§ Lord AVEBURYasked Her Majesty's Government:
What measures they take to ensure that skippers and crews of North Sea rescue vessels remain sober when on duty.
§ Lord TREFGARNEThe owners, managers, masters and charterers of offshore stand-by vessels are responsible for 387WA taking such steps as they consider necessary to ensure that the masters and crews of these vessels are not incapable of performing their duties through alcoholic drink. However, the Department of Trade intends soon to consult the industry about the desirability of making regulations which would make it a criminal offence to take on board a stand-by vessel any liquor for which permission had been given neither by the owner nor the master. In the meantime the department is prepared to approve, where there is no objection, any applications for the inclusion in crew agreements of contractual clauses designed to ban or control drink aboard stand-by vessels and to give the owner a right to search crew members and their baggage.
It is already a criminal offence under Section 27 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1970 for the master or a member of the crew of a ship to act or omit to act as a result of being under the influence of drink in such a way as is likely to cause the loss or destruction of, or serious damage to, the ship, its machinery, navigational equipment or safety equipment or to the death or serious injury of any person on board. In the case of certificated officers, the Secretary of State may additionally take away a certificate of competency following an inquiry or as a result of a criminal prosecution.