§ Mr. David MartinTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps the Government have taken since Lord Cullen's report to improve the standard of standby vessels serving oil and gas installations on the United Kingdom continental shelf.
§ Mr. ForthThe Health and Safety Executive and the Department of Transport have today jointly published a revised code for the assessment of the suitability of standby vessels attending offshore installations. The revised code has been produced in consultation with the vessel owners, offshore operators and the unions and incorporates specific improvements to standby vessels recommended by Lord Cullen in his report into the Piper Alpha tragedy.
New vessels and conversions should comply with the code immediately. For existing vessels, compliance will be phased, but vessels should fully meet the requirements of the code by 31 December 1992. The United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association has agreed that standby vessels will be chartered only if they meet these requirements.
The revised code should make a very real contribution to raising the standards of standby vessels, their equipment and rescue facilities.
I have arranged for copies of the code to be placed in the Library.