§ Lord KENNETasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in the event of no equipment being locally available for offloading a liquefied gas carrier, they are empowered in national or international law to requisition an empty liquefied gas carrier for such a purpose.
§ Lord TREFGARNEThe Government do not have power, under national or international law, to requisition a liquefied gas carrier for the purpose of off-loading the cargo of another such ship
However, the 1973 Protocol Relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Marine Pollution by Substances other than Oil does confer power on a State to intervene in a casualty which presents a grave and imminent danger of pollution by such substances. These powers include the giving of directions in certain circumstances—to the owner in possession of the ship, the master or salvour in possession or his servant or agent.
The United Kingdom ratified the Protocol on 5th November 1979 and will be shortly taking powers to implement it.