7.1 Without limiting the rights of States to conduct
their own separate marine safety investigation, where a marine casualty
occurs within the territory, including territorial sea, of a State,
the flag State(s) involved in the marine casualty and the coastal
State shall consult to seek agreement on which State or States will
be the marine safety investigating State(s) in accordance with a requirement,
or a recommendation acted upon, to investigate under this Code.
7.2 Without limiting the rights of States to conduct
their own separate marine safety investigation, if a marine casualty
occurs on the high seas or in the exclusive economic zone of a State,
and involves more than one flag State, then the States shall consult
to seek agreement on which State or States will be the marine safety
investigating State(s) in accordance with a requirement, or a recommendation
acted upon, to investigate under this Code.
7.3 For a marine casualty referred to in paragraph
7.1 or 7.2, agreement may be reached by the relevant States with another
substantially interested State for that State or States to be the
marine safety investigating State(s).
7.4 Prior to reaching an agreement, or if an agreement
is not reached, in accordance with paragraph 7.1, 7.2 or 7.3, then
the existing obligations and rights of States under this Code, and
under other international laws, to conduct a marine safety investigation,
remain with the respective parties to conduct their own investigation.
7.5 By fully participating in a marine safety
investigation conducted by another substantially interested State,
the flag State shall be considered to fulfil its obligations under
this Code, SOLAS regulation I/21 and
article 94, section 7 of the United Nations Convention on the Law
of the Sea.