Marine Accident Reconstruction

What is marine accident reconstruction?

Marine accident reconstruction is the application of physics and engineering principles to understand the specific causes and events of marine incidents that involve damage to property, injuries to people, or both. These incidents can involve different types of watercraft ranging from small personal watercrafts and ski boats to megayachts and commercial vessels. These incidents can occur on any body of water, including rivers, lakes and oceans.

How does it apply to forensic investigation and analysis?

Marine incidents include collisions with objects or other boats, falls overboard, boat or propeller strikes, capsizing or swamping, fires and explosions, and carbon monoxide exposure, among other incident types.

In order to understand how incidents occurred and if they could have been prevented, marine accident reconstruction requires a thorough understanding of boat design and dynamics, the components of the boat, and the environment in which the boat operates.

What experience does Explico have in this area?

Explico has over 15 years of expertise in investigating marine incidents of all types along with the required knowledge of the marine industry as it relates to products, practices and standards. In addition to our company-wide expertise in performing the required site surveys, laser scans and drone footage, Explico has the capability to perform full-scale boat testing, failure analysis of marine systems, comprehensive fire and explosion investigation, and analysis of on-product warnings and collateral product literature.

  • Collisions
  • Boat/propeller strikes
  • Falls overboard
  • Fires and explosions
  • Swamping / capsizing
  • Carbon monoxide exposure
  • Warnings and collateral literature analysis
  • Equipment / component failure
  • Operator, occupant, and swimmer behaviors
  • ABYC standards compliance
  • Occupant kinematics
  • Accident data analysis
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