The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulations, 2020 establish the rules for reporting and investigating marine accidents in the Virgin Islands. These Regulations apply to all Virgin Islands-registered vessels, wherever they are in the world, as well as to any vessel operating within Virgin Islands waters.

The Regulations ensure that: 

• Marine accidents and serious incidents are reported promptly.
• Evidence is preserved following an accident.
• Independent safety investigations are carried out in accordance with international best practices.

The Regulations also implement international standards such as the International Maritime Organization’s Casualty Investigation Code and guidance from the Marine Accident Investigators International Forum (MAIIF), strengthening the Virgin Islands’ commitment to safe and responsible shipping.

The Merchant Shipping Act, 2001 is the cornerstone of maritime law in the Virgin Islands. It establishes the legal framework for: 

• Registration of vessels in the Virgin Islands;
• Issuance, renewal, and cancellation of certificates of registry;
• Surveying and measuring vessels, including ensuring marks of draft and tonnage are accurate;
• Navigation safety standards such as collision regulations, distress signaling, lifeboat and fire drills, and aids to navigation;
• Crew qualifications, manning requirements, and certification, including rules to prevent unqualified personnel from serving;
• Handling of dangerous cargo, bulk goods like grain, and the carriage of passengers;
• Duties of masters/owners in emergencies, including assisting other vessels in distress;
• Offences and enforcement, with fines, possible detention of ships, and legal penalties covering false documentation, unsafe conduct, and breaches of safety rules;
• Special provisions for wreck recovery, salvage, and handling of shipwrecked goods.
   

Together, these provisions ensure a strong regulatory framework aimed at promoting safe, lawful, and efficient maritime operations within Virgin Islands waters and for Virgin Islands-registered vessels.