HC Deb 30 October 1980 vol 991 cc315-7W
Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he is satisfied that all class I trawlers sailing from Hull with mackerel licences are carrying qualified trawler radio officers.

Mr. Tebbit

The provision and qualifications of radio operators on board fishing vessels are inspected at the time of survey. Declarations of radio surveys will not be made, and United Kingdom fishing vessel certificates will not be issued, if vessels do not comply with the require- ments of the Merchant Shipping (Radio) (Fishing Vessel) Rules 1974.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) how many trawler owners of class 1 vessels have informed his Department of their vessels putting to sea without qualified trawler radio officers; and what steps his Department has taken to ensure that qualified trawler radio officers were carried, or the necessary steps were taken to seal the wireless telegraphy equipment on such vessels, or that such vessels classified were carrying two persons qualified to use the radio telephone long-distance equipment;

(2) what advice was given by his Department to trawler firms despatching class I vessels from Hull without qualified trawler radio officers;

(3) how many requests have been made to his Department for class 1 trawlers to be reclassified as class II in the current year; and how many of those vessels sail or have sailed from the port of Hull.

Mr. Tebbit

My Department has become aware of two class I trawlers, owned by the same company, putting to sea without qualified radio-telegraph operators. The owners were advised of the requirements of the Merchant Shipping (Radio) (Fishing Vessel) Rules 1974 and advised either to put qualified radio-telegraph operators on board or, provided they remain within the area specified in the rules, to install additional radio-telephone equipment appropriate to class II fishing vessels.

It is understood that additional radiotelephone equipment has been installed on board both vessels. The vessels will be resurveyed at the earliest opportunity to ensure that they comply with the provisions of the 1974 rules and advice will be given about action regarding the existing radio-telegraph installations.

My Department has received no requests for class I trawlers to be reclassified as class II in the current year with the exception of the two trawlers in question.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will publish in the Official Report the penalties which fall upon trawler owners and skippers of vessels sailing without qualified trawler radio officers where appropriate; and whether he will take steps to draw such penalties to the attention of trawler owners.

Mr. Tebbit

The owner or master of a ship which sails in contravention of the Merchant Shipping (Radio) (Fishing Vessel) Rules 1974 is liable on conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding £500 or on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £100. These penalties will be drawn to the attention of the industry at the next meeting of the Department's fishing industry safety consultative group.