§ Mr. Robert Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will conduct a full investigation into reports that North Sea stand-by vessels are flouting safety guidelines agreed between his Department and the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EyreMy Department is already carrying out a thorough investigation into the reports in question and this will be completed as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Robert Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he will replace guidelines on stand-by safety vessels for North Sea oil operations by legally binding regulations;
(2) if he is satisfied with the standards and design of vessels employed as stand-by safety vessels for North Sea oil operations;
(3) if he will undertake a comprehensive review into standards of safety operations, including crew training, of stand-by safety vessels employed in North Sea oil operations.
§ Mr. Robert Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish in the Official Report in respect of vessels employed as stand-by safety vessels for North Sea oil operation a list showing (a) the number, (b) the age of vessels, and (c) if speficially built for the purpose.
§ Mr. EyreOn 1 April 1981 there were 148 vesels with valid stand-by vessel certificates of survey, of which four were built prior to 1955; 90 in the period 1955–64; 38—1965–74—and 16 in the period 1975 to date.
All of these vessels have been surveyed by my Department and assessed as suitable for attending offshore installations. Whilst none was purpose-built solely for a stand-by vessel role, a number have been built with relevant multi-operational capabilities or have undergone appropriate reconstruction and re-equipment for compliance with the so-called stand-by vessel code.
§ Mr. Robert Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Trade how often his Department monitors adherence to the code of practice for stand-by safety vessels employed in North Sea oil operations; and what enforcement methods are, available to his Department where breaches come to his Department's attention.
§ Mr. EyreStand-by vessel certificates of survey are subject to annual renewal and liable to periodic checks on validity. Stand-by vessels are also liable to random general safety inspections when in United Kingdom ports and, for breaches of marine safety regulations, to penalties laid down under the Merchant Shipping Acts. Additionally, by agreement with the United Kingdom offshore operators, the employment of stand-by vessels is conditional upon the possession and annual renewal of the certificate of survey.
§ Mr. Robert Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Trade when his Department last held discussions with 17W operators in North Sea oil fields on safety matters; and if he will publish in the Official Report the number of meetings and topics discussed in each of the last three years.
§ Mr. EyreIn the period 1978–80 13 meetings were held; three of these were with represenative bodies and the remainder with individual stand-by vessel operators. The representative meetings, the last of which was in January 1980, were concerned with revision of the stand-by vessel code, and related safety and operational matters.