The intent and purpose of MAIIF was originally conceived and agreed upon at a first meeting of 17 participating administrations in Hull, QC, (Ottawa), Canada, in June 1992.

The Forum is an international non-profit organisation dedicated to the advancement of maritime safety and the prevention of marine pollution through the exchange of ideas, experiences and information acquired in marine accident investigation.

Article 1 General

1.1 Name

The name of the organisation is "The MARINE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATORS INTERNATIONAL FORUM". The official abbreviation is MAIIF and the organisation will hereinafter be referred to as MAIIF.

Is any marine casualty, occurrence or incident, the investigation of which will, or has the potential to, advance the objectives of MAIIF.

MAIIF is an organisation to provide a forum to promote and improve marine accident investigation and to foster co-operation and communication between marine accident investigators.

.1 To foster, develop and sustain a co-operative relationship among national marine investigators for the purpose of improving and sharing of knowledge in an international forum.

.2 To improve maritime safety and the prevention of pollution through the dissemination of information gained in the investigative process.

.3 To encourage through co-operation the development, recognition, implementation and improvement of related international instruments, where appropriate.

MAIIF pledges to support IMO’s role in advancing maritime safety and pollution prevention.

MAIIF will co-operate with such other international organisations as may be approved by the membership, for the purpose of advancing MAIIF’s objectives.

No member or other person who is not a MAIIF Officer may represent or act on behalf of MAIIF without the consent of the MAIIF Chairman or, in his/her absence, the Deputy Chairman.

Individuals of all nations shall be eligible to attend MAIIF as a member if they qualify.

Shall be any individual who is appointed as a marine accident investigator, or is a person employed in the process of marine accident investigation, except that a person representing commercial or private interests outside an administration shall not be eligible as a member.

To be eligible to be a member a person shall be required to provide documentary proof of meeting the criteria laid down in 3.1.1; and continue to meet those criteria, as reviewed from time to time.

It shall be open to the members of MAIIF at an annual meeting to vote an existing past member as an honorary member. An honorary member may participate in MAIIF, but shall declare any conflict of interest.

3.1.4 Associate Membership

A person may be elected an Associate Member.

An Associate Member shall be a person whose profession or vocation, in the opinion of members, would enhance the aims of the Forum.

Any membership dispute shall be settled by the Chairman, after consultation with the Officers, with an appeal process by a majority vote of those attending the next annual meeting of members.

The Chairman, in consultation with the host administration, may permit any person who supports the objectives of MAIIF to attend meetings as an observer. An observer may be excluded from any portion of a meeting by majority vote.

Any person who meets the criteria for membership.

Members shall be eligible to vote on the basis of one vote per member, with a maximum of one vote per Administration or an agency of an Administration. No single member will have more than one vote, no matter how many Administrations or an agency of Administrations he/she represents. Issues shall be decided generally by consensus, but when necessary by the members on the basis of a simple majority.

A quorum shall be deemed to be present at an annual meeting whenever the Chairman, or an Officer acting for the Chairman and members from at least twelve administrations are present. Decisions requiring consensus or majority vote of the members may be taken only at annual meetings.

Every motion made by a member from the floor requires seconding and shall be decided by consensus or a majority of votes.

An annual meeting shall be held at a time and place to be decided at the previous annual meeting. The venue shall be rotated as much as possible among the continents to promote financial fairness and attendance equality.

Meetings may be held whenever desired by members. The results of such meetings shall be provided to all members. Meetings of regional associations of marine accident investigators, such as the Marine Accident Investigators Forum in Asia and the European Maritime Accident Investigators Forum, are beneficial to the objectives of MAIIF and are to be encouraged.

Administrations are encouraged to offer to host the meetings. The host Administration is expected to meet the cost of hosting the annual meeting, except for members’ travel, hotel and daily living expenses.

At times other than at a meeting, the Chairman may at his/her discretion, call for a written-in ballot.

The absence of a member or a member’s inability to vote for any reason shall not invalidate any issue duly voted upon.

Minutes of a meeting shall be maintained and shall be subject to formal approval by those present at that meeting.

A membership fee is levied, to fund secretariat services for MAIIF, and for any other purpose agreed at the annual meeting. The fee is payable by each organisation with one or more employees who are members of MAIIF. The membership fee will be for a calendar year, at a level to be agreed at the previous annual meeting.

Observers and first time attendees are not required to have fees paid.

A Treasurer shall be elected, and shall hold office for a period of two years unless he/she has to resign earlier.

The Treasurer shall ensure that funds are held securely in a suitable bank account, shall ensure that funds are only disbursed for properly authorised MAIIF purposes, and shall ensure that appropriate accounts are kept.

A member/organisation shall be asked to audit the Treasurer’s accounts on an annual basis. The accounts and the audit shall be presented to the annual meeting.

There shall be a Chairman, Deputy Chairman, two Assistant Chairmen, and a Treasurer as Officers of MAIIF. Any member may be elected by secret ballot to be an Officer. Each Officer shall hold office for a period covering two annual meetings after their election, unless he/she has to resign earlier. Each Officer should attend each annual meeting, and shall agree to turn over all of his/her MAIIF records to his/her successor.

5.2 Chairman

Shall be responsible for the overall management and operation of MAIIF.

Shall be responsible for conducting each annual meeting.

Shall be responsible for ensuring the members and contact lists are kept up to date.

Shall be responsible for arranging an independent audit of all records and accounts maintained by the Treasurer.

Shall assist in conducting each annual meeting.

Shall act as Chairman in the absence of the Chairman, and shall perform such other reasonable duties as may be directed by the Chairman.

In the event that the Chairman has to resign, shall be Chairman until the next annual meeting, when a new Chairman shall be elected.

5.3 Assistant Chairman

Shall assist in conducting each annual meeting.

Shall be prepared to act as Chairman or Deputy Chairman in their absence, and shall perform such other reasonable duties as may be directed by the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman.

Shall provide a comprehensive report of MAIIF’s financial standing at each annual meeting, or at any other meeting with at least 60 days notice.

Shall establish and maintain quick and easy means for members to pay fees.

Shall establish and maintain accounts with recognized financial institutions to receive, hold, pay, and promise funds for the operation of MAIIF.

Shall execute the day-to-day financial affairs of MAIIF, including but not limited to, receipt and payment of invoices, approval/disapproval of expenses of Officers, employees, and contractors, and maintenance of appropriate records for review by Officers and independent auditors.

Amendments to this charter may be proposed by any member at any time. Such proposals shall be submitted to the Chairman in writing who shall circulate the proposals to members for consideration at an annual meeting.

May 1994

Amended June 96

Amended August 97

Amended August 2000

Amended August 2005