The overriding role of the master is to ensure the safety
of passengers and crew, which should take precedence over any concerns
related to the preservation or collection of evidence.
Once an allegation of a serious crime on board a ship has
been made, the master should, as soon as possible, report the allegation
to the flag State. The master should, as appropriate, also report
the allegation to the interested States and parties involved, including
law enforcement authorities.
It is recognized that the master is not a professional crime-scene
investigator and that crew and resources to preserve and collect evidence
may be limited depending on the vessel type.
The master should ensure the persons affected are properly
cared for and take measures to preserve the evidence and follow the
advice of the appropriate authorities, including law enforcement authorities.
The master should attempt to secure the scene of the alleged
crime as soon as possible, with the main aim of allowing professional
crime scene investigators to be able to undertake their work. The
best option for preserving evidence is to seal the space, if practicable,
and for all persons to be prevented from entering it. An example would
be where an incident has taken place in a cabin, then the best option
would be for the cabin door to be locked, the key secured and notices
posted which would inform that no one should enter.
Where an incident has occurred in a space that cannot be
sealed, the master should aim to collect the evidence, as may be instructed
by the flag State Administration, or as otherwise guided by the law
enforcement authorities. While recognizing that collecting evidence
will likely only be carried out in limited and exceptional circumstances,
in such cases the master could use the techniques and procedures outlined
in appendix 2.
Following the allegation of a serious crime, and given the
master's inherent authority on board the ship, the master should draw
up a list of persons who may have information and invite them to record
their recollection of events on the pro forma provided in appendix
1. Any person may refuse to provide his or her recollection of events.
Whenever possible, the master should attempt to obtain accurate contact
information for persons believed to have information about an alleged
crime or missing person, in order to facilitate subsequent contact
by law-enforcement officials or other professional crime-scene investigators.