Merchant Shipping (Safety Standards) (Hansard, 26 June 1973)

§ Mr. Prescott

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what steps his Department has taken to institute a British inquiry into the collision between the Liberian vessel, "Tien Chee", and the "Royston Grange"; and whether the Argentine authorities will co-operate in allowing the pilot to attend and be examined;

(2) what action has his Department taken after considering the preliminary report into the loss of the vessel "Burtonia";

(3) what co-operation his Department received from the Argentine authorities over allowing their inspector to participate in their inquiry into the collision of the "Tien Chee" and the "Royston Grange";

(4) if his Department accepts the Liberian inquiry report into the collision of the vessel "Tien Chee" and "Royston Grange" and the decision of the Liberian Commissioner of Maritime Affairs based upon the report;

(5) what are the minimum requirements for manning, and certificates of competency for both deck and engine departments on a British tanker of 12,600 gross tons;

(6) what were the certificates of competency held by the officers and crew of the vessel "Royston Grange" on her last voyage;

(7) if his Department accepts Taiwan certificates of competency in the engine and deck compartments on British ships;

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(8) what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to protest to the Argentine authorities at their non-compliance with the IMCO recommendation regarding rights of interested parties to attend the inquiry held in Argentina into the collision of the "Royston Grange" and "Tien Chee".

(9) what representation Her Majesty's Government are making to the Argentine authorities about the safety of navigation for British vessels on the Punta Indio channel in the River Plate in Argentine territorial waters;

(10) whether his Department has investigated the allegation in the Liberian inquiry report into the collision of the vessel "Royston Grange" and "Tien Chee" that the radio transmitter on the "Royston Grange" was not functioning properly.