§ Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he will publish in the Official Report the numbers and flags of sub-standard ships detained in United Kingdom ports, identifying the ports in question, in each of the years 1976 to 1980 and up to the present time in 1981;
(2) if he will outline in the Official Report the steps which are currently taken by officials in his Department to examine, in respect of ships calling at British ports, certificates that such ships meet the provisions of the relevant international convention regarding construction and equipment; and what is the number of ships that have been detained pursuant thereto and the number of prosecutions resulting over the last two years.
§ Mr. Eyre[pursuant to his reply, 19 May 1981, c. 50]: Ships in United Kingdom ports are subject to random general inspections for compliance with national and international safety requirements. There were no prosecutions in the years 1979–80, but 51 vessels were detained on safety grounds in the years 1976–81 to date as follows:
which are currently taken by officials in his Department to examine, in respect of ships calling at British ports, certificates of competency relating to members of the crews of such ships; and how many were found to be invalid or to have expired over the last two years.
§ Mr. Eyre[pursuant to his reply, 19 May 1981, c. 50]: For United Kingdom registered ships checks on certificates of competency are effected through on-board 87W inspections and in-office examinations of crew agreements. Certificates of competency remain valid unless suspended or withdrawn. No central record is maintained of certification deficiencies and the information could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.
For foreign registered ships, regulations to permit the inspection of certificates of competency are in the course of preparation in accordance with the United Kingdom's commitments following ratification of the international convention on standards of training and watchkeeping.