CHAPTER 63 —INVESTIGATING MARINE CASUALTIES
Historical and Revision Notes
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2022—
2018—
1996—
§6301. Investigation of marine casualties
The Secretary shall prescribe regulations for the immediate investigation of marine casualties under this part to decide, as closely as possible—
(1) the cause of the casualty, including the cause of any death;
(2) whether an act of misconduct, incompetence, negligence, unskillfulness, or willful violation of law committed by any individual licensed, certificated, or documented under part E of this subtitle has contributed to the cause of the casualty, or to a death involved in the casualty, so that appropriate remedial action under
(3) whether an act of misconduct, incompetence, negligence, unskillfulness, or willful violation of law committed by any person, including an officer, employee, or member of the Coast Guard, contributed to the cause of the casualty, or to a death involved in the casualty;
(4) whether there is evidence that an act subjecting the offender to a civil penalty under the laws of the United States has been committed, so that appropriate action may be undertaken to collect the penalty;
(5) whether there is evidence that a criminal act under the laws of the United States has been committed, so that the matter may be referred to appropriate authorities for prosecution; and
(6) whether there is need for new laws or regulations, or amendment or repeal of existing laws or regulations, to prevent the recurrence of the casualty.
(
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
|---|---|
| 6301 | 46:239 |
Section 6301 requires the Secretary to prescribe regulations for the immediate investigation of marine casualties in order to determine, as closely as possible, the cause of the casualty; whether the actions of individuals licensed, certificated, or documented have contributed to the cause of the casualty, whether the action of an individual in the Coast Guard contributed to the cause of the casualty, whether there is evidence that an act subjecting the offender to civil or criminal penalty has been committed, and whether there is a need for new laws or to amend or repeal existing laws or regulations in order to prevent a recurrence of the casualty.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Construction
Transfer of Functions
For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see
§6302. Public investigations
Each investigation conducted under this chapter and regulations prescribed under this chapter shall be open to the public, except when evidence affecting the national security is to be received.
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| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
|---|---|
| 6302 | .............................................. |
Section 6302 provides that each investigation conducted under this chapter shall be open to the public, except when evidence affecting the national security of the United States is to be received.
§6303. Rights of parties in interest
In an investigation conducted under this chapter, the following shall be allowed to be represented by counsel, to cross-examine witnesses, and to call witnesses:
(1) an owner,
(2) any holder of a license or certificate of registry,
(3) any holder of a merchant mariner's document,
(4) any other person whose conduct is under investigation, and
(5) any other party in interest.
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| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
|---|---|
| 6303 | 46:239(d) |
Section 6303 provides for the rights of parties in interest to an investigation by allowing them to be represented by counsel, to cross examine witnesses, and to call witnesses. This section merely states the rights of a party in interest but does not necessarily determine who is to be considered a party in interest. Clause (4) states that these rights are to be afforded to "any other person whose conduct is under investigation" (emphasis added). This implies that clauses (1) through (3) apply to individuals whose conduct is under investigation. If any individual does not qualify for these rights under clauses (1) through (4), that individual can still be entitled to these rights under clause (5), if designated as a party in interest. Since parties in interest are not clearly set out by statute, the Secretary has the authority to do this by regulation under section 6301. Thus the rights of these parties as presently provided for in existing law have been retained.
§6304. Subpoena authority
(a) In an investigation under this chapter, the attendance and testimony of witnesses, including parties in interest, and the production of any evidence may be compelled by subpoena. The subpoena authority granted by this section is coextensive with that of a district court of the United States, in civil matters, for the district in which the investigation is conducted.
(b) When a person fails to obey a subpoena issued under this section, the district court of the United States for the district in which the investigation is conducted or in which the person failing to obey is found, shall on proper application issue an order directing that person to comply with the subpoena. The court may punish as contempt any disobedience of its order.
(c) A witness complying with a subpoena issued under this section may be paid for actual travel and attendance at the rate provided for witnesses in the district courts of the United States.
(d) An official designated to conduct an investigation under this part may issue subpoenas as provided in this section and administer oaths to witnesses.
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| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
|---|---|
| 6304 | 46:239(e) 46:239(f) |
Section 6304 provides an officer investigating a marine casualty with the necessary subpena authority to require the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of evidence. It also authorizes a district court of the United States to direct compliance with a subpena.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2022—
§6305. Reports of investigations
(a) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations about the form and manner of reports of investigations conducted under this part.
(b) Reports of investigations conducted under this part shall be made available to the public. This subsection does not require the release of information described by
(
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
|---|---|
| 6305 | 46:239(g) 46:239(k) |
Section 6305 requires the Secretary to prescribe regulations about the form and manner of reports of investigations of marine casualties. It also provides that the reports shall be available to the public, except for any information they contain related to national security.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1998—Subsec. (b).
§6306. Penalty
A person attempting to coerce a witness, or to induce a witness, to testify falsely in connection with a marine casualty, or to induce a witness to leave the jurisdiction of the United States, shall be fined $5,000, imprisoned for one year, or both.
(
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
|---|---|
| 6306 | 46:239(i) |
Section 6306 provides for a $5,000 criminal penalty for anyone attempting to coerce or to induce a witness to a marine casualty investigation to testify falsely or to leave the jurisdiction of the United States.
§6307. Notifications to Congress
(a) The Secretary shall notify the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives of any hearing, before the hearing occurs, investigating a major marine casualty involving a death under
(b) The Secretary shall submit to a committee referred to in subsection (a) of this section information on a major marine casualty that is requested by that committee or the chairman of the committee if the submission of that information is not prohibited by a law of the United States.
(c) The Secretary shall submit annually to Congress a summary of the marine casualties reported during the prior fiscal year, together with a brief statement of action taken concerning those casualties.
(
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
|---|---|
| 6307 | 46:239(j) 33:366 |
Subsection (a) requires the Secretary to notify the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee and the Senate Commerce Committee in advance of any hearing concerning a major marine accident (as defined by regulation) where there has been a loss of life.
Subsection (b) requires the Coast Guard to supply the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee and the Senate Commerce Committee with any requested marine casualty information, if its release is not specifically prohibited by law.
Subsection (c) requires the Secretary to submit an annual report to Congress summarizing the marine casualties reported during the prior fiscal year, with a brief statement of action taken concerning those casualties.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2002—Subsec. (a).
§6308. Information barred in legal proceedings
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no part of a report of a marine casualty investigation conducted under
(b) Any member or employee of the Coast Guard investigating a marine casualty pursuant to
(c) Nothing in this section prohibits the United States from calling the employee or member as an expert witness to testify on its behalf. Further, nothing in this section prohibits the employee or member from being called as a fact witness in any case in which the United States is a party. If the employee or member is called as an expert or fact witness, the applicable Federal Rules of Civil Procedure govern discovery. If the employee or member is called as a witness, the report of a marine casualty investigation conducted under
(d) The information referred to in subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section shall not be considered an admission of liability by the United States or by any person referred to in those conclusions and statements.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, referred to in subsec. (c), are set out in the Appendix to Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.
Amendments
2010—Subsecs. (c), (d).
2006—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (b).
Subsec. (c).
Subsec. (d).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2010 Amendment
§6309. Voyage data recorder access
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Coast Guard shall have full, concurrent, and timely access to and ability to use voyage data recorder data and audio held by any Federal agency in all marine casualty investigations, regardless of which agency is the investigative lead.
(Added