A representative of the Transport Accident and Incident Investigation Bureau (TAIIB) participated in the 19th meeting of the European Marine Accident Investigators’ International Forum (EMAIIF), held from 2 to 4 June 2026 in Limassol, Cyprus.
The EMAIIF meeting is a professional platform where maritime accident investigation authorities exchange practical experience, investigation methods and safety lessons that help prevent similar accidents in the future. This year’s agenda focused in particular on fire safety on board ships, coordination of multi-State investigations, the use of electronic navigation systems, human factors, alternative fuels, and support provided by EMSA to safety investigation authorities.
The accident cases presented during the meeting confirmed that fires on board ships remain among the most complex and dangerous maritime safety risks. The technical complexity of vessels, limited access from shore, and the introduction of new energy solutions require both a high level of crew preparedness and close cooperation with rescue services, ports and investigation authorities.
The TAIIB representative also had the opportunity to learn from other countries’ experience in conducting multi-State maritime accident investigations, including situations where several flag, coastal or port States are involved in the same accident. Such experience is also important for Latvia, as maritime accidents often extend beyond the jurisdiction of a single State and require rapid, coordinated and evidence-based cooperation.
EMSA representatives provided information on the activities of the European cooperation framework, technical support for investigations, training opportunities and future work in the field of alternative fuel safety. TAIIB will continue to assess opportunities to use international training and cooperation instruments in order to strengthen its investigation capacity and preparedness for emerging maritime risks.
Participation in the EMAIIF meeting contributes to TAIIB’s professional cooperation with European and international maritime accident investigation authorities and supports the transfer of experience that can be used in preparing safety recommendations and improving preventive measures in Latvia.