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in this issue

NEWSfrom the directors

15th Annual ConferenceIAMI EUROPE

stolen goodsCraigslist

July 2012

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ForewordGreetings from your president,

Summer is here and it was great to see everyone in

San Diego, at the 22nd Annual Training Conference.

I would like to thanks Todd Schwede, Todd and

Associates, for being such great hosts. I would like to

take this opportunity to introduce you to your new

Board of Directors.

• 1st Vice President: Shelley Lair

• 2nd Vice President: Wayne Skrdla

• Secretary Treasurer: Ronald Morris

• Training and Public Education: Pat Rowland

• Law Enforcement: Wayne Skrdla

• IAMI Europe Steering Committee: Simon Lofting

• IAMI Canadian Liaison: Richard Kooren

• Insurance & Website/Social Networking: Kerry McCook

• Grants/Sponsorship and Legislative: Herb Angell

• Industry and Marketing: Earl Joyner

• Membership: Rusty Russell

• CMI and Regional Coordinators: Eric Lundin

• Bylaws and Resolutions: Bill Tallman

The Board of Directors and I are working hard to promote

IAMI and our mission. If there is anything the Board or I

can do for you, please let us know.

Sincerely

J. A. Pragman

If you would like to advertise in our next edition of the

IAMI Review, please email us on: iamimarineeu@aol.com

Dear Members,

Its been a really busy year since our conference in Croatia, I’m sure you will all agree the location and training was excellent for 2011, the feedback you all provided supported this.

For myself I am trying hard to juggle police work with IAMI in an exceptionally busy year due to the Olympics in the UK. I attended the USA conference earlier this year as IAMI International Director, the conference went well, there has been some changes to Bylaws you will need to review on line at www.iamimarine.org.

You will notice some changes in your IAMI Review magazine, it has been decided to combine the Exchange within our Review E magazine so all IAMI members receive a better fuller magazine, we are currently trying to publish this article quarterly however we are not receiving many articles from you the members, without you the magazine does not exist; this magazine is your for you so please provide anything you think IAMI members will benefi t from.

Currently the Review magazine is being solely funded by DATATAG, without Datatag’s amazing support we would not have such a good magazine. If we cannot receive enough articles for the magazine we will be forced to reduce the amount of publications to twice or 3 times yearly.

Your European board has been working very hard since Croatia, I am very proud to have such a great team dedicated to team work for the cause we all support, your board work so hard foe its members.

Chairman’s MessageI fully understand the economic issues we are all having again this year, we have kept prices frozen this year for the 4th year running, book early to take advantage of the early bird saving.

Marine crime across Europe in the last year has taken a signifi cant rise, we really need everyone’s support at the conference this year to reduce the issues we have in future years. The conference in Ireland this year is NOT to be missed, the Police Garde teams have been very supportive and have assisted so much which in turn has allowed us to keep prices at base cost. If you have not already please check out the jam packed agenda, this is also the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic sinking and we have a surprise in store for you all.

For myself on the steering committee this year is supposed to be my last year, we are however in a situation that I have no one able to take over my post so it has been agreed that I will stay one more year before being forced to stand down, so for now I am here to stay; I am as always dedicated to providing you the best conference possible, I am still very keen and motivated as are my steering board.

I very much look forward to seeing you all in October, and leaning more in our fi eld of work.

Best regards, Simon Lofting IAMI Europe Chairman.

our members

Thanks for you continued support

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Who’s WhoIAMI Europe Steering Committee

Simon LoftingIAMI European Chairman

• British (Based in UK).• Law enforcement.• IAMI member for 11 years, spend 3 years as steering board member & 2 years as Chairman & International Director for IAMI INC.• IAMI Instructor.• Marine Engineer for 7 years.• Police offi cer for 14 years spending the last 11 years in Marine investigation for the Marine Police.• Specialises in vessel identifi cation & Law enforcement.• Certifi ed Marine Investigator.• Commercial Diver HSE, Powerboat & PWC instructor, Advanced power boat, Coastal Skipper.• Wildlife offi cer & Field intelligence Maritime.• UK Representative for Europol for the Outboard engine project.

Jayson Sibley IAMI Europe Vice Chairman

• British (Based in Mallorca).• Jayson Sibley was established in Mallorca during 1998. He is a Marine Loss Adjuster and Qualifi ed Yacht Surveyor providing a wide range of services to the Yacht Market.• Accredited Surveyor & Full Member of the Yacht Designers & Surveyors Association (YDSA).• Master’s Degree in Yacht Claims, and the Cardiff University Bond Solon Expert Witness Certifi cate. He has also taken the Lloyds Maritime Academy Postgraduate Diploma in Maritime Law.• RYA / Dot Yachtmaster Ocean C-Diploma in Yacht and Small Craft Surveying with Meritommercial Certifi cate.• Marine Loss Adjusters and Qualifi ed Yacht Surveyors providing a wide range of services to the Yacht Market.• JSA are recognised throughout the UK Yacht Insurance Market and predominantly travel throughout Spain, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands. We are pleased to accept instructions to destinations throughout Europe.

