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There are few documents available to boaters that are as legally binding, when filled out, as the sea report. It describes, in detail, the circumstances of an incident during a navigation.
Mandatory in some cases
The sea report must be established each time an incident occurs that could engage the responsibility of the skipper. These incidents include pollution, loss of a crew member at sea, collision with another vessel, running aground or the occurrence of a major problem on board the vessel ( fire, waterwayeuros )
The Bureau Enquête Accident Mer (BEAmer) is the French agency delegated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to study, analyze and produce a report following the submission of a marine report.
Its director, François-Xavier Rubin de Cervens, explains the workings and principles of this document, which is little known to boaters.
" The sea report is a snapshot of a situation, as close as possible to the occurrence of the event . The sea report is a circumstantial record of the decisions, gestures and actions that have been taken by the captain or skipper of the boat. It can be about tacking, alerting the authorities or asking for help. What is important for BEAmer investigations is that this report is both complete and factual "explains the director of the institution. The purpose of the sea report is to clarify all the elements that existed before the accident.
The BEAmer only deals with pleasure craft in the most serious cases
Fortunately, the dramas - death - are rare in the field of yachting. It is on them, in great proportion, that the BEA will intervene. " The rest of the accidents go under our radar "explains the director. This does not mean that the report, as a document, is useless. It is, according to the manager " a useful tool for insurance companies, which then have a precise and complete view of the occurrence of a claim. "
The BEAmer receives 9,000 reports each year. In most cases, if there is no fatality or major accident, the BEAmer will not launch a full investigation. This does not mean that the report is ignored. But the investigators of the agency ( about thirty people for the whole territory ) do not have the material time to look into the details of minor accidents to boaters.
" An absolute condition for the opening of an investigation concerns deaths. They are always subject to an investigation, at least a preliminary one. An investigation report will only be issued if the tragedy could have been avoided. If a person falls off a pontoon because it is wet, we will not issue a report "explains the director of the BEAmer.
Most of the direct referrals that come to the BEA from boaters are from people who see this organization as a judge of peace between policyholders and their insurers. " This is not the case "We were told by the BEA. " In fact, it would be a deviation from our mission to go in that direction. We only know the facts and events that are reported or that we obtain in our subsequent interviews with stakeholders. "
Lessons for the boater and the marine community
" An investigation can be initiated if several accidents occur within a short period of time in a particular area or under similar circumstances. This was the case, for example, with jet-skis a few years ago. In view of the large number of fatalities, we have not only initiated investigations but also issued recommendations "concludes the manager.
This is one of the prerogatives of the BEAmer, in addition to issuing investigation reports. It has the power to issue recommendations that may become regulations, standards or laws, depending on the case.
While writing a sea report is a complex and codified task, it can be frustrating for boaters to know that nothing is done afterwards. However, thinking in the form of a sea report when an accident occurs is both a way to keep as cool a head as possible to make the best decisions and to report a clear and accurate, almost indisputable, state of affairs to one's insurer.
Finally, it is an excellent educational tool for oneself and for the community as a whole to be able to retrace the scenario of an accident and to detect which elements, one after the other, have turned a pleasant outing at sea into an accident.
