Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average length of time was for the Maritime Accident Investigation Branch to publish a report into the causes of maritime accidents or incidents in each year from 1990 to date.

MAIB reports are published at the earliest opportunity to ensure that safety lessons can be applied as soon after an accident as possible. All investigations are different with complex cases requiring more time, so average reporting times can be misleading. The recent grounding of the Hoegh Osaka in the Solent, and the tragic loss of eight seafarers when the Cemfjord sank in the Pentland Firth are two recent examples that demonstrate this. Where urgent safety lessons are identified at any time during an investigation the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents can issue a Safety Bulletin containing recommendations.

The average length of time between the date of the accident to the date of the publication of MAIB’s report for each of the years is: