HC Deb 15 February 1980 vol 978 cc861-3W
Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the numbers of serious maritime accidents involving ships (a) registered in, (b) owned by and (c) with masters from, the following countries, for each of the last five years for which statistics are available: Greece, West Germany, the USA, Denmark, France, Holland, the United Kingdom, Norway, Italy, Belgium, Japan, Sweden, Canada, the USSR, Spain and Portugal.

Mr. Tebbit

[pursuant to his reply, 13 February 1980]: The number of casualties to United Kingdom registered ships, excluding fishing vessels, involving total loss, constructive total loss, major damage, or any loss of life in the five years 1974–1978 were as follows:

1974 305
1975 239
1976 133
1977 46
1978 64

Under the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Acts all ships on the United Kingdom register are required to be British owned and, with certain very limited exceptions, commanded by a British national.

Corresponding details relating to non-United Kingdom registered ships are not available from Departmental statistics.

Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list for each of the last five years the names of ships which have (a) been involved in serious collisions and (b) sunk in United Kingdom territorial waters, indicating (i) ownership, (ii) country of registration and (iii) nationality of master.

Mr. Tebbit

[pursuant to his reply, 13 February 1980): The names of United Kingdom registered ships, excluding fishing vessels, involved in serious collision or lost in United Kingdom territorial waters in the five years 1974–1978 are as follows:

Serious Collisions (not involving loss) Total Losses
1974—Nil 1974—3
"Greta C"
"Kaffir"
"Medusa"
1975—1 1975—4
"Masterman" "Playfair Lady"
"Sinah"
"Raylight"
"Questing"
1976—1 1976—1
"Instow" "Wilmere"
1977—Nil 1977—Nil
1978—Nil 1978—7
"Nova L"
Leslie H"
"Reseberry"
"Margaret Smith"
"Lee James"
Gulliver"
"Coastal Emperor"

Under the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Acts all ships on the United Kingdom register are required to be British owned and, with certain very limited exceptions, commanded by a British national.

Corresponding details relating to non-United Kingdom registered ships are not available from Departmental statistics.