The Nautical Institute has published the second volume in its ‘Collecting Maritime Evidence’ series, which focuses on the collection and preservation of electronic evidence and how it can be used to understand the circumstances that led to a maritime incident.
The Institute stated that while not completely replacing traditional records such as hard-copy logbooks, data from electronic sources such as ECDIS, VDR and AIS was vital for the investigator and that the benefit of such evidence is that it “cannot lie or have a faulty or imperfect recollection”.
The contributors to the book are from a wide range of disciplines and discuss topics such as the roles of the average adjuster and the mariner lawyer, evidence collection, fire, deterioration of agricultural cargoes, machinery failure and surveying.
Introducing the volume, Captain Ian McNaught CVO MNM FNI, Deputy Master of Trinity House, emphasizes, “It is imperative that seafarers understand the need for accurate evidence after an accident on board ship.” The expert advice contained here and in Volume 1 will enable seafarers to protect themselves and defend their actions through the production of such evidence.
Guidelines for Collecting Maritime Evidence, Volume 2, can be bought together with Guidelines for Collecting Maritime Evidence, Volume 1, from The Nautical Institut.