to be entitled to possession of the object, to be present at the conduct of any tests referred to in paragraph (a), and | ||
(ii) allow persons referred to in subparagraph (i) to be present at the conduct of those tests, | ||
and | ||
(c) subject to the requirements of these tests, shall cause the object to be preserved pending its return to that owner or person, or to the person from whom possession was taken, as soon as possible after it has served the purpose for which possession of the object was taken. | ||
(2) An investigator may take any measurements, copies, photographs or recordings that the investigator considers necessary for the purposes of a marine safety investigation or preliminary assessment. | ||
(3) An investigator, where necessary to ensure that a detailed examination can be made without delay, shall have access to any ship wreckage and the place where it is located, and control over the wreckage and place. |