Investigation of accidents

The Norwegian Maritime Authority

The Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) inspects Norwegian and foreign vessels in Norwegian waters pursuant to the Ship Safety and Security Act.

The purpose of the inspection is to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Act. Normally, the NMA carries out inspections after accidents, and the inspection may result in orders to rectify.

Violation fines pursuant to the Ship Safety and Security Act section 9 will be considered in connection with ship accidents and serious work accidents. If there are important lessons to be learned from the incident, a safety notice may be issued.

The NMA would like to identify any potential for improvement in the development of legislation.

The NMA receives reports on ship accidents. Information from the report form, along with information collected during inspections, is recorded systematically in our accident database. This data is used both by us at the NMA and many external parties.

The role of the police in ship accidents

Upon suspicion of criminal conduct in connection with an accident, the investigation will be carried out by the police. Today, an accident on, or involving a ship is handled like any other type of accident, and the responsiblity is with the relevant police district.

South-West police district and the section for North Sea and envrironment is responsible for investigating maritime cases, and they answer inquiries from the police districts when required. The police also have dedicated pages on their internal website regarding maritime issues.

For further information and contact details, please visit the website of the police.

The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA)

The NSIA is a public committee of inquiry whose purpose it to investigate accidents and incidents within the transportation sector.

The NSIA is an investigating authority in accordance with chapter 18 of the Norwegian Maritime Code. The objective of NSIA is to determine the course of events and causes of an accident, give an account of circumstances significant to the avoidance of accidents and improving the safety of life at sea, and to submit and publish a report with any recommendations upon the conclusion of the investigation.
It is not the task of NSIA to apportion civil or criminal blame and liability.

Link to NSIA, Shipping Department (Norwegian site)

Link to reports published by the NSIA, Shipping Department

Marine Accident Investigators' International Forum (MAIIF)

The Marine Accident Investigators’ International Forum (MAIIF) is an international non-profit organisation dedicated to the advancement of maritime safety and the prevention of marine pollution through the exchange of ideas, experiences and information acquired in marine accident investigation. Its purpose is to promote and improve marine accident investigation, and to foster cooperation and communication between marine accident investigators.

IMO lesson learned

Here is a link to the IMO's lessons learned

Safety notices

Safety notices are published under Regulations / Circulars.

If subscribe to notifications from the NMA, you will receive automatic notifications when new safety notices (and other circulars) are published.

In the drop-down menu for circulars, you may choose between different types of circulars – including safefty notices.