§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations his Department has received on the Seahorse and Exodus incident of March 1997; if his Department has been informed of the findings of the investigation; if he will deposit those findings in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [74440]
§ Dr. ReidA collision occurred between the United Kingdom registered fishing vessel Seahorse and the Irish registered fishing vessel Exodus in Bantry Bay, Ireland in March 1997. One crew member of the Exodus died. The Marine Accidents Investigation Branch undertook an Inspector's Investigation into the incident. The Inspector's report has not been published but a copy was forwarded to the Irish Maritime Authorities. The collision took place in Irish waters and the Irish Maritime Authorities are undertaking their own investigation into the incident. Their report will be published in due course. Following the incident the master of the Seahorse was successfully prosecuted by the Irish Authorities for a breach of the International Collision Regulations.