§ Mr. Wattasked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps are being taken in co-operation with other maritime states to raise international standards of oil tanker construction and improve the training of their crews.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisIn February of this year agreement was reached at the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation—IMCO—on protocols to two international conventions which raise tanker construction standards by requiring new crude carriers of 20,000 deadweight tons and above to be fitted with protectively located segregated ballast tanks, and making dual steering gear control systems and dual radars mandatory for tankers of 10,000 tons gross tonnage and above.
IMCO is currently holding a conference on the training and certification of seafarers which is expected to agree a convention laying down minimum standards of training for certificates of competence. We shall be proposing mandatory, rather than recommended, special training for the crews of tankers carrying oil or other noxious cargoes in bulk.