§ Mr. Peter Reesasked the Secretary of State for Trade what provision there is for checking the navigational and radar equipment of ships sailing in British territorial waters.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisThe direction finding equipment of all British registered 491W ships of 1,600 gross registered tons and above is annually checked by my Department's surveyors and a similar periodical survey of radar is to be introduced. Compasses are type approved at the Admiralty Compass Laboratory and installation on board is carefully checked; they are also subject to periodical checking.
In addition, both British and foreign ships are liable, whilst in British ports, to spot checks to ensure that their equipment complies with the current British and international requirements.