A system of civil law which is codified (i. e. written in a set of codes) and derived mainly from Roman law.
It is sometimes called European continental law and is the most widely applied legal system in the World, being used in about 150 countries. A Formal Investigation is an official inquiry into a ship’s loss. The Secretary of State for Transport can order one under section 268 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, whether or not the MAIB has made its own inquiry. There have been Formal Investigations into many casualties including Derbyshire, Herald of Free Enterprise and Marchioness/Bowbelle.
