HC Deb 21 October 1991 vol 196 cc457-8W
Mr. Wilson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total number of radio officers employed on British passenger ferries.

Mr. McLoughlin

The information is not available in the form requested. There are 80 radio officers employed by the ferry operators based in this country.

Mr. Wilson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport from how many passenger ferries radio officers will be withdrawn when the global maritime distress and safety system is implemented in February 1992.

Mr. McLoughlin

The number of passenger ferry radio officers which will be withdrawn when the global maritime distress and safety system is implemented in February 1992 is unknown. This is a commercial decision to be taken by the owners after consulting the marine directorate.

Mr. Wilson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what grounds Caledonian MacBrayne was granted exemption from the requirement to have a radio officer on board the MV Lord of the Isles.

Mr. McLoughlin

Exemption from the requirement to carry a radio officer on board M V Lord of the Isles was granted on the grounds that the ship is fitted with equipment that will be required under the terms of the amendments to the 1974 SOLAS convention concerning radio-communications for the global maritime distress and safety system and that the necessary shore facilities for distress and safety communications are in place.

Mr. Wilson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the safety implications of the withdrawal of radio officers from the Caledonian MacBrayne ferries Lord of the Isles, Suilven and Hebridean Isles.

Mr. McLoughlin

The introduction of the amendments to the 1974 SOLAS convention concerning radio-communications for the global maritime distress and safety system will provide a level of safety which is at least equivalent to that provided by the earlier system which called for radio officers on passenger ships.