Full-time marine-accidents body starts work
A new body to investigate marine accidents has been set up after legislation aimed at strengthening Ireland’s maritime-safety framework was enacted last year.
From 1 January, the Marine Accident Investigation Unit (MAIU) has replaced the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) as the permanent body responsible for marine-accident investigations.
The MAIU, which has been set up within the Department of Transport, will take over ongoing MCIB investigations.
The MCIB operated with a panel of investigators. A 2021 review recommended a shift to a full-time, permanent team of investigators.
Irish-flagged vessels
The unit, led by Chief Investigator David O’Driscoll, will carry out investigations into accidents involving vessels in Irish waters, and Irish-flagged vessels anywhere in the world.
The department said that the move meant that Ireland would now have a body staffed with a full-time, permanent team of investigators for marine accidents – mirroring existing practice for aviation and railway accidents in the State.
This new unit is established under the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025.
The act also dissolves the MCIB, repeals the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) Act 2000, and revokes the European Communities (Merchant Shipping) (Investigation of Accidents) Regulations 2011.