§ Mr. LoydenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the results of his assessment of the further work required to be undertaken to identify the cause of the sinking of the MV Derbyshire; and if he will make a statement. [4119]
§ Sir George YoungI have today published Lord Donaldson's assessment. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House and are available in the Vote Office.
The formal investigation in 1987 into the loss of the Derbyshire decided that
…the Derbyshire was probably overwhelmed by the forces of nature in Typhoon Orchidand added that
the evidence available does not support any firmer conclusion".Following the discovery in. June 1994 of the wreckage of the Derbyshire during a search sponsored by the International Transport Workers Federation, my predecessor appointed the right hon. Lord Donaldson of Lymington to undertake an assessment of what further work might be undertaken to seek to determine the actual cause of the loss of the Derbyshire, together with assessments of the costs involved, the likelihood of establishing the cause and the likely benefits to ship safety.
Lord Donaldson has recommended that a second, and final, re-examination of the wreck should be carried out, at a cost which he estimates at around £2 million. He believes there is a compelling case for, seeking to establish the cause of the loss, with resulting benefits to ship safety.
I have decided to accept his recommendation. The timing of his re-examination will depend on making the necessary arrangements—drawing up a specification, inviting tenders and selecting a contractor—and will take place as soon as practicable in either spring 1996 or spring 1997. I have raised within the European Commission the possibility of sharing the costs with it, as the potential benefits are not confirmed to British ships and seafarers. The Commission has confirmed its readiness to assist financially.