HC Deb 07 August 1980 vol 990 cc242-3W
Mr. Thornton

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement about the engine failure of the SS "Southern Cross" off the Isles of Scilly on 1 August.

Mr. Tebbit

At 0850 BST on Friday 1 August, the Greek Tanker SS "Southern Cross" reported that she had stopped with engine failure some 6½ miles south of the Scilly Isles. She was bound for Limerick carrying 44,000 tons of fuel oil.

The vessel was being carried away from the Scilly Isles by the tide and work was put in hand by the crew to repair the fault. Meanwhile five salvage tugs were making for the vessel and the first would have arrived at 1330 BST. However, at 1230 BST the repairs had been completed and she resumed her voyage.

The coastguards and the marine pollution control unit in my Department monitored the situation and were in frequent touch with the vessel, the owner's

Original European Community
("The Six") Commonwealth
1972 1979 1972 1979
Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent.
Total United Kingdom imports 25 37 19 11
Total United Kingdom exports 23 33 18 12
Imports of food 12 25 36 26
Exports of manufactures 22 31 19 14
Source: United Kingdom Overseas Trade Statistics (Food: SITC/R1 and R2 section 0; Manufactures: SITC/R1 and R2 sections 5–8 inclusive).
Notes:
(i)Figures for the Commonwealth in 1972 ignore trade with Bangladesh.
(ii)Figures for exports of manufactures are in accordance with the first revision of the standard international trade classification for 1972 and the second revision for 1979.
(iii)The effect of these inconsistencies is considered negligible.

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