46 CFR 4.07-5: Powers of marine casualty investigating officers
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section says an investigating officer investigates each marine casualty or accident reported under the sections it names. It gives the officer power to administer oaths, subpoena witnesses, require answers to questionnaires and require records. Attendance and evidence are compelled by a process similar to that of the United States District Court.
Applies toInvestigating officers who investigate marine casualties or accidents reported under §§ 4.05-1 and 4.05-10.
What it says
An investigating officer investigates each marine casualty or accident reported under §§ 4.05-1 and 4.05-10.
46 CFR 4.07-5(a)“An investigating officer investigates each marine casualty or accident reported under §§ 4.05-1 and 4.05-10.”
The investigating officer has the power to administer oaths and to subpoena witnesses.
46 CFR 4.07-5(b)“Such investigating officer shall have the power to administer oaths, subpoena witnesses,”
The investigating officer has the power to require persons who have knowledge of the subject matter of the investigation to answer questionnaires.
46 CFR 4.07-5(b)“require persons having knowledge of the subject matter of the investigation to answer questionnaires”
The investigating officer has the power to require the production of relevant books, papers, documents and other records.
46 CFR 4.07-5(b)“require the production of relevant books, papers, documents and other records.”
Attendance of witnesses and production of books, papers, documents or any other evidence must be compelled by a process similar to that used in the United States District Court.
46 CFR 4.07-5(c)“Attendance of witnesses or the production of books, papers, documents or any other evidence shall be compelled by a similar process as in the United States District Court.”
Common questions
What powers does a Coast Guard marine casualty investigating officer have?
The investigating officer has the power to administer oaths and subpoena witnesses. The officer can also require questionnaire answers and the production of relevant records.
“Such investigating officer shall have the power to administer oaths, subpoena witnesses,”
Can an investigating officer require me to produce records?
Yes. The investigating officer has the power to require the production of relevant books, papers, documents and other records.
“require the production of relevant books, papers, documents and other records.”
How is a witness's attendance compelled in a marine casualty investigation?
Attendance of witnesses and production of evidence must be compelled by a process similar to that used in the United States District Court.
“Attendance of witnesses or the production of books, papers, documents or any other evidence shall be compelled by a similar process as in the United States District Court.”
The text of 46 CFR 4.07-5
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Investigating officers, powers of
(a) An investigating officer investigates each marine casualty or accident reported under §§ 4.05-1 and 4.05-10.
(b) Such investigating officer shall have the power to administer oaths, subpoena witnesses, require persons having knowledge of the subject matter of the investigation to answer questionnaires and require the production of relevant books, papers, documents and other records.
(c) Attendance of witnesses or the production of books, papers, documents or any other evidence shall be compelled by a similar process as in the United States District Court.
Sections it refers to
The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. Regulation text current as of April 16, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.