HC Deb 12 November 1975 vol 899 cc1528-33
Mr. Peter Rees (by Private Notice)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement about the collision in the Channel between a British frigate and a Panamanian oil tanker

The Under-Secretary of State for Trade (Mr. Clinton Davis)

I understand that at 0039 hours this morning the "Olympic Alliance", a 220,000 deadweight tons oil tanker, registered in Liberia but owned by a Panamanian company, was in collision in fog with HMS "Achilles", a Royal Naval frigate. This occurred seven miles due north of Cap Griz Nez and about 13 miles from Dover. No casualties were reported among the crews, and the "Olympic Alliance" is now proceeding to Wilhelmshaven and the "Achilles" to Portsmouth or Plymouth according to the state of the weather and the damage to the ship.

At 0130 hours this morning HM Coastguard at St. Margaret's Bay received a report from the "Olympic Alliance" of oil pollution and it was later estimated that a spillage of about 2,000 tons of oil had occurred. There is a possibility that it could reach our coasts. As soon as visibility allowed, at 0900 hours the tug "Diligent" fitted with spraying equipment left Dover and a naval reconnaissance aircraft was airborne. Three fishing vessels with spraying equipment are also operating. At the request of my Department, naval assistance is being provided this afternoon by RMAS "Kinloss" and HMS "Bildeston", and other vessels, including the specially equipped tug "Calshot" which sailed from Southampton at 5 a.m., will also be available this afternoon. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Royal Navy has flown this morning to the area to see for himself the extent of the problem.

The latest report I have is that the present size of the slick is about two miles by one mile and the spraying vessels are having some success in breaking it up. Its present location is some 11 miles from Dover.

The aim of the clearance operation is to break up the oil slick as much as possible today and then to concentrate on mopping up. I cannot give any timetable in view of the difficulties relating to visibility, the long hours of darkness and the busy shipping lanes in which the spraying vessels must operate, but I believe the operation is being carried out with the utmost efficiency.

HM Coastguard at St. Margaret's Bay is in close touch with the French Maritime Headquarters at Cap Gris Nez and assistance will be sought from other Channel States if necessary.

A naval inquiry will be held into the incident, and I understand that the French authorities will also investigate the incident. We are also in touch with the Liberian authorities.

Mr. Rees

I am sure the House is grateful to the Minister for the information which he has just given. I should like to ask him three questions.

First, is he satisfied with the co-ordination between his own Department, the Kent County Council which also has a great measure of responsibility, and the Dover District Council which is responsible for the foreshore? Secondly, is he satisfied that there is sufficient spray or detergent to break up the slick, and sufficient spray of a kind which will not completely devastate all marine life in the area? Finally, will the inquiry which is to be set up determine which party is to blame? Whoever should foot the bill, I think it should not be the ratepayers of East Kent.

Mr. Davis

Before I answer the hon. and learned Gentleman's questions, I think I should say that I have some additional information over and above that which I have provided, which the House would want to hear. I have just received information that six vessels are now spraying, including the "Calshot" and the "Kinloss". Two other naval vessels are on the way, apart from those which I have mentioned, and three vessels from France will be provided tomorrow. As I have said, I think this indicates that the matter is receiving the utmost attention.

The hon. and learned Gentleman asked about co-ordination. I think that the measure of co-ordination that has been established between all those concerned is extremely good. I have no criticism to make of it.

With regard to the sufficiency of the spray, I have already indicated the number of vessels that are engaged in the operation, and there will be more. I have no reason to believe that there is an insufficiency of spray, on the evidence that I have at present.

On the question of possible injury to marine life, I am advised that the dispersant being used is of very low toxicity compared with that which was used in the "Torrey Canyon" incident. I do not believe there is a great deal of cause for concern on that score.

The hon. and learned Gentleman also asked about compensation. I think that the arrangements which are made through the tanker owners' voluntary agreement concerning liability for oil pollution—known as TOVALOP—will provide the compensation to which the hon. and learned Gentleman refers.

Mr. Higgins

Can the Minister confirm that the radar surveillance scheme, which was introduced three years ago, was fully operational? If so, will there be a record of which vessel was contravening the separation scheme or crossing the separation zone? Was the radar on both vessels operating?

