§ Mr. Spenceasked the Secretary of State for Trade what safety regulations have been implemented since the loss of the trawler "Gaul"; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisThe Fishing Vessels (Safety Provisions) Rules, which came into force on 1st May 1975, were strengthened at the drafting stage in respect of arrangements to enable water to clear from the deck. The Merchant Shipping (Radio) (Fishing Vessels) Rules, which came into force on 1st January 1975, represent a significant increase in safety communications in fishing vessels.
Consultations have also taken place with the fishing industry on the coverage and effectiveness of position reporting schemes for deep sea and inshore fishing vessels.
I should also like to take this opportunity to report on the progress of the long-range alerting and locating systems for maritime emergencies which I announced in January. The evaluation phase has now been completed and a contractor has been selected to proceed with a project definition study. I hope to be able to report on the outcome early next year.