Regulation 14 Co-operation with other States
A safety investigation commenced by the Chief Inspector under regulation 8 must, where appropriate, be carried out in co-operation with another Substantially Interested State.
A Substantially Interested State must be allowed to participate in a safety investigation carried out by the Chief Inspector at any stage of that investigation so far as is reasonably practicable.
Where a safety investigation has been commenced in accordance with paragraph (1), the Chief Inspector must consult any other Substantially Interested States and seek to agree as soon as possible—
which of them shall lead the safety investigation, or conduct the whole or any part of it, and
the procedures to be adopted for the purposes of such an investigation.
For the purposes of paragraph (3)—
subject to paragraph (5), a Substantially Interested State has equal rights and access to witnesses and evidence involved in a safety investigation so far as is reasonably practicable, and
where the United Kingdom is the lead investigating State, any representations a Substantially Interested State may make to the Chief Inspector must be taken into consideration in the safety investigation.
Paragraph (4)(a) applies only if the Chief Inspector is satisfied that the investigating authority of the Substantially Interested State concerned will comply with Chapter 23 of the IMO Code.
Prior to reaching an agreement under paragraph (3), or where no agreement under paragraph (3) has been reached, the Chief Inspector—
may conduct a safety investigation in parallel with any such Substantially Interested State, and
must exchange evidence and information with any such Substantially Interested State conducting a parallel safety investigation for the purposes, as far as possible, of reaching shared conclusions.