§ Mr. Muddasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under what circumstances two different positions were given as the loss-point of m.v. "Germania"; and what distances from the 20W nearest point of the coastline of Cornwall, were, respectively, involved.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantI know of only one position, at latitude 49 10 N, and longitude 03 53 W, published in Lloyd's List, given for the point at which the vessel sank, although this has been described colloquially in a number of different ways. The point is 69 miles from Black Head, Cornwall.
§ Mr. Muddasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimated quantity and nature of chemicals carried aboard m.v. "Germania" remained unidentified as at 22nd January, 1972.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantBy 22nd January, the nature of all chemical cargoes on "Germania" had been positively established with the sole exception of seven drums of a substance described in the manifest as "catalyseur". More detailed information since received from Antwerp indicates that this is a harmless substance used in foundry work.
§ Mr. Muddasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what dates, respectively, the translation of the cargo manifest of m.v. "Germania" showed 1,000 and 3,000 drums, respectively, of potentially hazardous cargo; and under what circumstances this difference was discovered.
§ Mr. Anthony Grant; The figure of 1,000 drums did not derive from the cargo manifest. It was provided on 14th January by Union Carbide representatives and related only to the quantity of that company's products which it was able to confirm were on board "Germania" before it sank. Details of the vessel's full manifest began to arrive on 17th January when it became evident that the full cargo of chemicals (including Union Carbide products) was approximately approximately 3,000 drums.
§ Mr. Muddasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry where the m.v. "Germania" now lies, and at what disstance from the nearest utilised section of the Hurd Deep.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantI understand that the vessel lies at latitude 49 10 N and longitude 03 53 W. This point is some 11 miles from the nearest part of Hurd Deep.