§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the "Sea Base" 1.6 km floating runway recently ordered by the United States Navy will, in international law, count as a ship, and if not, how will it be classified.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Baroness Hayman)I have asked the Chief Executive of the Marine Safety Agency, Mr. Robin Bradley, to write to my noble friend.
Letter to Lord Kennet from the Chief Executive of the Marine Safety Agency, Mr. R. M. Bradley, dated 26 June 1997.
The Deputy Prime Minister has asked me to reply to your Question as to whether the "Sea Base" 1.6 km floating runway recently ordered by the United States Navy will, in international law, count as a ship, and, if not, how it will be classified.
The classification in international law of a proposed floating runway will depend on its nature and on where and how it is to be used. I have no details of the proposal and so I am not able to offer a more specific comment. If you have any information which you wish to forward to me. I would be pleased to try to give further advice.