§ Mr. Robert Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, North on 6 February, Official Report, c. 453, he will now consider amending the Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods) Regulations to prohibit the deck storage of poisonous chemicals.
§ Mr. David MitchellDetailed conditions for the carriage by sea of packaged dangerous goods, including poisonous chemicals, are set out in the international maritime dangerous goods code—IMDG code.
This code has been developed and is maintained under continual review by the International Maritime Organisation at which the United Kingdom is fully represented.
It is implicit in the Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods) Regulations that carriage of dangerous goods in compliance with requirements of the IMDG code in relation to their marking, packaging, documentation and stowage will be regarded as complying with our regulations.
In explanation, there is international acceptance that it is easier, safer and more effective to deal with spillage of chemicals resulting from damage to packages if they are stowed on the open deck and that the safety of the ship and the lives of her crew take precedence over the possible loss of cargo to the sea. The IMDG code indicates therefore for each chemical whether stowage of that chemical may be allowed under deck or whether, as in the case of the more dangerous chemicals, it must be stowed on the open deck only.
I am in agreement with these principles and consequently do not consider any amendment to the Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods) Regulations to be necessary at this time.