HC Deb 15 May 1991 vol 191 cc175-6W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the washing ashore at Salthouse, Weybourne and Kelling in Norfolk of dangerous chemicals.

Mr. Trippier

[holding answer 14 May 1991]: On Friday 3 May, the marine pollution control unit of the Department of Transport received a report from the Humber coastguard that the Swedish flag container ship Nordic Pride had lost four tank containers of chemicals overboard during bad weather 20 miles north of Blakeney.

In accordance with contingency plans for such incidents, MPCU immediately mounted a comprehensive air search for the containers. At the same time, MPCU scientific staff assessed the threat posed to the marine environment by the chemical—two tanks contained ethyl acrylate, with the others holding CHC feedstock and triethylenetetramine respectively—in consultation with colleagues from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and English Nature. The air search proved negative and since the conclusion of the joint assessment was that the tanks posed minimal threat to the marine environment, recovery was not deemed necessary. Local authorities were advised of the incident, the content of the tanks, and of the possibility of their coming ashore on the north Norfolk coast. The two tanks of ethyl acrylate were found washed ashore at Weybourne on the morning of Monday 6 May. The other tanks remain at sea.

Coastal local authorities are responsible for dealing with incidents of this sort where chemical containers are washed ashore and North Norfolk district council, in conjunction with the police, carried out these duties in this incident. I understand that the containers washed ashore and their contents were cleared from the area for safe disposal by the afternoon of Wednesday 8 May.