HC Deb 28 April 1971 vol 816 cc142-3W
Rev. Ian Paisley

asked the Minister of State for Defence what was the total cost of the launch which accompanied the launch "Stork" and which was damaged recently by the Irish Republican Army in Baltimore Harbour, County Cork; what was the extent of the damage; where she was built; and on what date she was launched.

Mr. Kirk

The R.N. Survey Launch "Puffin" was built by Camper Nicholson Ltd. in the Isle of Wight at a cost of about £3,500 and entered service in 1964. The amount of damage she incurred in the recent incident was negligible.

Rev. Ian Paisley

asked the Minister of State for Defence what was the total cost of the hydrographic survey launch "Stork" which was sunk recently by the Irish Republican Army in Baltimore Harbour, County Cork; where she was built; and on what date she was launched.

Mr. Kirk

The R.N. Survey Launch "Stork" was built by Saro Ltd. in Beaumaris, Anglesey, at a cost of about £14,000 and entered service in 1964.

Rev. Ian Paisley

asked the Minister of State for Defence what survey equipment was lost or damaged as the result of the recent sinking of the launch "Stork" and the damage to her accompanying launch; and what the value was of this equipment.

Mr. Kirk

Most of the equipment on board the "Stork" at the time of the incident was salvaged by a working party from H.M.S. "Hecate" on 22nd April. Some of this equipment was damaged and requires repair, but the exact cost of making good the damage is still to be assessed. The only major piece of equipment lost was the precision echo-sounding set, valued at about £2,000.

Rev. Ian Paisley

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the estimated time that the particular survey project on which the launch "Stork" was engaged will be delayed as the result of her sinking.

Mr. Kirk

None. This particular survey had already been completed.

Rev. Ian Paisley

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many hydro-graphic survey launches the Royal Navy has in operation; where they were built; and when they were launched.

Mr. Kirk

There are a total of 41 hydrographic survey launches in the Royal Navy, of which 4 are in reserve. They have been constructed in various commercial boat yards in the United Kingdom over the past 20 years or so.

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