§ Mr. Chopeasked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the rules on manning of radio 4W officers on small ships applying in other European countries; if he has any plans to alter the rules as they apply to British ships; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RidleyThe requirements on radio stations and their operation on ships are specified in the Safety of Life at Sea Convention 1974 to which the United Kingdom and other European countries are signatories. Exemptions from the requirements of the convention are permitted and have to be notified to the International Maritime Organisation. From such notifications my Department is aware of exemptions issued by other European Administrations.
During the past year trials have been arranged on a number of United Kingdom ships in order to assess whether the regulations about radio officers might be relaxed, in the light of developing technology, without endangering safety at sea.
Two trials were involved. The first exempted deep-sea ships from the full requirements of the convention subject to certain conditions. The second exempted short-sea cargo ships from the requirement to carry a radiotelegraph (Morse) station and radio officer, again subject to certain conditions.
In the light of the results of those trials my Department will now be prepared to grant exemptions from the relevant regulations to cargo ships engaged in the short-sea trades and all ships in the unlimited trading area provided certain other conditions are met.