Tommy HansenDanish (Based in Denmark)

• IAMI Europe Steering committee.• Consultant with The Danish Insurance Association since 2008.• Search for and repatriation of; stolen vehicles and boats to the member companies.• Investigation of fraud cases – vehicle, boat, personal injury, jewellery etc.• Languages: English, German, French, Russian, Danish, Swedish, Arabic.• Previous experience: Intelligence offi cer Balkans, Russia, Middle East, Africa and Afghanistan.• SGM Royal Danish Army.• Member IAMI, IAATI, IASIU, IMI.• Awards: Presidential Unit Citation Award (same as Seal Team Six), Service Medal Balkans, Service Medal Afghanistan.

Mikael BorbergSwedish (Based in Sweden)

• IAMI Europe Steering Committee.• Manager Team Yacht & Marine Surveyor at LK Marconova AB, Sweden.• Worked with insurance since 1990.• Solid background as claims adjuster from several insurance companies in Sweden such as Wasa, Atlantica, Alandia, Länsförsäkringar and Nacora International Insurance Brokers where he has worked with yacht’s, cargo’s and carrier’s liability claims. • Experience from yacht’s and cargo’s surveys • Coastal Yachtmaster Diploma, Diploma for High-speed boats.• Lloyds CCSP1 Examination.

Christina HaidIAMI Europe Admin assistant and Accountant.

• Christina is the organised person within IAMI Europe that keeps everything afl oat. Christina has worked at Rebulla Surveyors since year 2000 and agreed to assist with the Europe admin during the Austrian conference. Christina is in full control of our members and admin issues, including arranging the conferences, renewing members and arranging payments. Without Christina we would Sink!

Peter SchirmerGerman (Based in Croatia)

• IAMI Europe Steering Committee.• Peter has worked for more than 10 years as a surveyor in the yacht industry by Rebulla Surveyors covering damage assessment, valuation and condition inspections for various insurance companies. Peter one of our hosts for the 2011 conference live in Rovinj Croatia and works in the Croatian Adriatic coast and also in the other regions of the Mediterranean.• Peter speaks German, Croatian and English.• Peter came to IAMI in 2005.• “I especially appreciate the cooperation and friendly contacts across national borders and organizations.• IAMI gives me new ideas for my “hobby” - “hunting stolen boats” and the understanding of relationships.”

Jay Pragman IAMI President.Jay specializes in marine crime scene investigation, computer, cell phone, GPS forensic examinations and analysis, evidence, and property room management; he is a type II BAC supervisor, and academy instructor. Jay is a member of the Missouri State Highway Patrol boating accident reconstruction team; International Association of Marine Investigators and The Lake of the Ozarks Major Case Squad.

Outgoing IAMI President Martin Aberg receives an award from incoming IAMI First Vice President Shelley Lair thanking him for his service during his two-year term as President. Martin, from Sweden, was the fi rst IAMI President from outside the United States. Jay Pragman (not pictured) takes over as IAMI President.

News from the DirectorsFrom Shelley Lair, 1st Vice President: If you attended the 22nd Annual Training Seminar in San Diego, you should have received an on-line survey to evaluate the event. If you have already completed it - THANK YOU! If not, please take a couple of minutes to complete the survey; your feedback is invaluable in helping us to plan future IAMI Seminars. We are always looking for suggestions and feedback; feel free to e-mail me at any time: Shelley_Lair@progressive.com

From Pat Rowland - Training & Public Education Committee: IAMI is dedicated to promoting boating safety and marine investigator’s training to law enforcement, the insurance industry and other marine professionals through regional and annual training events and investigative assistance.One of the most serious problems in marine theft investigation concerns the Hull Identifi cation Number (HIN) formats. In the past several years, IAMI has broadened the fi eld of training to marine identifi cation, which includes HIN’s and other marine identifi ers, accident reconstruction, environmental investigations and trained thousands of individuals.Whether across the country or the world, IAMI Members provide a pool of investigators that can be utilized. In the future we hope to have the opportunity to provide greater levels of training to other members as well as other organizations.

