HC Deb 24 June 1991 vol 193 cc391-2W
Mr. Maclennan

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which countries are signatories to the international convention on standards of training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers 1978.

Mr. McLoughlin

There are now 82 countries which are signatories to the international convention on standards of training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers 1978. I have placed International Maritime Organisation circular STCW/circular 76, which lists the countries concerned together with circulars 77, 79, 80, 81, 82 and 84 which give the most recent accessions, in the Library.

Mr. Maclennan

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of foreign ships inspected in British ports in each of the last five years under the provisions of the 1982 memorandum of understanding to secure compliance of ships with international standards and indicate(a) how many ships were found to have deficiencies, (b) under which flag those ships with deficiencies were flying, (c) how many ships were detained pending the correction of deficiencies and (d) what financial penalties were imposed.

Mr. McLoughlin

The numbers of foreign ships inspected under the provisions of the memorandum of understanding on port state control 1982 were as follows:

Number
1986 2,439
1987 2,250
1988 1,839
1989 1,692
1990 2,118

(a) The numbers of the above found to have deficiencies were:

Number
1986 1,309
1987 1,228
1988 915
1989 1,003
1990 1,272

(b) Deficiencies were found on ships flying the following flags during 1989 and 1990:

Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Antilles (Netherlands), Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burma (Myanmar), Canada, Cape Verde, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, Faeroes, Finland, France, German Democratic Republic, German Federal Republic, Ghana, Greece, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korean Republic, Liberia, Libya, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, St. Vincent and Grenadier, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Togo, Turkey, USA, USSR, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Zaire.

(c) the numbers of foreign ships detained were:

Number
1986 18
1987 17
1988 37
1989 44
1990 79

(d) Financial penalties cannot readily be measured but usually comprise three main elements: the often considerable loss of revenue arising from delays in sailing, the cost of repairs and the cost of any further inspection to ensure that repairs have been satisfactorily carried out.

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