Maritime transportation is a complex process associated with risk. Any adverse event involving a vessel at sea, particularly one carrying hazardous cargo such as liquefied natural gas, may result in irreparable harm to human life and the environment. Nowadays, the legal regulation of safety of maritime transportation, including the development and improvement of regulatory legal acts, is acquiring increasing importance. Risk assessment programs, as well as emergency prevention and notification systems for maritime transport carrying dangerous goods, are being continuously enhanced. Nevertheless, the prevention of accidents and incidents at sea is not always possible. Each maritime emergency is therefore subject to investigation, the results of which are documented in a detailed report that is subsequently published. It should be noted that in some jurisdictions such reports are widely relied upon by insurance companies when resolving disputes related to insurance compensations. This article provides a legal analysis of the regulatory framework of the Russian Federation governing the investigation of maritime accidents and incidents, as well as the results of a comparative legal analysis of foreign legislation and international legal regulation. The paper examines the regulatory framework applicable to investigations of accidents involving gas carriers, analyzes the possible causes of such accidents and their consequences, reviews relevant provisions of foreign legislation, formulates proposals for improving Russian legislation and proposals for the international legal unification of provisions on accident investigations within the BRICS countries.
Anastasia V. Vashechkina (Wed,) studied this question.