2012 Training Goals2013 IAMI ATS – Charleston, SC• Secure speakers with topics by mid-year meeting.• All General Sessions will be NEW TOPICS.• Offer at least one new LE specifi c topic and at least one new NLE specifi c topic for each breakout session grouping.• Increase use of practical/hands-on training courses in all IAMI training seminars. • IAMI Standardized Training - Ad Hoc Committee • To coordinate standardization of new Marine Investigators Manual material into course-ready Power Point presentations with lesson plans and outlines for ATS/RTS core classes.• Update the IAMI Investigators Pocket Guide. I am asking you to assist in meeting these goals. Let’s make this a banner year by working together as a team. If you have suggestions for training topics and instructors for our 2013 IAMI ATS being held February 24 - 27, 2013, in Charleston, SC. If you have recommendations, please send type of course and contact information for the instructor to: Pat Rowland, Director, 2053 Manchester Drive, Medford, Oregon 97501. Work phone: (541) 864-8840 Work; Cell phone: (541) 261-0232 Cell. Email: Marine704@aol.com

From Rusty Russell, Membership Committee: In an effort to understand the issue of member retention, IAMI’s membership committee has drafted a survey that will be sent out to all past

(non-current) members. If you know any former members, encourage them to participate in the survey as well as to renew their memberships. Remember, one of our greatest strengths is the diversity, experience, and knowledge of our members. Together, we make this organization what it is, and we need everyone’s help to keep it strong.

From Kerry McCook, Insurance Committee and Website/Social Networking Committee: Following our yearly Annual Training Seminar and Board Meetings in San Diego, your newly elected Board of Directors has set its goals and duties for the upcoming year.Outlines of “Selecting a Marine Investigator” and “Underwriting Against Insurance Fraud” were discussed by the Insurance Committee and will soon be rough drafts. The committee is also involved in ‘standardizing’ IAMI’s core classroom courses so that they can be used at Regional Training Seminars. After the standardization is complete, we will revisit Insurance License Continuing Education (CE) credit approval for those classes. The CE effort is currently on hold.From the Website/Social Networking Committee, we have a few goals for the upcoming year, including an IAMI LinkedIn account, new content on our homepage, more use of videos (and video training in the future), updated and more frequent news on our Facebook page, and a new online product vendor.As always, for your questions, comments, and concerns – kmccook@boatus.com or KerryMcCook@iamimarine.org.

From Eric Lundin, CMI Program / Regional Training: At the San Diego Annual Training Seminar, IAMI welcomed four new Certifi ed Marine Investigators to our ranks, bringing the number of current CMIs up to 84. Congratulations to Casey Auten, Dennis Field, Stephen Motyczka and Dale Nute for their hard work and achievement. The 2012 San Diego seminar also marks the fi rst use of a revised CMI exam, which now tests information on items such as European craft identifi cation numbers (CINs) and other European Union vessel identifi cation information, as presented both in the revised IAMI Marine Theft Investigation Manual and at our training seminars. I thank Simon Lofting, Jayson Sibley, Shelley Lair, Pat Rowland, Dan Rutherford and Todd Schwede, for drafting this new international CMI exam, which refl ects IAMI’s worldwide reach and the need for all members, regardless of their country of residence, to have a working knowledge of international marine identifi ers. 2007 Recertifi cation: It is also time for all CMIs who were certifi ed at any time in 2007 to complete their fi ve-year renewals. Renewing CMIs should check the recertifi cation requirements and the 2012 Renewal application on the website – completed applications, supporting information and fees should be sent to IAMI HQ before the June 30, 2012 deadline.Regional Training/Coordinators: On April 19 and 20, 2012, IAMI will be holding a Northeast Regional Training Seminar focused entirely on Marine Fire Investigation, with the assistance of

the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI), New Jersey State Police Bomb and Arson Squad, and TowBoatU.S. at the Middlesex Fire Academy in Sayreville, New Jersey. This hands-on training, skillfully and meticulously arranged by NE Regional Coordinator Dan Rutherford, will feature nearly ten boats that will be burned in various methods as might be encountered by investigators in the fi eld. Attendees will break up into teams, examine their vessel, determine a fi re cause and present their fi ndings, after which the actual cause will be revealed. A live vessel burn will also be included. This training opportunity, similar to the very well received Wells Beach, Maine fi re training in 2005, happens only once over many years; if you are reading this before April 19, jump in, check the IAMI website and join us for this rare training event not to be missed!I also encourage all IAMI members to consider how you can bring a one or two-day regional training program to your state, region, county, agency or company. All we need is a location and IAMI will provide the rest: IAMI certifi ed instructors to teach the core IAMI classes (HIN/PWC 101, Marine Theft / Fraud Investigations, etc.), coordination with registration, and publicity through the website, Fraudfi ghters refl ector, etc. IAMI has also been providing in-house, in-service training over the past year. You can contact me, your Regional Coordinator, or any Board member to discuss your ideas! This is YOUR organization, and with your ideas and help, we can involve more investigators worldwide in preventing and solving marine theft and fraud. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

