§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Trade what effective action can be taken on human fallibility which accounts for some 80 per cent. of tanker accidents.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisWhile human fallibility will remain a factor, the most effective action is to maintain high standards of training and certification of seafarers.
The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, represents a great step forward in international standards. The United Kingdom, which already maintains high standards, aims to ratify the convention next year and to encourage other member countries of the Inter-governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation to do likewise.
§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Trade if the"Eleni V"and"Christos Bitas"incidents come within the generality of spills on which the Department's policy on massive oil pollution is based; and if he will ensure that future policies will include provision for such incidents.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisWe would consider the quantities of oil spilled by the"Eleni V"and the"Christos Bitas"as falling at the upper end of the range covering the generality of spills. As is well known, the type of oil spilled by the"Eleni V"presented particular difficulties. The operation to deal at sea with the oil spilled from the"Christos Bitas"was very successful.
§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will ensure that there are adequate resources in terms of salvage vessels and equipment to deal with a major tanker accident in United Kingdom coastal waters.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisI refer my hon. Friend to the written answer which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade gave to my hon. Friend the38W hon. Member for Middleton and Prestwich (Mr. Callaghan) on 23 February; to the report of the group on salvage published as part of"Improved Arrangements to Combat Pollution at Sea "; and to our decision to purchase two caches of specialised equipment for use in offloading a stricken tanker of its cargo.
§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Trade when he expects international agreements on oil pollution to be implemented and fully effective; and to what extent he expects them to reduce the risk of tanker accidents.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisA number of international agreements relating to shipping safety and pollution prevention have been agreed but have not yet come into force. I expect the 1974 Safety of Life at Sea Convention to come into effect next year and the pollution conventions a year or two later. Taken together, these agreements should make a material contribution to our continuing efforts to reduce the risk of tanker accidents and to prevent pollution.