Where must the SMC document shifts in case responsibility?

• A. In the MISLE case file entries
• B. In the vessel's logbook
• C. In the local paper records
• D. In the public meeting notes

Answer: (A)

Documenting responsibility shifts in the MISLE case file is the official, auditable record for such changes. MISLE, the Coast Guard’s Marine Information System, is designed to track investigations, actions, and accountability, providing a centralized trail that regulators and involved parties can review. Updating the MISLE case file entries whenever responsibility shifts ensures transparency, proper oversight, and a consistent reference across the investigation’s lifecycle. Other places like the vessel’s logbook or local/public records aren’t the designated repository for formal changes in case responsibility, so they don’t provide the centralized, authoritative trail required for compliance.