§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cases his Department has recorded in the last five years of passenger ferries which use(a) the English Channel and (b) the North sea routes from United Kingdom ports violating international regulations in respect of the minimum distance between bow doors; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NorrisThis is an operational matter for the Marine Safety Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr Martin Redmond, dated 3 March 1995:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of passenger ferries, using the North Sea and Channel, that have been found violating international regulations in respect of the distance between bow doors.
In the past five years five ferries operating in the Channel, and two operating in the North Sea, have been found, by the Marine Safety Agency, not to comply with the provisions of international regulations regarding the position of the collision bulkhead and the extension above the car deck. All have now been modified to comply.