Marine Investigation (USCG)

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The United States Coast Guard investigates marine casualties and allegations of improper Merchant Mariner actions to determine cause, and to prevent future occurrences under its Marine Safety mission. There are two kinds of investigations

Marine casualties.
Personnel actions.

[edit] Marine Casualty Investigations

Marine casualty investigations are carried out for the following:

Death of an individual.
Serious injury to an individual.
Material loss of property.
Material damage affecting the seaworthiness or efficiency of the vessel.
Significant harm to the environment.

[edit] Personnel Actions

Investigations are also conducted to determine if personnel actions by licensed or documented merchant mariners constitute one or more of the following:

Misconduct.
Negligence.
Incompetence.
Violation of law or regulation.

These investigations may result in a suspension and revocation action, which is an administrative process to determine the fitness of an individual to retain or continue to operate under the authority of his/her merchant Mariner document or license. These hearings are not criminal proceedings but rather administrative in nature.