§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the occasions when he has ordered a formal investigation into a shipping casualty under sections 55 and 56 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1970 when no casualties or loss of life has occurred as provided for in section 32 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1979;
(2) if he will provide a reference for a comprehensive list of, or list in the Official Report, the occasions since 1979 when he or his predecessors have ordered a formal investigation into shipping casualties as provided for in sections 55 and 56 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1970, stating in each case any loss of life arising from the incident.
§ Mr. Norris[holding answer 1 February 1995]: From January 1979, formal investigations were ordered on the following occasions:
Commencement Date Vessel(s) Name(s) Type of Casualty June 1979 MV Hero Loss of vessel with loss of one life July 1979 MVF Boston Sea Ranger Loss of vessel with loss of five lives December 1979 MVF Do It Again Loss of vessel with loss of two lives November 1980 MV Pool Fisher Loss of vessel with loss of 13 lives January 1981 MV Kurdistan Breaking in two of vessel, no loss of life March 1983 RNLB Solomon Browne and MV Union Star Loss of both vessels with loss of 16 lives July 1983 MV Grainville Loss of vessel with loss of three lives November 1983 MV European Gateway MV Speedlink Vanguard Collision resulting in loss of one vessel with loss of six lives October 1985 Auxiliary Barque Marques Loss of vessel with loss of 19 lives April 1987 MV Herald of Free Enterprise Capsizing of vessel with loss of 188 lives October 1987 MV Derbyshire Loss of vessel with loss of 44 lives March 1990 MFV Boy Andrew Stranding and loss of vessel No loss of life