Ferry Safety (Hansard, 20 June 1988)

§ Dr. Godman
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to seek to amend his powers to enforce safety improvements in ferry design on United Kingdom and foreign flagged ferries.

§ Mr. David Mitchell
No. I have the powers that I need under the Merchant Shipping Acts.

§ 34. Mr. Nellist
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied that the IMO is in a position to agree improvements in ferry safety within acceptable time scales.

§ Mr. David Mitchell
In April this year the maritime safety committee of the IMO adopted amendments to the safety of life at sea convention 1974 in the minimum time permitted by the articles of that convention. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has already introduced regulations that apply those amendments to ships using our ports.

§ 45. Mr. Pendry
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what comments he has received from the IMO concerning his Department's research into roll-on roll-off ferry safety.

§ Mr. David Mitchell
Such comments as individual members of IMO have made 'welcomed my Department's research into ferry safety.

§ 47. Mr. Skinner
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions lie has had with the IMO concerning ferry safety.

§ Mr. David Mitchell
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State addressed the 15th session of the assembly of the International Maritime Organisation on 9 November last year when he impressed on representatives the United Kingdom Government's's concern to secure early international agreement on measures to ensure the highest safety standards for roll-on roll-off ferries. The assembly sympathised with and supported this concern. TheMaritime Safety committee, at its April meeting, considered and endorsed our first package of proposals on ferry safety, including new international requirements on indicator lights, television surveillance and supplementary emergency lighting. The committee also agreed, with the United Kingdom's active support, upon new damage stability requirements for passenger ships, as explained in the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Dover (Mr. Shaw) on 19 May, Official Report, columns 524–25.