Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 1 February 2023 to Question 133973 on Shipping: Liberia, what powers a Substantially Interested State has to make recommendations to the Flag State under the Casualty Investigation Code.

The Casualty Investigation Code does not directly provide a mechanism for a substantially interested State to make a formal recommendation to the marine safety investigating State. However, a substantially interested State is able to influence the investigation through cooperation; it must be given the opportunity to comment upon the final report; and its comments must be taken into consideration by the marine safety investigating State before the final report is published and a response provided.