North American IAMI Regional CoordinatorsUnited StatesNortheast: Dan RutherfordSoutheast US: Earl JoynerNorth Central: David KacprowiczSouth Central US: Bill DobsonNorthwest: Herb AngellSouthwest: William Dials

CanadaJamie Gibson / Stuart McLea

From Richard Kooren, IAMI Canada: We have now closed the IAMI Canada bank account and have returned the funds (over $1,400) to IAMI. Thanks to Ivan Chu in British Columbia for looking after the account and closing it so promptly. Much appreciated. The next task at hand is to try and increase our Canadian membership. While marine divisions of Canadian police departments tend to focus solely on marine safety, there are other departments that deal with theft, typically auto theft. I am looking into making contacts within these divisions. Also, many insurance companies and adjusters deal with marine losses and are targets for membership. Finally, any marine surveyors who do not yet belong to IAMI will be solicited. To the current Canadian members: If you know of someone please encourage him or her to go online and join IAMI!

TM

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The International Association of Marine Investigators (IAMI), established in 1986, has its origins in the Florida Marine Patrol. Its membership has grown to include organizations which are actively involved in the prevention of Marine theft and accident/fi re investigations: insurance companies, Boat, and engine manufacturers, private investigators, marine surveyors, and companies that process boat data.

IAMI is a worldwide organization with branches on every continent, including the European Branch. Total membership has reached approximately 600. IAMI has contacts in the United Nations, Europol, Interpol, and many national governments. In Europe alone we have members in more than 20 countries.

The European Branch organizes its own Annual Seminar. The purpose of the Seminar is to keep the participants up-to-date on the latest developments in the fi eld of accident- and fi re investigation, international marine crime and to discuss the most effective ways of combating this type of criminal activity. The seminars and the networking opportunities are open to policy-makers and specialists.

The next Annual Seminar will take place 1st - 2nd October 2012. This is the fi rst time that we are organising the event in Cork, Ireland. A great number of participants from all over Europe and USA are expected to attend.

We are now looking for local partners to help organize our next Annual Seminar. Such partners are crucial to the success of the event. IAMI is a non-profi t organization and the sponsorship agreements with our partners help reduce the fees which we have to charge, thereby making it possible for many more organizations to send their representatives to the Seminar. Especially law-enforcement agencies and other governmental bodies, whose participation at events like this is important, often have very limited budgets.

By signing up as a local partner your organization will be able to attend the Seminar, enjoy access to the latest information about vehicle theft, meet some of the best experts in the fi eld, and present your products and services to the participants.

We are offering three partnership levels for added fl exibility:

Gold Sponsor - 3500 EurosIncludes booth and 3 persons, own fl ag in conference room, logo on website and in program etc.

Silver Sponsor - 1500 EurosIncludes booth and 1 person: Price 1500 EUR. For 500 EUR silver sponsor can add logo on website and in program. For 500 EUR silver sponsor can add one person.

Bronze Sponsor - 500 Euros Company logo on website and in program

Common rules for Gold and Silver sponsorships only: • Gold sponsor will have 2 x 20 minutes of commercial presentation; • Silver sponsors will have max. 2 x 15 minutes;

• Sponsors pay sponsorship – no seminar fee;• All sponsors have possibility to attend all presentations; excepting presentations labelled “Law Enforcement Only” • All sponsors pay for their own travel and hotel costs; • All sponsors get a booth/table;• All sponsors are responsible to bring walls for presentation, fl ags, all equipment for their stands; • All sponsors have access to electricity/internet: • All sponsors have access to reserve a private room for meetings/presentations for especially interested clients.

We hope that you will seize this opportunity to join us in organizing the next Annual Seminar of the IAMI European Branch in Ireland, and take advantage of meeting this important group of experts.

If you have any questions you can contact: Mikael BrobergPhone + 46 8 550 355 70 | Mobile + 46 70 433 01 90 | Email: mikael.broberg@krogius.com

15th Annual Conference

IAMI EUROPECork, Ireland 1st - 2nd October 2012

ConferenceSponsorship

Offi cial Sponsors

www.marineprotect.se

The conference will be held in Cork, Ireland, from October 01 to 02, 2012 at the Silver Springs Moran Hotel.

