HC Deb 28 January 1987 vol 109 cc253-4W
Mr. Chris Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Transport which noxious liquid substances Her Majesty's Government intend to provide reception facilities for, on implementation of MARPOL (international convention for the prevention of pollution from ships), Annex II, on 6 April.

Mr. Michael Spicer

Reception facilities will be required on the entry into force on 6 April 1987 of annex II of the MARPOL convention. The requirement for these facilities is restricted to those chemical cargoes designated in the convention as being of category A and a restricted range of cargoes categories B and C which have high viscosity or low melting points.

The Government policy for complying with these requirements are set out in the Merchant Shipping Prevention of Policy (Reception Facilities) Order 1984. This order imposes the duty to provide these reception facilities upon harbours and terminals at which these substances are unloaded.

Mr. Chris Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Transport on what day in April he intends to introduce the requirement to ensure provision of reception facilities in United Kingdom ports for residues and mixtures of noxious liquid substances first proposed within the international convention for the prevention of pollution from ships.

Mr. Michael Spicer

The Merchant Shipping, Prevention of Pollution (Reception Facilities) Order 1984 contains the requirement to ensure the provision of reception facilities, in relevant harbours or terminals for residues and mixtures for noxious liquid substances. It is the intention that this requirement will take effect from the 6 April 1987.

Mr. Chris Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Transport at what day in July 1984 the requirement was introduced to ensure provision of reception facilities in United Kingdom ports for oily waste proposed within the international convention for the prevention of pollution from ships.

Mr. Michael Spicer

The requirement to provide reception facilities for oily waste from ships in United Kingdom ports, the Prevention of Pollution (Reception Facilities) Order 1984, came into operation on 25 July 1984. That order gave effect to the relevant provisions of annex I of the international convention and the protocol to that convention, known as MARPOL 73/78.