Hot off the Coast Guard Commandant's blog, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Coast Guard have updated their Memorandum of Understanding relating to marine casualty investigations.
No doubt prompted by the COSCO BUSAN incident in San Francisco Bay, the federal agencies agreed to a framework for the conduct of their separate investigations.
The MOU is here. There must have been some ruffled feathers with respect to media outreach that the agreement aims to appease:
NTSB and USCG agree that regardless of which agency leads an investigation, the other agency may participate as an equal partner in gathering evidence and establishing facts, with due consideration to keeping their analysis and conclusions separate and independent. In those cases where the public interest demands on-scene live media engagements or written press releases, the parties agree that the lead investigative agency will act as the sole spokesperson for casualty investigation information and activity, and press conferences and press releases will identify the lead and supporting investigating agencies. Participation by the non-lead investigative agency in any press conference is encouraged. Once the on-scene portion of the investigation is complete, both agencies may issue independent press releases and conduct any press conferences as necessary.
NTSB and USCG agree that an NTSB Board Member will not attend the scene of an investigation led by USCG and that NTSB may hold a public hearing on any casualty that it investigates.
NTSB and USCG agree that USCG may conduct a Marine Board of Investigation on any casualty it investigates, and will generally avoid convening the Marine Board until after NTSB has completed the on scene portion of any NTSB led investigation.
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