The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) examines and investigates all types of marine accidents to or on board UK vessels worldwide, and other vessels in UK territorial waters.
As far as the MAIB is concerned, the sole objective of investigating an accident is to determine its circumstances and causes, with the aim of improving the safety of life at sea and the avoidance of accidents in the future. It is not the purpose to apportion liability, nor, except so far as is necessary to achieve the fundamental purpose, to apportion blame.
We do not enforce laws or carry out prosecutions.
Located in offices in Southampton, the MAIB is a separate branch within the Department for Transport (DfT). It is not part of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). The head of the MAIB, the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, reports directly to the Secretary of State for Transport. It has four teams of accident investigators, each consisting of a principal inspector and four inspectors. All are professionally qualified and experienced in the nautical, engineering, naval architecture and/or fishing disciplines of the marine industry. An administrative staff deals with finance, contracts, records, data analysis and publications, and provides general support to inspectors at all stages of administrative enquiries, preliminary examinations and full investigations.