Should a casualty occur the Master must at the earliest opportunity seek the assistance of the local representatives of the P & I Association or their agent.
The Master may be pressed to give statements, reports and/or log extracts to local officials.
Media interviews should be avoided since any interview given can be edited to give a different impression from that intended.
The Master will have the assistance of a lawyer and he should endeavor to delay giving any information to local officials until professional advice has been secured.
On receipt of the Masters casualty report Ship Owners will instruct lawyers locally but in any case of urgency and in the absence of P & I representation, the Master may instruct a lawyer to advise without the prior consent of the Company.
This should be done with the assistance of local agents.
Any unavoidable interview must be restricted only to the Master, who should always wait for instructions from the Company before granting such interview. All other Officers and Ratings from crewmarket should be warned not to discuss any aspect of the accident/casualty with any person from ashore.
In the event that the Master is forced to give a report or statement to local authorities it must be as short and as factual (consistent with accuracy) as possible.
No words admitting liability or implying, an admission of liability must be used. It is essential that no document written in a foreign language should be signed unless there is
attached to that document an attested translation. The Master should always try to obtain copies of such documents.
6. The Master must personally handle all enquirers from shore officials. If such officials wish to interview ship’s Officers or ratings this must be done in the presence of the Master and the Company’s legal representative. Care must be taken not to exaggerate the circumstances by any over presentation of the ship’s case.
7. The object of these arrangements is to ensure that the best possible defense is made and that no conflicting statements are made from the ship.
No statements should be made to the media without the prior authority of Company
