§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what approaches he has made to the International Maritime Organisation, Lloyd's of London, or other similar insurance markets concerning minimum safety standards of construction and operation of roll-on roll-off ferries or similar ships and where details of such communications may be found; if he will consider setting a date by which a programme of rising standards can be applied to all such ships arriving at or departing from British ports; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlinAmendments to the international convention for the safety of life at sea 1974, proposed by the United Kingdom in 1987—concerning safety standards for the construction and operation of ro-ro ferries are now in force. In addition, my Department is urgently seeking agreement at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to higher residual stability standards for existing ferries. The standard proposed is that which came into force earlier this year for new passenger ships. The time scale for implementation within the proposed amendment is three years. I will place copies of the paper to IMO in the House Library.
Approaches to improve ferry safety have also been made to our near European maritime neighbours.