§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many British ships were(a) lost and (b) damaged whilst at sea in each year since 1997. [132288]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe numbers of United Kingdom registered merchant vessels of 100 gross tonnes1 and over lost and damaged while in coastal or high seas since 1997 are set out in the table. This table is based on accidents reported to the Marine Accident Investigation Branch of the Department for Transport.
1"British Ships" has been defined as United Kingdom Merchant Vessels of 100 gross tonnes and over.
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1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Total Constructive Total Loss1 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 Damaged 29 19 21 29 23 13 134 Total 30 19 21 29 24 13 136 1The term "constructive total loss" is used by insurance companies. It describes the situation where the ship insured is reasonably abandoned on account of its actual total loss appearing to be unavoidable, or because it could not be preserved from actual total loss without an expenditure which would exceed its value when the expenditure had been incurred.
§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the minimum strength standard that British ships are built to for(a) the hull and (b) the aft. [132289]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe detailed designs of structural elements of British ships are to standards which are maintained and published by those classification societies to which this responsibility has been delegated under the Merchant Shipping Acts. Such standards govern the hull and fittings, superstructures and machinery of ships and take into account hull form, speed, operational restraints and geographic area of operation. Minimum strength standards are dependent on the role of the specific vessel.
The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) exists as a forum for the unification of such standards. IACS publishes a number of unified requirements related to ship's structures.
§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of British ships are built to withstand freak waves while at sea. [132290]
§ Mr. JamiesonBritish vessels are designed to meet the worst waves reasonably expected in service. The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) has tables showing what wave loadings are to be used for differing service requirements. Standards for ship's structures are based on known wave environments expressed statistically and incorporate appropriate safety margins. Freak waves by definition are in excess of these expectations and therefore no ship is specifically designed to meet them.