Cork

Cork is the second largest city in Ireland and the island of Ireland’s third most populated city. Cork has a population of 119.418, while the addition of the suburb area in the whole country brings 190.384.County Cork has earned the nickname of “the Rebel County”, while Corkonians often refer to the city as the “real capital of Ireland”, and themselves as the “Rebels”. The city is built on the River Lee which divides into two channels at the western end of the city. The city centre is located on the island created by the channels. At the eastern end of the city centre they converge; and the Lee fl ows around Lough Mahon to Cork Harbour, the second biggest natural port in the world. The city is a major Irish seaport; there are quays and docks along the banks of the Lee on the city’s east side..

The Conference

Conference prices are as follows:• 300 Euros per members (250 Euros by registration before 30th June)• 350 Euros per non-members (300 Euros by registration before 30th June)• 100 Euros spouses

Conference fee includes all conference material, transport to the topic locations, 4 tea/coffee breaks, 2 lunches, 2 dinners, after dinner drinks (2 evenings) and gala dinner (with 2 glasses of wine or 2 pints)

Spouse fee includes 2 dinners, after dinner drinks and gala dinner (with 2 glasses of wine or 2 pints)

Free transfer from/to CORK airport plus train station available.

Accommodation

Silver Springs Moran Hotel is a well appointed 4 star deluxe property with 109 bedrooms and suites. It offers spacious, superbly appointed en-suite bedrooms boasting ‘dive into bed duvets’ and hypo allergenic pillows. Bedrooms are also sound proofed to ensure you are always guaranteed a great nights sleep.

The room prices stated for the conference will also apply, should you choose to extend your stay, either before or after the conference.

Hotel prices are as follows:• 120,00 Euros double room per room per night• 75,00 Euros single room per room per night

Special prices for Bewleys Dublin Airport Hotel and Redcow MoranHotel are available on request.

Programme

• Sunday Sep 30th: Arrival, registration and networking• Monday Oct 1st - Tuesday Oct 2nd: Conference• Tuesday Oct 2nd Evening: Gala Dinner (business attire required)• Wednesday Oct 3rd: Departure.

Gala Dinner - The Secrets of the Titanic

On 14/04/1912 at 11.40 p.m., lookout Frederick Fleet spotted an iceberg immediately ahead of Titanic and alerted the bridge. First Offi cer William Murdoch ordered the ship to be steered around the obstacle and the engines to be put in reverse, but it was too late; the starboard side of Titanic struck the iceberg, creating a series of holes below the waterline. Five of the ship’s watertight compartments were breached. It soon became clear that the ship was doomed, as she could not survive more than four compartments being fl ooded. Titanic began sinking bow-fi rst, with water spilling from compartment to compartment as her angle in the water became steeper.

Agenda

Sunday 30/0913.00 + Arrival Registration and Welcome drink & Networking into the evening.19.00 Steering board meeting

Monday 01/1007.30 Steering board meeting 08.00 Steering committee and Ireland introductions and welcome to Ireland, Guest program explained in detail09.00 Navy presentation – Piracy and its affects and how we can assist in the fi ght against terrorism worldwide10.30 Coffee break11.00 Salvage12.00 Lunch at hotel13.00 Bus to Marina13.30 IAAI Presentation – Full practical interactive training investigation program from the International Association of Arson Investigators. Not to be missed!, involving the marina and the fi re and rescue services of Ireland14.30 Marina practical (HIN & Fire & Salvage)18.30 Bus to hotel19.30 (DRESS UNIFORM TO BE WORN PHOTO OPPORTUNITY)20.00 BBQ Dinner hotel & drinks Package, Networking.

Tuesday 02/1008.00 Steering board meeting08.30 Statement taking – Statement structure and process system for all investigators09.30 Internet search tools – Interactive internet investigation, digging deeper into the WWW to get the results you need as an investigator and information to assist in your investigations.11.00 Coffee break11.30 Interview techniques interactive - Practical program including interview planning & methods.13.30 Lunch14.30 Intel swap / Environmental damage – Law enforcement only intel swap Police ID required, please bring all intel relevant to European Maritime crime to include suspects, crime patterns and fi gures, crime techniques and modes of crime.15.30 Coffee break16.00 Exhibitor input / Lightening damage17.00 AGM – Any items for the agenda should reach the chairman not less than 4 weeks prior to the conference, only members may vote. Agency members count as one vote. Watch website for Agenda before conference.20.00 Gala dinner (BUSINESS ATTIRE REQUIRED)

TM

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Stolen Goods that arebeing fenced on Craigslist

Now, an International CMI Exam

Is It “All Right” Out There?by Peggy Feakes, AMS© and CMI-I R.J. Whitfi eld and Associates, Inc

CAPT Joe Derie, CMI and CAPT Mark Poster

While patrolling, have you ever been asked what the water was like outside the breakwater (or upstream, downstream, or somewhere else in your area), and if it was all right to go out? If so, did you casually look at the boater, look out over the water, and remembering the pleasant waters you rode not so long ago, say: “Water’s great, it’s ‘all right’ out there!” While it may be OK for you or even most boaters to venture out to the area in question, there may be some boaters who should not. Below are several reasons for you to hesitate and consider the ramifi cations before you answer that simple question. A myriad of problems may occur that can be attributed to operator error, mechanical failure, weather and sea conditions, local knowledge (or lack thereof), ATONS off station, etc.

