§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what actions he will take following the conclusion of the inquiry into the sinking of the MV Derbyshire. [138263]
§ Mr. HillI refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 8 November 2000,Official Report, columns 239–40W about the MV Derbyshire Report.
The Honourable Mr. Justice Colman's report was published on 8 November 2000, and copies have been placed in the Commons Library.
Mr. Justice Colman made a total of twenty—four recommendations to enhance bulk carrier safety and safety generally. These are addressed to the Department, Lloyds Register of Shipping, the International Association of Classification Societies and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). In consultation with the others to whom recommendations are addressed, the Department will prepare a response to each of the recommendations.
17WThis response will be presented to Parliament. In this respect the Department will give urgent consideration, in particular, to the recommendations that the IMO should revise the relevant provisions of the International Load Line Convention 1966 and that any enhanced requirements concerning hatch cover strength should also apply to existing ships.