HL Deb 02 August 1978 vol 395 cc1303-4WA
Lord KENNET

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the traffic separation schemes, established by the Soviet Union, and listed in Notice 17 in the Annual Summary of Admiralty Notices to Mariners of 1st January 1978 (pages 111, 114, 115) have yet been notified to, and approved by, IMCO; and if not whether they are considered to be mandatory on all ships, and if mandatory, on what grounds, and if not mandatory, why not.

Baroness STEDMAN

The scheme at the Southern Approaches to the Kerch-Yenikale strait was approved by IMCO on 15th May 1978. The other schemes have not been submitted to IMCO hut, as they are either wholly or largely in Soviet territorial waters, they do not require IMCO's approval. The latter schemes are recommended for use by all ships and are not mandatory. It would be for the Soviet Government to say why they have not been made so.