The point is: Should an offi cer recommend what a boater should attempt?

A seemingly innocuous answer to a casual question can land you, your agency and the boater requesting the information in trouble. This is not a theoretical question. One agency has recently been through litigation because a boating safety offi cer allegedly told a boater it was safe to go out onto open water. The 18½ foot recreational vessel had seven passengers, two adults and fi ve children, aboard. The boat did go out, engaged 8 to 11 foot seas, attempted to return and capsized. Two children drowned, a three and six year old, apparently caught under the vessel while wearing PFDs. While Rule 6 of the International and Inland Rules obviously applies here, accidental deaths frequently result in lawsuits. This vessel’s skipper has no assets, while the agency has plenty. The case was eventually settled.

Although posed as a theoretical question, many boating safety offi cers are frequently asked this question. A recreational boater wants to know about the waters outside the harbour, or the waters upstream or on some other stretch of water. If the offi cer answers in the affi rmative and an incident occurs and no other boat is involved, who is to blame? Is it the boater’s fault that got him into a situation beyond his skill level, or is it the fault of the trained, professional boating safety offi cer who told him it was all right to go out there? If an incident occurs resulting in damage and/or injuries, and the inevitable lawsuit materializes, the vessel’s skipper may have no assets, but your agency will be seen to have plenty. The plaintiff’s lawyer will state it was your agency’s boating safety offi cer, who assured the “poor boater” it was OK to go out there, and thereby caused, or at least contributed to the tragedy.

Whether this would work in a court in your jurisdiction, especially a small area where many of the jurors might be boaters, is moot. Chances are, the suit will be fi led in a larger jurisdiction and, without letting it come to trial, the agency will more than likely settle. We’ve all seen that happen. Notwithstanding, the agency and the boating safety offi cer will be in for some rough times and bad publicity.

“Is it all right out there?” is not an innocent question. Boating safety offi cers must seriously consider each and every information request prior to answering or making recommendations. And if you’ve read this far and are relieved because your jurisdiction is an inland lake, not a harbour on the coast, think again. Saying: “It’s OK to go out on the lake!” could be the cause of just as much trouble. Think about it; you may not have to worry about tides and currents, but other considerations are equally appropriate, such as fl uctuating water levels, wind or other environmental conditions, traffi c density and the agency’s responsibility to mark hazards.

I was involved in the investigation of a stolen dinghy that the ownerdiscovered for sale on Craigslist. After making sure it was his dinghy, the dinghy’s owner fi led a police report and then called the individual who had posted the ad. He made an offer, which was accepted, and was given an address where he could pick up the dinghy. The owner gave the information to the police department, who went to the address and recovered the dinghy. Unfortunately, because there were several people living at the address, the police were unable to make an arrest.

Here is some information that was sent to me regarding Craigslist:

At this time, there is no set time frame for data retention, but we’re able to retrieve information about posts going back a few years. Here are the basic details that we retain and that we can release upon receipt of a subpoena, search warrant or court order:

• Poster’s e-mail address;• IP address assigned to the computer when the post was created;• Post creation date/time stamps;• Post contents, title, category and city.

Craigslist can’t provide the poster’s name, phone number or street address, since users are not required to include such details when submitting free posts. Offi cial requests for release of records can be forwarded by fax or mail to:

Craigslist 1381 9th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94122Attn: Custodian of RecordsFax: 415-504-6394

IAMI is now pleased to offer the Certifi ed Marine Investigator designation to ALL of our members worldwide,

particularly to our European members and others who have been asking for an exam that better refl ects the

organization’s international membership! The CMI examination will be given at the 2012 Europe Chapter training

seminar, as well as the New Jersey regional seminar on April 20, 2012. All interested members can apply through

the IAMI website to sit for these exams - please see the program overview, application qualifi cations, and fee

requirements on the IAMI website. Contact IAMI HQ or any committee member for extra information.

Factors to consider before answering fall into the following three categories:

Environmental:• How long ago were you out? How many hours of daylight are there left? • Has the weather, wind or seas changed? What is the present and future state of the sea, tide, current or water levels?

