Operational Policies
How we categorise, prioritise and initally respond to notifications
People are legally required to notify us about a broad range of events, planned actions or administrative changes. People also notify us voluntarily about events and other matters involving harm or risk of harm in the maritime sector and at ports.This policy sets out:
- what we mean by a notification;
- how we categorise, and prioritise notifications; and
- the initial actions we will take to respond to a notification.
When and how we use our corrective and enforcement tools
This policy sets out when and how we use our corrective and enforcement tools under the Maritime Transport Act 1994 (MTA) and the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA) to reduce the risk of harm across the maritime domain.
When and how we audit, inspect and investigate
As a risk-based regulator we prioritise taking action to prevent harm from occurring across the maritime domain.
To ensure we take action that is proportionate to address the underlying risks that cause harm or unsafe and non-complaint situations, we gather information on those risks through our audit, inspection or investigation processes.
This policy sets out:
- how we define the process of an audit, inspection, and investigation
- when and how we perform audits, inspections and investigations, and
- when we will refer between those processes
How we make decisions about and conduct prosecutions
As a risk-based regulator we prioritise taking action to prevent harm from occurring across the maritime domain.
When harm has occurred, or an unsafe situation or non-compliance is identified, we will first require that corrective action be taken to address the situation. Following the necessary corrective action being substantively underway, we will consider if it is proportionate in the circumstances to hold a person to account using one of our enforcement tools, which includes prosecution.