Article 12

Accident investigation 1. Member States shall define, in the framework of their respective internal legal systems, a legal status that will enable them and any other substantially interested Member State to participate, to cooperate in, or where provided for under the Code for the investigation of marine casualties, to conduct any marine casualty or incident investigation involving a ro-ro ferry or high-speed passenger craft. 2. "Substantially interested State", "lead investigating State" and "marine casualty" shall have the same meaning as in the Code for the investigation of marine casualties. 3. When a ro-ro ferry or high-speed passenger craft is involved in a marine casualty, the investigation procedure shall be launched by the State in whose waters the accident or incident occurs or, if in other waters, by the last Member State visited by the ferry or craft. This State shall remain responsible for the investigation and coordination with other substantially interested States until such time as it is mutually agreed which is to be the lead investigating State. 4. Member States conducting, participating in or cooperating with such investigations shall ensure that the investigation is concluded in the most efficient way and within the shortest possible time taking into account the Code for the investigation of marine casualties. 5. Member States shall ensure that reports resulting from such an investigation are made public in accordance with point 12.3 of the Code for the investigation of marine casualties and notified to the Commission.

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-11-03 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.