Burglary, collision, accident: Checklist: How to do everything right

What to do after a burglary?

• Make-shift locking of broken bulkheads and hatches
• Report the incident to the Waschpo or the nearest police station on land
• Inform the insurer immediately
• Document signs of burglary, preferably by taking photos
• Make a list of the stolen equipment and send it to the insurance company together with proof of purchase or other proof of origin/ownership
• Only have damage repaired after the insurance company has given the go-ahead

What to do after a collision with another ship?

• Secure ships, minimise consequential damage
• Draw up a report and a sketch of the course of events together with the other party (only document objectively, do not comment, do not admit fault)
• Photographing damage to both ships
• Look for witnesses, note their names and addresses
• Ask the other party to show you their ID and ship's papers
• Note the names of the owner/skipper and the vessel as well as the address/registry data
• Exchange insurance data, if available
• In the event of a dispute with the other party involved in the accident, involve the police if necessary to preserve evidence
• Report the damage to your own insurance company, even if you are supposedly not at fault
• Request an average report from the insurance company, fill it out and send it back
• Do not order repairs until the insurance company has given its approval

What to do after a serious accident and subsequent salvage of the ship?

• Safety first - save the lives of the crew, abandon ship if necessary
• If ship rescue is possible, avert consequential damage
• If possible and the situation permits, contact the insurance company from the sea and coordinate salvage measures
  Otherwise, arrange a rescue yourself via the nearest maritime rescue coordination centre
• In Germany, if possible, authorise the DGzRS to carry out the rescue (free of charge)
• Insist on Lloyd's Open Form (international salvage contract with regulated costs) for every professional salvage operation, whether by a specialised company or a fisherman
• Have the ship towed to the next harbour
• Inform insurance company about accident and salvage and receive further instructions