§ Mr. Peter Reesasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many recorded incidents involving a collision or the grounding of a ship have taken place in each of the past five years in the Straits of Dover; what ships were involved; and in what countries they were registered.
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§ Mr. John DaviesThe number of collisions in each of the past five years in the Straits of Dover were as follows:
June-May, 1966–67 … … … 3 June-May, 1967–68 … … … 5 June-May, 1968–69 … … … 13 June-May, 1969–70 … … … 9 June-May, 1970–71 … … … 14 The further and more detailed information requested cannot be obtained without undue expenditure of time and money.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the incident concerning the United States Anti-Submarine Carrier "Intrepid" sailing through the Varne danger area in the English Channel.
§ Mr. John DaviesOn 27th May at about 16.40 the United States Navy ship "Intrepid" seemed about to pass between the two wreck-marking vessels. After these vessels had made appropriate signals the "Intrepid" immediately altered course and cleared the danger area safely.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the incident concerning the unknown vessel which sailed through the Varne danger area in the English Channel, as reported by the Varne lightship on Sunday, 30th May, 1971.
§ Mr. John DaviesOn 30th May, at about 2.30 a.m., an unidentified vessel on a south-west course passed between the two Trinity House wreck-marking vessels. The wreck-marking vessels made warning signals and the vessel cleared the wreck area safely.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many vessels have been reported as having sailed through the Varne area since the sinkings of the "Brandenberg", "Nicki" and "Texaco Caribbean".
§ Mr. John DaviesEighteen vessels have been so reported.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he now intends to take following the two 331W Safety at Sea conferences under the auspices of the Inter-governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation to make the English Channel safer for shipping; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John DaviesAs my hon. Friend said in the reply to the right hon. Member on 20th May, he hopes soon to make a statement about this.