§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps he is taking to ensure that vessels using the English Channel abide by the regulations covering the navigation of ships in the area.
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§ Mr. ShoreThe responsibility for ensuring compliance with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea rests with the flag State, in the English Channel and elsewhere. Contraventions of these regulations which come to the notice of the United Kingdom authorities are investigated with a view to prosecution of any British vessel involved in representations to the appropriate flag State. Permanent radar surveillance is maintained in the Dover Strait, and substantial numbers of vessels contravening the traffic separation scheme regulations are identified by patrol craft.
Observance of such schemes is mandatory for British and certain foreign ships, and ships of most flags will be required to comply under the revised International Collision Regulations which are expected to come into force in a little over one year's time. Further discussions with the French authorities on maritime safety in the Channel will shortly take place.