HC Deb 05 November 1968 vol 772 cc695-7

Mr. Alan Lee Williams (by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement on the collision between a petrol tanker and a cargo vessel at Crayfordness on the River Thames in the early hours of this morning.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport (Mr. Neil Carmichael)

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply.

The collision occurred in patchy fog at 12.30 a.m. at Erith Rands, just off Crayfordness, between a 10,500 ton Japanese cargo vessel and a small 350 ton motor tank barge. The Japanese vessel suffered superficial damage, but the barge was overturned. Of the barge's crew of five, three men were picked up, but two are still missing.

The tank barge was carrying 380 tons of motor spirit, but, apart from over- turning, the vessel suffered only superficial damage and there was no fire or explosion. She has since been beached. A small amount of petrol escaped, but this would not cause any pollution because in view of its nature any escaping fuel would have quickly dispersed and evaporated. The fire service and the port authority's pollution officer are at the scene of the accident. Salvage experts expect to right the barge within 24 hours.

My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has ordered an immediate preliminary inquiry into the incident under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894.

Mr. Williams

Is my hon. Friend aware that some anxiety arises from the fact that a number of the small tankers do not carry radar? Can he confirm whether this ship was in receipt of radar? Can he say whether there is any danger at all in the Rainham area as a result of seepage of petrol?

Mr. Carmichael

I have no details about the radar. The preliminary inquiry will certainly find out and will let the Board of Trade know. My hon. Friend asked about the danger. We understand from the fire authorities that there is little danger, but as a precaution they have stopped the welding which was going on in a nearby ship further down the river.

Mr. Webster

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that we on this side of the House wish to express our sympathy with the relatives of those who lost their lives? Will the findings of the inquiry be published? Does not this accident bring to light the danger arising from tankers which suffer such disasters in coastal waters? Is it not time that we reconvened the International Convention for the Prevention of Oil Prevention? Would the hon. Member make a statement on this aspect of the matter, bearing in mind the "Torrey Canyon" disaster?

Mr. Carmichael

This is a slightly different matter from the "Torrey Canyon" disaster. The inquiry which has been ordered by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade will, I hope, bring to the notice of the Department some of the questions which the hon. Member asked.

The question whether the matter is ultimately made the subject of a public inquiry is one for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

Mr. Murray

My right hon. Friend has given an assurance about the seepage of motor spirit. Can he say whether the authorities further down the Thames, such as Gravesend and Tilbury—bearing in mind that the tide turned about an hour ago and is now ebbing—are taking any precautions, just in case?

Mr. Carmichael

The experts who are on the job dealing with this accident are well acquainted with the facts of the Thames. The salvage officers are there hoping to make an attempt at the first tide to right the barge. The fire authorities, who are also there, and who are experienced in accidents of this kind, are standing by and giving their expert advice. From the advice which we have from the experts on the spot, it seems that everything is being taken into account to avoid any possibility of a spread of this tragic accident.

Mr. McNamara

Will my hon. Friend confirm that, apart from this unfortunate accident, the general run of these petrol spirit tankers is such that they are model craft, well built, and that the danger of seepage from such unfortunate accidents as this is very small?

Mr. Carmichael

That is quite true. The standards of these tankers are renewed from time to time. Such unfortunate accidents as this provide new information which allows my right hon. Friend to stipulate new specifications for them. I can assure my hon. Friend that as much care is taken in these specifications as is revealed to be necessary by use and by such unfortunate accidents as periodically occur.