§ Sir R. Russellasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to make collisions in fog less likely in the English Channel.
§ Mr. MasonThe navigation of ships is governed by the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea. Revised Regulations were agreed at an International Conference on the Safety of Life at Sea in 1960. They will come into force on 1st September, 1965, and 301W will apply to the ships of most countries including British ships from that date. The Regulations contain, among other things, recommendations about the use of radar information as an aid to the avoidance of collisions at sea. These recommendations were brought to the notice of mariners in December, 1960, in Ministry of Transport Notice No. 445. The Board of Trade and the Ministry of Transport have issued other information and advice about the use of radar, including a booklet "Shipborne Radar" which has had a wide circulation throughout the world.
Certain British deck officers have been required since 1957 to obtain Radar Observers' Certificates and radar simulator courses are provided for senior officers.
Discussions are taking place between the Governments concerned about the possibility of introducing special arrangements for navigation in the Strait of Dover.