Vessel Characteristics:• Is the boat in question suitable for your waters? • How is the boat equipped and does the skipper know how and when to use any of the equipment?

Boat Operator and Loading:• What are the boating skills of the vessel’s skipper? • Is there alcohol on board?• What are the number, ages, sexes and physical capabilities of the passengers? A seasoned Boating Safety Offi cer can come up with more questions along these lines. They should be frank about the dangers and always be sure the boater understands it’s his decision. Unless, of course, it’s obvious you need to terminate the voyage.

CAPT Joe Derie is a retired USCG offi cer and a licensed offi cer of

the merchant marine. He is a NAMS-CMS; an AMS, SAMS; a

Certifi ed Marine Investigator; and a Certifi ed Fire Investigator.

He teaches technical courses for the American Boat and Yacht

Council and marine accident investigation courses for the CA

Department of Boating and Waterways.

CAPT Mark Poster is a licensed offi cer of the Merchant Marine

and has been a marine accident investigator for 18 years.

He is a former Lake Patrol Supervisor for the Big Bear

Municipal Water District and a former Boating Safety

Enforcement Instructor for the CA Department of

Boating and Waterways.

Also, Craigslist does not charge a fee for producing records.”

If you are a member of law enforcement or the legal profession, you can contact Craigslist to get information you may need for your investigation but you must have a subpoena, search warrant or court order.

The police department strongly recommends that the owner of the property contact law enforcement and let them handle any discovery/recovery.

I hope you fi nd this information helpful!

Peggy Feakes, AMS, is a member of SAMS, IAMI and ABYC.She has been yacht and small craft surveyor since 1989.

TM

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the 2012 Investigators of the Year

Investigator Success Story

The Investigators• Carina Birking - Larmtjänst*• Lt. Merri Walker - Massachusetts Environmental Police The Investigation: Swedish Police seized what they believed was a stolen boat but could not be sure because the HIN and other identifi ers had been removed. There was only what looked to be a United States registration number. Without properly identifying the boat, the Police would have been unable to prove that it was stolen. The offi cer contacted IAMI member Carina Birking with Larmtjänst on January 9, 2012.

Carina Birking sent the following email out through Fraudfi ghters (an e-mail communication system that is sent to the IAMI membership) on January 11, 2012: “Police in Sweden try to identify a Glastron 209 GS, all identity is gone. They have found a registration number on the boat and we think that it may be a registration number from USA. We wonder if someone has any information about this number: MS5259TC”

Several people responded, including Lt. Merri Walker with Massachusetts Environmental Police who forwarded the information needed to identify the stolen boat. The investigation is still ongoing and no further information regarding the outcome is currently available.

Key Factors Leading to the Recovery:The information needed to solve this case was received in less than four days. If it weren’t for IAMI’s Fraudfi ghter, it would not have been possible to get the information needed from the United States to complete this case.

• Larmtjänst is a non-profi t organization owned by Swedish Insurance Association (Very Similar to NICB in the United States). On behalf of the Insurance Industry, they develop and maintain good contacts with Law Enforcements and other organizations, both nationally and internationally, in order to:

• Identify and recover stolen property.

• Inform and train parties regarding the modus operandi of insurance-related crimes.

Datatag It or Lose It!The Number 1 Theft Detterent for your Marine Craft

Since it’s introduction in 1992, Datatag has assisted in dramatically reducing the amount of stolen property including Motorcycles and Personal Watercraft or “Jet Ski’s” etc. In fact Datatag has a 100% successful prosecution rate because the UK Crown Prosecution Service or CPS has never lost a case when Datatag has been used as evidence in a court of law.

An independent survey and summary conducted by the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) declared that if you have not fi tted Datatag, your bike is over twice as likely to be stolen. (Based on the survey “The effectiveness of After market security marking systems”).

Datatag is supported and recommended by many Insurers, authorities, organizations, including the Musicians Union, and governing bodies including the Personal Watercraft Partnership (PWP), Auto Cycle Union (ACU), Royal Yachting Association (RYA), British Schoolboy Motorcross Association (BSMA), British Marine Industry Federation (BMIF), and the governing body for F1 Powerboats, the UIM.

As well as successfully deterring theft, Datatag has made a huge investment developing a unique secure database and

are only one of a few companies to be accredited to the highest of standards in database security, including extensive disaster recovery protocols which is now preferred by Police forces especially in the UK. Datatag is a “Secured by Design” company which has been accredited by ACPO CPI Ltd (Association of Chief Police Offi cers) backed by the Home Offi ce.

