§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those ports in the United Kingdom at which reception facilities for residues and mixtures of oily and noxious liquid wastes from vessels have been established.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerUnited Kingdom ports are required to provide reception facilities to receive residues and oily mixtures from vessels using the port. An assessment undertaken on the availability and use of oil reception facilities shows that United Kingdom ports in general are adequately provided for in this regard.
There is at present no legal requirement for United Kingdom ports to provide reception facilities for noxious liquid wastes arising from ships, therefore, no information is available as to established facilities. Such facilities will, however, be required in certain ports for wastes from a limited number of noxious liquid substances carried in bulk by ships after implementation of MARPOL. (Annex II, on 6 April 1987).
§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the steps Her Majesty's Government have taken in the last three years towards prevention of marine pollution due to operation of vessels (i) in the North sea and (ii) in British coastal waters bordering the North sea.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerRegulations for prevention of pollution of the marine environment are contained in the international convention for the prevention of pollution from ships, 1973, as modified by the 1978 Protocol (known as MARPOL 73/78).
Domestic legislation to implement the various annexes of the convention was made as each annex conies into force.
At the moment only annex I of MARPOL 73/78 which relates to prevention of pollution by oil is in force. It 281W imposes strict discharge requirements generally, but particularly limits the quantity and concentration of oil that may be discharged into the sea.
With respect to prevention of marine pollution due to operation of vessels carrying noxious liquid substances in bulk, Her Majesty's Government have been involved in developing practical international regulations at IMO. Such regulations will be implemented internationally and by the United Kingdom on 6 April 1987.
Regulations covering oil and noxious liquid substances will apply to ships operating in the North sea and British coastal waters.
§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Transport if Her Majesty's Government intend to take any steps to declare the North sea a special area under the MARPOL convention; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerHer Majesty's Government have not taken any steps to support a declaration for the North sea to become a special area under the MARPOL 73/78 convention. The matter is under review as a result of the first international conference on the protection of the North sea held in 1984 and will now be for consideration by a second conference scheduled for November 1987.
§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Transport what reporting system exists for ships, whose cargo, including radioactive substances, poses a potentially grave threat of marine pollution in the North sea.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerTwo mandatory reporting-in systems exist in the North sea:
- 1. EEC and national regulations specify compulsory reporting for tankers of 1,600 gross tonnage and over carrying cargoes of chemicals, gas or oil in bulk when entering or leaving ports.
- 2. Under the law of the Federal Republic of Germany it is understood that vessels loaded with dangerous goods in bulk, entering the extended territorial waters of the German bight, must report in to the authorities.
§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the new steps Her Majesty's Government have taken in the last three years to ensure that marine transportation of radioactive substances and wastes is carried out in a safe way.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThe Government are taking a leading role within the International Maritime Organisation in reviewing the section of the international maritime dangerous goods code which deals with radioactive materials, taking account of new international regulations. We have also sponsored research work to ensure that the revised regulations continue to provide adequate safety.
In October 1985 the Secretary of State for Transport set up the advisory committee for the safe transport of radioactive materials (ACTRAM) to provide him with advice on safety arrangements for all modes of transport. Following a recommendation of the Environment Select Committee on Radioactive Waste, ACTRAM is currently considering whether any changes in practice are needed to ensure the greater control and safety of the transport of radioactive materials through the English channel.
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§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Transport what evaluation Her Majesty's Government have made within the last three years of the effects of the Marpol convention 73–78 on the quality of the North sea.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThe Department of Transport is currently evaluating the quantity of oil that is being discharged into the North sea following the entry into force of annex I of MARPOL 73–78. First indications are that the quantity of oil entering the North sea from ships has been drastically reduced.
§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Transport what penalties are imposed on parties found to be discharging residues and mixtures of oily and noxious wastes into (i) British coastal waters and (ii) the North sea.
