Marine Safety (Hansard, 23 June 1994)

§ Mr. Ainger
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the results of the survey on port reception facilities by the Marine Safety Agency will be published; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Norris
The survey on port reception facilities being undertaken by the Marine Safety Agency is in two parts; a survey questionnaire and an independent research project to assess the quality of the facilities provided. The results of the research project will be published when it is completed in September 1994.

§ Mr. Ainger
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what proportion of ships entering United Kingdom ports request the use of oily waste reception facilities and other reception facilities; and how many, and what proportion, actually use them.

§ Mr. Norris
The Marine Safety Agency does not maintain statistics of the number of ships requesting and using oily waste and other reception facilities at United Kingdom ports and this information could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The research currently being undertaken to assess the quality of facilities provided in United Kingdom ports will, however, identify whether any specific restrictions are placed on the use of the facilities provided. Results of the research project will be published when it is completed in September 1994.

§ Mr. Ainger
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the charges imposed by each port for the use of oily waste reception facilities.
310W

§ Mr. Norris
The Marine Safety Agency is currently undertaking a comprehensive survey to assess the quality of reception facilities provided in United Kingdom ports. The survey will indicate the level of charges for the use of oily waste reception facilities and the extent to which they are integrated into harbour fees. Consideration will be given as to what useful information might be published when the results of the survey have been evaluated.

§ Mr. Ainger
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those ports which require pre-sorting of waste before ships can use oily waste reception facilities.

§ Mr. Norris
The nature of oily waste reception facilities is such that pre-sorting is not necessary.

§ Mr. Ainger
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies his Department has done of the cost-effectiveness for potential users of port waste facilities; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Norris
The Department commissioned research into the provision of reception facilities in United Kingdom ports in September 1991. This survey on oily waste and garbage reception facilities, undertaken by Liverpool university, concluded that at the ports visited facilities existed or could be made available to meet the requirements of MARPOL. There was no evidence of a policy of overcharging, but the arrangements for small amounts of garbage were not considered adequate. The research currently being undertaken by the Marine Safety Agency into port reception facilities will provide a comprehensive picture of the current situation.