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This year’s winning investigation began with a routine traffi c stop of a car that was towing a personal watercraft a PWC on a trailer. The offi cer who made the stop noticed that the PWC was missing a HIN. He soon found the confi dential HIN and discovered that the PWC had been reported stolen.

For the next few weeks and months, the offi cer would work with his fellow investigators of the year to uncover a huge theft ring that had been stealing PWCs and other watercraft and moving them to a “chop shop” in Texas where they were given new HINS and forged titles. After being cleaned up, the various boats were shipped to Arizona, a non-title state, given a new Arizona title, and then shipped back to Texas where they were sold to unsuspecting clients. No one can be sure how many stolen boats were fenced using this technique, but this year’s investigators of the year recovered almost a dozen that were in various stages of being altered and re-titled. The investigators also recovered a computer, which in addition to information on stolen boats, had child pornography as well as instructions on how to make

Michael FosterTarrant Regional Water District

Sgt. R. CockeTarrant Regional Water District

C. BorchardtTexas State Game Warden

Lt. T. BaumgartenArizona Fish and Game

Michael Foster, Tarrant Regional Water District (far left) and C. Borchardt, Texas

State Game Warden (far right) are shown receiving their Awards for IAMI

Investigators of the Year at the Annual IAMI Training Conference in San Diego,

California this past February. Also shown are Kerry McCook (center left) and Rick

Wilson from BoatUS Marine Insurance who presented the awards. Sgt. R. Cocke,

Tarrant Regional Water District and Lt. T. Baumgarten, Arizona Fish and Game, also received the Award but were not present at the ceremony.

methamphetamines. This theft ring was being run by some bad badguys.

What did it take to break up the theft ring? First it took tenacity. The investigation led to a storage facility to then to a remote Texas ranch and fi nally to another state. Each stop meant more stolen boats were recovered and more evidence was amassed. Breaking up the theft ring also took training IAMI training. Where else do you learn how to recognize an altered HIN and where to look for the confi dential HIN? Finally, and perhaps most important, breaking up the theft ring took cooperation. Years ago, before there was an IAMI, cooperation with insurance companies and law enforcement agencies was the exception. As IAMI’s founder, Dave MacGillis, said, “What was the point of fi ling a report if it was only going to be shoved in a drawer and forgotten?”

The exception is now the rule. IAMI Training Conferences, like the one that was just held in San Diego, have helped to put a face on the voice at the other end of the telephone. A phone call is now far more likely to get results, positive results, like it did with this investigation. Congratulations to this year’s winners for your outstanding investigation!

TM

www.datatag.co.uk | 00 44 (0) 8 450 700 440

The Art of Identifi cationThe Art of Identifi cation

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Isle of Palms, South CarolinaFebruary 24-27, 2013

International Association of Marine Investigators Committed to Training Investigators Worldwide

www.iamimarine.org

Seminar Costs:

IAMI Members - includes banquet: $300 thru 1/31/2013, $325 thereafter

Non-Members - includes banquet: $400 thru 1/31/2013, $425 thereafter

Guest Registration for Awards Banquet and Hospitality Events - $100

International Association of Marine Investigators711Medford Center #419,Medford,OR 97504, USA

Email: iamimarine@iamimarine.orgPhone: 541.776.8601Fax: 541.857.8498

Training agenda, updates and online registration available on www.iamimarine.org

CERTIFIED MARINE INVESTIGATORS...

The Certified Marine Investigator (CMI) examination will be given to members who have been approved prior to this conference by use of the online application process posted within the Members Only area of the iamimarine web site.

MARINE INDUSTRY VENDORS INVITED...

We look forward to welcoming new exhibitors alongside those who have consistently supported IAMI: BoatU.S., Brunswick, FLIR Systems, Inc., LaserShot, Mercury Marine,Mustang Survival, Inc. and others.

IAMI’s 23rd Annual Training Seminar will be held at the Wild Dunes Resort Hotel on the Atlantic seaboard. Just ten miles from downtown Mt. Pleasant and less than30 minutes from downtown Charleston, on the beautiful Isle of Palms. The resort features a range of dining options and bars. tennis courts, golf courses, fi tness center outdoor swimming pool and spa services. Free internet via modem is available throughout the hotel

ACCOMMODATIONS...

WILD DUNES RESORT5757 Palm BoulevardIsle of Palms, South Carolina 29451Phone: 1.800.845.8880

Single Room Rate: $130 plus taxes, includes hot breakfast buffet.

IAMI group rate guaranteed thru 1/31/2013;

book hotel online at: https://reservations.synxis.com/XBE/Rez.aspx?hotel=12300&lang=1&group=INT2WD

23rd AnnualTraining Seminar

February 24th - 27th 2013Isle of Palms, South Carolina - USA

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