§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what immediate steps he proposes to take to improve safety regulations on oil tankers within British waters.
§ Mr. Norris[holding answer 12 February 1993]: Regulations governing tankers are under constant review within the International Maritime Organisation. The Department is at the forefront of these discussions and developments.
In addition, an initiative has been taken by national and international organisations concerned with tanker operations to develop a voluntary code with regard to tanker routeing around the United Kingdom coast. They have also given an undertaking to re-emphasise to masters the need to pay greater attention to passage planning and to provide early advice to coastal states when tankers are experiencing problems which affect their navigation.