Investigations Division

Mission | Reporting a Marine Casualty | Reporting a Hazardous Condition | Serious Marine Incident
Contact Us | Resources | Homeport Investigations Information

Mission

The primary mission of Coast Guard Investigations is to investigate marine casualties to determine their root cause(s) and use the information gathered in that process to prevent further casualties. In addition, the Investigations Division investigates reports of negligence, misconduct, or other violations of federal laws or regulations that occur in conjunction with the operation of commercial vessels. The division also pursues enforcement action to prevent future deficiencies and non-compliance by issuing Letters of Warning and Notices of Violations, initiating Administrative Civil Penalty hearings, initiating suspension and revocation proceedings against Coast Guard issued credentials, and representing the Coast Guard at suspension and revocation hearings.

Reporting a Marine Casualty

In accordance with 46 CFR 4.05-1, IMMEDIATELY AFTER ADDRESSING RESULTING SAFETY CONCERNS, the owner, agent, master, operator, or person in charge, shall notify the nearest Coast Guard Sector office whenever a vessel is involved in a marine casualty.

A marine casualty includes:
1. An unintended grounding, or an unintended strike of (allision with) a bridge;
2. An intended grounding, or an intended strike of a bridge, that creates a hazard to navigation, the environment, or the safety of a vessel, or that meets any criterion of 3 through 7;
3. A loss of main propulsion, primary steering, or any associated component or control system that reduces the maneuverability of the vessel;
4. An occurrence materially and adversely affecting the vessel’s seaworthiness or fitness for service or route, including but not limited to fire, flooding, or failure of or damage to fixed fire-extinguishing systems, life saving equipment, auxiliary power-generating equipment, or bilge-pumping systems;
5. A loss of life;
6. An injury that requires professional medical treatment (treatment beyond first aid) and, if the person is engaged or employed on board a vessel in commercial service, that renders the individual unfit to perform his or her routine duties; or
7. An occurrence causing property damage in excess of $25,000, this damage including the cost of labor and material to restore the property to its condition before the occurrence, but not including the cost of salvage, cleaning, gas-freeing, drydocking, or demurrage.

Notice given as required by 33 CFR 160.215 satisfies the requirement of this section if the marine casualty involves a hazardous condition as defined by 33 CFR 160.203.

To report a marine casualty in the Sector Upper Mississippi River area of responsibility, contact the Sector watch center on VHF Ch. 16 or by phone at 1-866-360-3386.

In accordance with 46 CFR 4.05-10, a written report of marine casualty (CG Form 2692) must be submitted to the Coast Guard within 5 days. For casualties in the Sector Upper Mississippi River area of responsibility, the CG-2692 may be submitted by fax to 314-269-2742 or by mail to:
Sector Commander
USCG Sector Upper Mississippi River
1222 Spruce Street, Suite 7.103
St. Louis, MO 63103
Attn: Investigations Division

(See the resources below for CG-2692 and its addendums).

Reporting a Hazardous Condition

33 CFR 160.215 requires that whenever there is a hazardous condition either aboard a vessel or caused by a vessel or its operation, the owner, agent, master, operator, or person in charge shall IMMEDIATELY notify the nearest Coast Guard Sector office. To report a hazardous condition within the Sector Upper Mississippi River area of responsibility, contact the Sector watch center on VHF Ch. 16 or by phone at 1-866-360-3386.

Serious Marine Incident

A Serious Marine Incident is a marine casualty or accident as defined in 46 CFR 4.03-1 (see above) that results in any of the following:
1. One or more deaths;
2. An injury to a crewmember, passenger, or other person which requires professional medical treatment beyond first aid, and, in the case of a person employed on board a vessel in commercial service, which renders the individual unfit to perform routine vessel duties;
3. Damage to property in excess of $100,000;
4. Actual or constructive total loss of any vessel subject to inspection under 46 USC 3301; or
5. Actual or constructive loss of any self-propelled vessel, not subject to inspection under 46 USC 3301, or 100 gross tons or more
6. A discharge of oil of 10,000 gallons or more, or a discharge of a reportable quantity of a hazardous substance, into the navigable waters of the United States, whether or not resulting from a marine casualty.

Marine employers are required to ensure that each employee directly involved in a Serious Marine Incident is tested for alcohol use within 2 hours of occurrence and for drug use within 32 hours of occurrence.

Contact Us

Phone: (314) 269-2686
Fax: (314) 269-2742
Mail: Sector Commander
USCG Sector Upper Mississippi River
1222 Spruce Street, Suite 7.103
St. Louis, MO 63103
Attn: Investigations Division