HL Deb 12 January 1987 vol 483 c473WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the anticipated decline in the tonnage of the British Merchant Fleet when Hong Kong Flag and Isle of Man Flag vessels are removed from it.

Lord Brabazon of Tara

The Department of Transport maintains statistics of the United Kingdom registered merchant fleet. This covers trading vessels of over 500 gross tonnes in size registered at ports in the United Kingdom, the Channel Isles and the Isle of Man. It does not however include vessels registered overseas in British Dependent Territory ports such as Hong Kong. At the end October 1986, this fleet comprised 11.9 million deadweight tonnes (586 vessels), of which 0.7 million dwt (37 vessels) were registered at Isle of Man ports.