§ Mr. Campbellasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is satisfied with the arrangements that Occidental is making for the provision of a fire-fighting vessel for the Piper and Claymore fields.
§ Dr. J. Dickson MahonI have had a number of discussions with Occidental about this. I am satisfied that it does need to have a specially designed vessel with facilities for dealing with a possible fire, blow-out or other emergency on the Piper and Claymore fields in operation by mid-1979. It was only after very careful consideration, and after I had personally been assured by British Shipbuilders and the yards concerned, including Harland and Wolff, that they could not build the vessel required in the time available that I acceded to the order being placed in Japan. This, however, followed certain understandings which I reached with Occidental. These were 17W that British firms will be given a full and fair opportunity to supply equipment to be installed in the vessel and to contribute to its operations; that Occidental will use its best endeavours to arrange for other British equity participation in the vessel; that it will be registered in the United Kingdom and will have a predominantly British crew; that it will be operated out of and be supplied from a British port; and—most importantly—that the vessel will be operational in the North Sea by mid-1979.