HC Deb 21 October 1991 vol 196 c459W
Mr. Steinberg

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the numbers of marine accidents in British waters in 1990 involving ships masters with foreign qualifications and list their countries of origin.

Mr. McLoughlin

The information in respect of accidents in United Kingdom territorial waters involving ships masters with foreign qualifications is not available since there is no requirement for non-United Kingdom vessels to report such accidents to the Department.

Mr. Steinberg

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of ships entering British ports in 1990 commanded by ships masters with foreign qualifications; and what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that ships masters certificates obtained in foreign countries are comparable with British merchant marine standards.

Mr. McLoughlin

Information is not available about the number of ships entering British ports under the command of masters with foreign qualifications.

The international convention on standards of training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers 1978 established international standards of training and certification for seafarers. Under the system of port state control, the Department's marine surveyors may ascertain that ship masters certificates have been issued in accordance with the convention.

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