What constitutes a serious marine incident?

A serious marine incident is defined primarily by the severity of its outcomes, which includes incidents that lead to death, serious injury, or significant property damage. Specifically, an incident resulting in property damages exceeding $100,000 is considered serious due to the potential implications for both human safety and economic impact on maritime operations. This definition is aligned with regulations and standards in marine safety, which are designed to ensure that significant events are appropriately reported and managed to prevent future occurrences.

In contrast, the other options do not meet the criteria for seriousness. Minor injuries or property damage do not reflect the severe consequences that warrant a higher classification. Incidents that merely cause disruptions without severe outcomes or high property damage do not qualify as serious either. Lastly, while hazardous materials incidents can indeed be serious, not all serious incidents involve hazardous materials, making that option too narrow in scope. Thus, the correct characterization of a serious marine incident encompasses a broader range of critical outcomes, clearly placing answer B in alignment with established standards.