Electronic evidence is playing an increasingly important role in maritime casualty investigations, according to The Nautical Institute, which is preparing the second edition of Guidelines for Collecting Maritime Evidence, Volume 2.
The forthcoming edition examines how evidence from onboard systems should be identified, recovered and preserved, as well as how it can be used to establish the circumstances surrounding a maritime casualty.
Originally published in 2019, the updated edition reflects the rapid development of onboard technology and the changing duties, responsibilities and risks faced by masters, officers, crew members and ship managers when an incident occurs.
The growing availability of digital information provides investigators with opportunities that were not available to previous generations. However, the increasing volume and complexity of data also presents new challenges.
Simon Daniels PhD AFNI, Technical Editor of Guidelines for Collecting Maritime Evidence, Volume 2, said:
“Ships now produce an extraordinary amount of digital information, but having more data available does not automatically mean that the circumstances of an incident will be easier to understand.
“The quality of an investigation still depends on knowing where relevant evidence may be found, acting quickly enough to preserve it and understanding the limitations of the systems that produced it.
“For Masters and officers, this is increasingly important professional knowledge. The records created by modern shipboard technology can play a significant role in reconstructing an incident and understanding the decisions that were taken.”
The second edition brings together expertise from across the maritime, technical, insurance and legal sectors.
Topics covered include electronic evidence recovery, evidence following fires and machinery failures, cargo deterioration, digital tools and ethics, visual reconstruction and analysis, evidence gathering for prosecution, the P&I perspective, average adjustment, and evidence in the Admiralty and Commercial Court.
The publication also examines the opportunities and risks associated with artificial intelligence. It emphasises the importance of verifying material generated or supported by AI rather than accepting it without professional scrutiny.
Another key theme is the role of just culture in casualty investigations. The guidance highlights the importance of enabling maritime professionals to provide safety-related information openly and fairly, while taking into account systemic factors alongside individual actions.
As digital systems become increasingly embedded in shipboard operations, the ability to identify, preserve and interpret electronic evidence is becoming an important part of effective maritime casualty investigation and professional practice.
