§ Dr. A. Thompsonasked the Minister of Transport whether he will investigate the danger to merchant ships caused by vulnerable wooden hatch covers which can result in the flooding of the forward compartments and the shifting of cargo during heavy gales; and whether he will take steps to ensure that such ships are equipped with all-steel hatch covers of a strength approximately that of the unpierced deck.
§ Mr. MarplesSafety requirements for hatch covers are laid down in the Load Line Rules, 1959, made under the Merchant Shipping (Safety and Load Line Convention) Act, 1932. Wooden and steel hatch covers each have advantages as well as disadvantages. I do not think it would be practical to require hatch covers to be as strong as the unpierced deck, which is an essential factor in the longitudinal strength of the ship. The requirements for hatch covers will be reviewed internationally at the proposed Load Line Conference in the spring of 1966.