May I ask whether it is the case that neither the amendments to the 1954 pollution convention nor the 1972 collision regulations have yet received sufficient signatories for them to become ratified? If that is so, can he say which countries have not yet signed?

Thirdly, can the hon. Gentleman say whether the tanker is still leaking and whether there will be a Department of Trade inquiry, as well as simply an inquiry by the naval authorities which I understand him to say is to take place?

Mr. Davis

On the question of radar surveillance, on the information that I have—the House will recognise that I cannot at the moment be in possession of all the information—I have no reason to believe that the surveillance was not operating efficiently. I understand that there is a record which will be made available to the investigations which are to be carried out.

With regard to the IMCO convention, the hon. and learned Gentleman will know that there are more than 90 members of IMCO. An insufficient number have, in fact, signed and ratified and, of course, this is the reason why the regulations are not yet in operation. In fact, I made a speech about this at the recent IMCO conference, urging that it was necessary to embark upon the ratification of the convention as soon as possible.

I have no information at present about whether the vessel is still leaking.

On the question of the inquiry, the Department of Trade has no locus stand in the matter of an inquiry into this incident because it was not a British ship which was involved. The other vessel concerned was a Royal Navy vessel. It is, therefore, for the Ministry of Defence to carry out its inquiry. We shall co-operate with the Ministry, and the Ministry with us, in every possible way.

Mr. Ogden

Can my hon. Friend say whether the point of departure or the destination of the Liberian tanker was a British port and, if so, will he ask the Ministry of Defence to make a careful inquiry into the standards of certification of the officers and the manning efficiency of the crew?

Mr. Davis

I understand that there was no intention on the part of this vessel to enter a British port. I believe the "Olympic Alliance" was on its way to Wilhelmshaven, so the question my hon. Friend asks does not arise.

Mr. Costain

When I spoke to the Director of Technical Services of Shep-way Council this morning he was very appreciative of the prompt action taken by the county council and other authorities to deal with the situation, but is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is some concern because of the weather forecast which predicts south-easterly gale force winds? This means that the oil may be washed up on the beaches of Folkestone and Hythe. Can he say whether the local authorities will be paid for any emergency operation and that it will not be done at the ratepayers' expense?

Mr. Davis

I have already dealt with the last part of the hon. Member's question. I am grateful for the prompt action taken by all concerned, including the local authority. My information on weather conditions is not as up-to-date as the hon. Member's information. There has been a fairly light breeze, but visibility has been diminishing and this is adding to the difficulties of the operation.

Mr. Aitken

In an oral Question on 23rd June this year, I urged the hon. Gentleman to tighten up the safety and seamanship regulations for tankers in the English Channel. In the light of this distressing episode, will he look again at his answers on that occasion? Is he aware that there is great anxiety among my constituents that the beaches of Broadstairs and Ramsgate may be polluted by the oil slick? Will he ensure that contingency plans are laid for a cleansing operation, particularly in relation to financial assistance to Thanet District Council and the Kent County Council? If the frigate turns out to have been at fault, will the Admiralty pay the cost of cleansing operations?

Mr. Davis

This vessel was registered in Liberia and owned by a Panamanian company, so it is a little unlikely that my Department will be able to enforce safety and seamanship regulations. I understand the hon. Member's anxiety, but he should have gauged from my answers that we are doing our very best to prevent pollution. I hope that the oil will not reach the beaches. I have already answered the hon. Member's third point. The question of who was to blame for the collision is a matter to be determined by the inquiry. The hon. Member's last question should be directed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

Mr. Faulds

Is my hon. Friend satisfied that the operation to contain the oil slick or break it up could not have started before 9 a.m.? He mentioned the bad visibility, but were there other factors in what seems to have been a somewhat tardy start to the operation?

Mr. Davis

I have already indicated that visibility was the predominant factor and I have no reason to believe that there were any other factors operating. Those who have engaged in this operation will in due course make reports to us and the matter will be fully investigated. I hope the House will not seek to allocate blame at this stage.