§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the sinking of an oceangoing tug off the Isle of Wight on 24 December 1984 on its way to the Falklands.
§ Mr. Stanley[pursuant to his reply, 9 January 1984, c. 460]: MV Implacable, an ocean-going tug, was chartered last year for use on naval tasks in the Falkland Islands. On her way to the south Atlantic the vessel capsized off the Isle of Wight on 24 December. I regret to say that the chief engineer is missing, presumed drowned. The rest of the crew were rescued. There were no Ministry of Defence personnel on board. An investigation into the loss is being conducted by the marine directorate of the Department of Transport.