Courts of Marine Inquiry and Boards of Marine Inquiry are tribunals established in common law countries to investigate matters relating to shipwrecks, casualties affecting ships, or charges of incompetency or misconduct on the part of the masters, mates or engineers of ships.
Various tribunals are established in Australia to investigate the causes of shipwrecks, crashes and other matters pertaining to ships in Australian waters. As Australia is a federal jurisdiction, both the States of Australia and the National government have joint authority to make laws over navigation. Where navigation relates to overseas or interstate trade, the national government's law will take precedence in certain circumstances.
At the national level, the Australian Government has established the Court of Marine Inquiry of Australia under the federal Navigation Act.
At the state level, the following agencies have responsibility for the investigation of maritime incidents:
In Fiji, marine boards are established under the Marine Act to conduct enquiries. For a recent inquiry held in Fiji, see Marine Enquiry re the Sinking of the MV OVALAU II at http://www.paclii.org/fj/cases/FJHC/2005/369.html
Magistrates Courts of Tonga are courts of marine inquiry under the Tongan Shipping Act.