These Regulations replace The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulations 2005 (S.I.2005/881) (“the 2005 Regulations”) and implement the provisions of Directive 2009/18/EC (“the Directive”) of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23rd April 2009 establishing the fundamental principles governing the investigation of accidents in the maritime transport sector and amending Council Directive 1999/35/EC and Directive 2002/59/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council. The Regulations use the powers set out in Section 267 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 (c.21) (“the Act”) to implement the provisions of the Directive.