Port State Control (Hansard, 6 February 1992)

HL Deb 06 February 1992 vol 535 cc337-8 337

§ Lord Murray of Epping Forest asked Her Majesty's Government:

§ Whether they are satisfied with the operation of port state control in the United Kingdom and in the rest of the European Community.

§ The Minister of State, Department of Transport (Lord Brabazon of Tara)
My Lords, we will only be satisfied when safety on ships of all flags is raised to the highest standard. The memorandum of understanding on port state control is proving very successful and is increasingly admired around the world. The United Kingdom has an excellent record in consistently exceeding the inspection target for foreign ships set by the memorandum. Elsewhere in Europe the overall inspection rates have been improving and are now close to target.

§ Lord Murray of Epping Forest
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. I note his reference to the other ports in Europe and also to the great improvement registered in Britain. In order to compare the effectiveness of the system in other ports in Europe, can he direct my attention to any single table which shows comparative performances? I have not been able to find one. Can he confirm that Greece, Spain and Portugal are significantly below the 10 per cent. level compared with the 25 per cent. target and with what I think must now be well over 30 per cent. in the United Kingdom?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, I cannot give figures for individual countries. The port state control secretariat publishes an annual report. Overall, the inspection rate in the region is over 20 per cent. and has been rising on average by about 1 per cent. each year over the past seven years. That is encouraging. We aim to reach a target which would mean that 80 per cent. of individual ships visiting ports in the region are inspected over a 12-month period.

The Earl of Halsbury
My Lords, will the Minister inform the House what the words "port state control"—three nouns in apposition—mean?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, when a foreign ship comes into port it is inspected by the authorities in that country for a number of different things to make sure that it is complies with international safety conventions.

§ Lord Geddes
My Lords, is my noble friend aware that Sub-Committee I of your Lordships' Select Committee on Science and Technology has just completed—literally two days ago—its year-long 338 inquiry into the safety aspects of ship design and technology and that the resultant report will, among other topics, deal extensively with port state control?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for reminding the House of that. The Government look forward very much to receiving that report.

§ Lord Underhill
My Lords, will the Minister confirm that, although there may only be a limited number of foreign ferries involved, foreign freight ferries and some foreign roll-on roll-off ferries are covered by the control? If so, can he say how many of those vessels were inspected and what were the results? Secondly, does the operation of port state control extend to compliance with ILO Convention 147, which includes the social conditions of seafarers? The conditions of seafarers are vital for safety on board ships.

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, in answer to the noble Lord's first question, I cannot give a breakdown by type of foreign ships inspected by port state control. However, I can tell him that any kind of foreign ship is subject to port state control. I can also inform the House that working and living conditions, particularly mentioned in ILO Convention 147, are indeed one of the matters covered by it.

§ Lord Murray of Epping Forest
My Lords, I note the Minister's reference to the desirability of extending port state control wider than the memorandum of understanding. Does he accept that it is desirable to support the proposal of the secretary general of the International Maritime Organisation that it should be done on a world-wide basis and that the ILO might be given powers to audit the safety provisions and achievements of individual ports?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, I note that recommendation. Port state control does not apply solely to European Community countries, as the noble Lord's Question suggests. It goes wider than that. Eleven EC members are part of it, together with Norway, Sweden and Finland. The Soviet Union was to have become a member, and I hope that Russia and the Baltic states will wish to join. In addition, the United States and Canada are active non-signatory participants. We would like to see similar arrangements operate in other parts of the world.