Assessment of the Qualification and Competency of Maritime Casualty Investigators of the Maritime Safety Services Command: Inputs for Enhancement

Junie Rey C. Taer

Volume 3 Issue 2 December 2023

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive assessment focusing on the qualifications and competency levels of maritime casualty investigators employed within the Maritime Safety Services Command. The primary objective of this assessment was to thoroughly analyze the existing capabilities of these investigators and pinpoint areas that could benefit from improvement. The study's respondents were the 57 maritime casualty investigators who have undergone the 10-day training on the maritime casualty investigation. Respondents are the casualty investigators who are assigned to different Maritime Safety Services Units and Coast Guard Districts all over the Philippines. The outcomes of the comprehensive assessment revealed several potential gaps in the qualifications and competencies of maritime casualty investigators. One notable gap pertained to the requirement for specialized training in accident reconstruction, a field that demands a deep understanding of various factors influencing maritime accidents. Another identified gap centered on the need for proficiency in digital evidence analysis, acknowledging the increasing prevalence of digital data in modern maritime operations. Analysis has shown no significant correlation between the level of education of the present maritime casualty investigators and the six investigative competencies. These results suggest that level of education alone may not be a reliable predictor of proficiency in the assessed competencies, warranting further exploration of additional factors that may contribute to the development of marine investigative skills.

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Author information & Contribution

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Notes

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Cite this article:

Taer, J.R.C. (2023). Assessment of the qualification and competency of maritime casualty investigators of the maritime safety services command: Inputs for enhancement. The Research Probe, 3(2), 91-99.