HL Deb 25 July 1991 vol 531 cc70-1WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their policy towards the classifying and insuring of catamarans or other vessels, and in particular towards expert criticism of their safety.

Lord Brabazon of Tara

Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the classification and insurance of catamarans is the same as that for other ships. The safety assessment made by the classification society is taken into account in conjunction with the safety criteria and operating conditions called for in the code of safety developed by the International Maritime Organisation.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the new cross-Channel catamarans are classified, insured, or re-insured, in London or on the British market and whether their owners are members of a London—or other United Kingdom—based protection and indemnity club.

Lord Brabazon of Tara

The Government do not have this information. It is a matter for the operator.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the catamaran ferries now operating from British ports are fully safe, given the example of the Apollo Jet catamaran in which control was lost in Hong Kong Harbour in December 1989, with loss of life, and whether their assessment is shared by the appropriate experts.

Lord Brabazon of Tara

The catamaran ferries operating from British ports have been examined by Department of Transport marine surveyors to establish that they are fit to carry passengers. The trials conducted on the craft before they went into service included steering failure mode tests to ensure that loss of control, similar to that experienced on "Apollo Jet", should not occur.