What Incidents and Accidents Should I Report?

Serious incidents - the reports must be made within 8 hours. A serious incident involves:

  • A fatality,
  • 3 or more overnight hospitalizations, or
  • A loss exceeding $1 million.

SBP-Major (Reportable) Incidents

Small Boat Program activities shall follow all existing policy regarding the reporting of accidents.

The affected Program Director (or designee) shall notify the Line Office Small Boat Officer and Safety and Environmental Compliance Office (SECO) Representative of a small boat accident or incident when it involves any of the following:

  • Unintentional grounding for greater than 24 hours;
  • Explosions;
  • Sinking;
  • Fire;
  • Collisions involving breach of hull integrity;
  • Any incident which results in damage in excess of $10,000 to the small boat, its systems, or its equipment;
  • Incapacitating injury requiring professional medical attention or hospitalization, or loss of life of any person;
  • Unintentional and extensive flooding (self-bailing boats excluded);
  • Discharge of oil or any substance violating local, State, or Federal Regulations;
  • Failure of gear and equipment and any other damage that may affect or impair a small boat’s seaworthiness; or
  • Damage/harm to a protected or endangered natural resource or species.

When the cause of the accident is not clearly evident, the Program Director shall initiate an investigation. Findings and recommendations resulting from the investigation shall be made available to the Program Director, Line Office Small Boat Officer, AA, NOAA Small Boat Program Manager, OMAO Small Boat Engineer(s), and the Director, OMAO.

Findings and lessons learned from an accident or accident investigation shall be distributed by the NOAA Small Boat Program Manager to the NOAA small boat-user community. The identity of the small boat, personnel, and program or facility associated with the accident will remain anonymous.