§ 2.5 p.m.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what conclusions were reached at the conference of the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation in London on 6th July last.
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, the conference adopted the first International Convention on Standards of Training Certification and Watch Keeping for Seafarers together with 23 resolutions many of which reinforce the Convention by recommending additional procedures. Included in the Convention are mandatory minimum requirements covering the training and certification of deck, engine and radio departments as well as special training requirements for masters, officers and ratings of tankers. Her Majesty's Government have warmly welcomed this major step forward towards improved maritime safety and have begun an urgent examination of the final text of the Convention in preparation for its earliest possible ratification by the United Kingdom. I will circulate further information in the Official Report.
§
Following is the information referred to:
The provisions of the Convention include mandatory basic principles to be observed in keeping navigational and engineering watches at sea and, where necessary, in port; and lay down mandatory minimum requirements for the certification of masters, engineer officers, chief mates and others in charge of, or forming part of, a watch. Provisions are made for engineer officers in charge of a watch in a traditionally manned engine room or the designated engineer officer in a perodicially unmanned engine room. Radio watchkeeping and maintenance is covered in the radio section where mandatory minimum requirements for certification of radio officer, radio operators and radio telephone operators is established. For all three Departments there are provisions to ensure continued proficiency and up-dating of knowledge.
In addition to regulations and supporting recommendations dealing with the special training of masters, officers and ratings of oil, chemical and liquefied gas tankers, a separate Chapter specifies mandatory minimum requirements for the issue of certificates of proficiency in survival craft.
The Convention, like most recent IMCO Conventions, incorporates the "tacit acceptance"
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procedure which is designed to speed up the process whereby it can be amended and up-dated. It will enter into force 12 months after being accepted by 25 States owning between them 50 per cent. of the world's gross tonnage of merchant shipping.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. Does this not illustrate the important function of the United Nations in dealing with serious problems of this kind? Will not the Convention mean that the danger of the pollution of coasts will be minimised, and, in addition to the Government ratifying this, will they urge on the economic arm of the United Nations that they should encourage the necessary 25 nations to do it?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy noble friend is quite right, my Lords, in that this is an important step towards trying to minimise the kind of tanker incidents we are seeing too frequently these days. I am sure the United Kingdom, one of the major maritime nations, will use every influence it has to achieve ratification generally as soon as possible.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, has the Convention governing compensation for damage by pollution now been ratified by the necessary eight countries?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, that is another question; I was talking only about the Convention on Standards of Training.
Lord CAMPBELL of CROYMy Lords, as there is considerable public anxiety in this country about the serious accidents that have occurred owing to human errors, may I ask the noble Lord whether he can give any indication when there will be enough ratifications deposited for this Convention to come into force?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, although I speak without precise knowledge, I think it would be fairly soon because it will enter into force 12 months after being accepted by 25 States owning between them 50 per cent. of the world's gross tonnage; the United Kingdom and four or five major Powers could perhaps get it through on their own.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, is it not the case, however, that 25 Governments have to ratify this Convention? 645 According to precedent, that will take a long time. Will Her Majesty's Government therefore urge the economic arm of the United Nations, as I have suggested, to encourage ratification by other Governments?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, I am certain we will use every lever at our disposal to achieve ratification. As I said, we are working for its earliest possible ratification by this country.