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Chapter I-Panama Canal Regulations 117.6
schedule may be made, as for example Board or by a two-man Board. Reports
in the case of warships or other vessels to the Administrator shall be forward-
that have an imperative need to ed in duplicate through the Supervis-
resume the voyage as soon as possible. ing Inspector, who may place thereon
Unless a pilot or other party in inter- such endorsement as he may see fit.
est requests the time provided in this
schedule, the hearing may be set for 117.4 Reports of accidents by officer in
an earlier hour. command to Board.
[32 FR 3830, Mar. 8, 1967] The Master or other officer In com-
mand of a vessel shall, prior to the yes-
117.1b Rights of party in interest sell's departure from Panama Canal
Any Panama Canal pilot or other in- waters, report in writing to the Board
dividual who is a party in interest at a any accident involving his vessel in
marine-accident investigation may Canal waters that resulted in loss of
obtain counsel of his own choosing, life or serious personal injury or in
testify in his own behalf, cross-exam- substantial damage to property.
ine witnesses, call witnesses, and intro-
duce any relevant evidence. The Board 117.5 Control of- wrecked, injured, or
shall advise all parties in interest of burning vessels.
such rights. When a vessel in the Panama Canal
waters goes aground, or is wrecked, or
117.2 Change in physical status of prop- is so injured that it is liable to become
erty affected by accident forbidden. an obstruction in such waters, or is on
In the event of a marine accident or fire, the Canal authorities shall have
casualty affecting any property in the right to supervise and direct, or to
Panama Canal waters, or waters adja- take complete charge of and conduct,
cent thereto, or any property owned or all operations which may be necessary
operated by the Panama Canal Com- to float the vessel, to clear the wreck-
mission or the United States, which age, to remove the injured vessel to a
imposes on the Board an obligation to safe location, or to extinguish the fire,
investigate, no change in the physical as the case may be. The Canal au-
status of the property affected by the authorities may, when necessary, take
accident or casualty may be made or such action without awaiting the per-
permitted prior to inspection by prop- mission of the owner or agent of the
erly constituted authority, unless such vessel, and may require the Master of
change in status be imperative in the vessel and all persons under his su-
order to preserve life or property. provision and control to place the
vessel, and all equipment on board, at
117.3 Reports by Board to the Adminis- the disposal of the Canal authorities
trator. without costs to the Commission.
The Board shall make reports forth- Unless the Panama Canal Commission
with in detail to the Administrator of is subsequently found or determined
all marine-accident investigations con- to be responsible for the accident or
ducted by it, setting forth the facts the condition necessitating action by
and circumstances surrounding the ac- the Canal authorities, the necessary
cident and bearing upon its proximate expenses incurred by the Commission
causation, the nature and extent of in carrying out the provisions of this
the injury and the amount of dam- section shall be a proper charge
ages, If any, occasioned by such injury. against such vessel her owners and
The reports shall include a transcript her operators.
of the record of the Board's investiga- 117.6 Liability of vessel for injury to
tion, together with its findings and
opinions respecting the accident. All
findings and opinions of the Board A vessel, or her owner or operator,
shall be rendered by a full Board after shall be held liable for any injury to
a review of the entire transcript, even any structure, plant, or equipment of
though the hearing may have been or pertaining to the Canal, the
conducted by a single member of the Panama Canal Commission or the
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