INQUIRIES The objective of the technical inquiries of BEAmer is neither to determine nor to attribute civil or penal liabilities, but " to establish the circumstances relevant to the casualty and to look for the causal factors, in order to improve maritime safety ". BEAmer is operated by a central staff in Paris and local regional delegates. Additional specialised experts are working for the board, for each investigation. A scientific council is advising in safety matters. Since it was established, BEAmer has recorded in a General directory of accidents and incidents approximatively 3 000 events a year. 200 of them have been looked in depth, in order to assess the necessity of a formal inquiry. A specific report has been established for 40 events a year (two thirds for fishing boats, a quarter for merchant navy, the rest for leisure boats). SAFETY STUDIES The specific safety studies carried out by the BEAmer are aimed at producing an overall picture of certain types of marine casualties. Such documents are based on the BEAmer's own statistical data as well as the expertise of its personnel, investigators and expert consultants. The BEAmer can also ask specialist organizations to conduct studies.