§ Mr. SpicerThe illegal discharge of oil or oily mixture by any vessel within the United Kingdom territorial waters and by United Kingdom registered vessels wherever they may be is prescribed by the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Oil Pollution) Regulations 1983. The discharge of certain oil from oil exploration operations and underseas pipelines in designated areas is prescribed by the Prevention of Oil Pollution Act 1971. Any person found guilty of any such offences shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £50,000 or on conviction on indictment to a fine of no declared limit.
For a foreign-registered vessel discharging oil outside United Kingdom territorial waters, the penalties will be as established by the flag state of the vessel concerned. For other noxious wastes, there are at present no prescribed penalties for discharging.
§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Transport, what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the prosecution of parties found to be discharging residues and mixtures of oily and noxious wastes from vessels (a) in the North sea; and (b) in other British coastal waters.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThe policy of Her Majesty's Government is to identify and prosecute, when sufficient evidence is available to enable proceedings to be taken, all vessels suspected of illegally discharging oil in United Kingdom territorial waters. If a United Kingdom-registered vessel is reported as having discharged oil in the North sea she will be prosecuted similarly. Foreign registered vessels identified by United Kingdom sources as discharging oil in the North sea are reported to their flag state with a request for the report to be investigated and dealt with.
For other noxious wastes there are currently no specific powers for prosecution.
§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all incidents detected in the last three years where vessels have been found to be discharging residues and mixtures of oily and noxious wastes (i) in British coastal waters; and (ii) in the North sea.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerSince 1 January 1984, the Department of Transport's marine pollution control unit has received sighting reports of 44 incidents where a vessel has been suspected of illegally discharging into the sea. Of these 32 were inside United Kingdom territorial waters and 18 were in the North sea.
§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Transport what measures Her Majesty's Government use 283W to detect ships discharging residues and mixtures of oily and noxious liquid wastes (i) into the North sea; and (ii) in British coastal waters.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThe Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Oil Pollution) Regulations 1983 requires the master of any ship within 200 miles of the United Kingdom to report whenever an incident involves any discharge or probable discharge of oil or oily mixtures.
The Bonn agreement for co-operation in dealing with pollution of the North sea by oil and other harmful substances has as members all the countries bordering the North sea and English channel sea areas. The contracting parties, including the United Kingdom, have undertaken to instruct its ships and aircraft to report any casualty incidents or sightings of oil. Furthermore the agreement requires each country to notify any other member country if it becomes aware of any pollution which is likely to pose a threat to that country's coast or related interest.
§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken within the International Maritime Organisation to ensure that appropriate international regulations on harmful substances in packages from ships, annexes III and V of the MARPOL convention 73/78, enter into force as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerNotification of acceptance of annexes III and V of the international convention for the prevention of pollution from ships, 1973, as modified by its 1978 protocol (MARPOL 73/78) was made by Her Majesty's Government in May 1986.
The provisions of the annexes do not come into force until they have been ratified by a certain proportion of maritime nations. With these acceptances by the United Kingdom that proportion should soon be reached.
§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what research Her Majesty's Government have conducted in the last three years to develop new or improved airborne surveillance equipment which can function during daylight hours for the detection of marine pollution;
(2) what research Her Majesty's Government have conducted in the last three years to develop new or improved airborne surveillance equipment which can function at night for the detection of marine pollution.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerAn operational airborne remote sensing research programme continues to be carried out by the marine pollution control unit to evaluate the capabilities of sideways looking radar, infra-red and ultraviolet remote detection equipments. All these equipments have a day/night capability except ultraviolet which does not operate at night. These systems are already proven in respect of large oil spills arising from shipping casualties, but further trials are programmed to evaluate their application to small spills arising from illegal operational discharges and from chemical spillages.
§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Transport if Her Majesty's Government in the last three years have considered the development of a mandatory reporting system for ships whose cargo, including radioactive substances, poses a potentially grave threat of marine pollution, which would require North sea coastal 284W states to be informed when such vessels are entering areas where special attention is required; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThe question of mandatory reporting systems is under continuous review. A high percentage of ships carry dangerous goods—a term that includes radioactive materials—many of which are potential pollutants. Reporting would, therefore, involve many vessels and the benefits of develping such a complex system internationally are not apparent.