accidents abroad

[snowleopard]

this is a question that has been on my mind since being hit by a french boat that anchored too close to me. i've wondered what i could have done if the damage had been more than a small chunk out of the gunwale. we also met some people in the azores who had been seriously rammed by another boat but didn't find out till the offenders were half way to gibraltar.

what lengths do insurers expect you to go to in tracking the other boat down, informing foreigh authorities etc?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Ships_Cat]

Internationally I think the obligations are:

Inform the maritime authority of the country in whose territory the accident took place in, should it not have been in international waters (noting that in many countries, including the UK, the reporting of maritime accidents and incidents is mandatory). If there is no maritime authority in the territory the accident occurs in, then the police.

Advise the flag that your vessel sails under. Probably not too important for small pleasure vessels, however, unless the vessel is lost or the flag conducts routine flag state inspections (I do not know of any that do that for small pleasure vessels, however). I do not know the details of the new legislation in UK for reporting of accidents and incidents, but if UK flagged one should check whether or not the legislation requires reporting to MCA no matter where in the world the incident takes place.

Advise your insurer.

I think as far as tracking the other party down your only obligation is to make reasonable attempts to identify the other party at the time of the accident. Would doubt if any insurer would expect you to track them down.

Obviously, in the case of theft in the territory of a country (whether of the whole vessel or the claim involves damage done to the vessel in the course of it) then the police in that territory have to be involved.

John

<hr width=100% size=1>I am the cat but I am only 6.