§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many collisions have occurred involving roll-on roll-off ferries(a) in the Solent, (b) off the south coast of England and (c) in British coastal waters in each of the last 10 years.
(2)how many incidents have occurred involving roll-on roll-off ferries (a) in the Solent, (b) off the south coast of England and (c) in British coastal waters in each of the last 10 years.
§ Mr. Norris[holding answer 8 December 1994]: The figures shown in the table relate to accidents involving one or more United Kingdom registered roll-on roll-off ferries where it has been established that the accident happened in (a) the Solent/Southampton Water, (b) elsewhere off the south coast and (c) in other stretches of United Kingdom coastal waters.
The figures are given only for the years shown as information relating to a particular sea area and type of accident can readily be obtained only from the marine accident investigation branch computerised accident database. The database contains data from 1991 onwards only. Information requested for the previous six years could be obtained only at disproportion cost.
Year Number of accidents Collision The Solent/Southampton water 1991 Nil Nil 1992 1 Nil 1993 1 Nil 1994 to date Nil Nil Elsewhere off south coast 1991 Nil Nil 1992 1 1 1993 2 1 1994 to date Nil Nil Other stretches of the United Kingdom coastal waters 1991 18 4 1992 12 1 1993 11 1 1994 to date 5 Nil
§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will include in Her Majesty's Government's submission to the International Maritime Organisation's investigation into roll-on roll-off ferries the recommendation that all roll-on roll-off ferries be fitted either with transverse bulkheads on the car deck or sponsons;
(2) if he will take steps to require all roll-on roll-off ferries operating in British coastal waters to be fitted either with sponsons or transverse bulkheads on the car deck;
407W(3) how many of the roll-on roll-off ferries operation (a) in the Solent and (b) off the south coast currently conform to the Solas 90 regulations;
(4) how many of the roll-on roll-off ferries operating off the south coast of England have fitted (a) transverse bulkheads on the car deck, (b) sponsons or (c) neither.
(5) how many of the roll-on roll-off ferries operating the Solent have fitted (a) transverse bulkheads on the car deck, (b) sponsons or (c) neither.
§ Mr. Norris[holding answer 8 December 1994]: These are operational matters for the Marine Safety Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. John Denham, dated 9 December 1994:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions about roll-on roll-off passenger ferries.1. How many of the roll-on roll-off ferries operating off the south coast have fitted (a) transverse bulkheads on the car deck (b) sponsons, or (c) neither?Of the sixteen United Kingdom registered ships operating off the south coast (including Dover) one has been fitted with sponsons. The information on foreign registered ships is not readily available.2. How many of the roll-on roll-off ferries operating in the Solent have fitted (a) transverse bulkheads on the car deck, (b) sponsons, or neither?There are nine roll-on roll-off passenger ferries operating solely on the Solent. These vessels are not of the same design as ships operating on international voyages in that they do not have enclosed car decks spaces—the car deck is open at both ends of the deck—and as such the devices are not appropriate.3. How many of the roll-on roll-off ferries operating (a) in the Solent, and (b) off the south coast, currently conform to the SOLAS '90 Regulations?An assessment of all ferries operating to and from ports in the United Kingdom is being processed. As soon as all the information is available, a full list will be published and a copy placed in the library of the House.4. Will the Secretary of State take steps to require all roll-on roll-off ferries operating in British coastal waters to be fitted either with sponsons or transverse bulkheads on the car deck?The enhanced survivability standard of roll-on roll-off passenger ferries operating to or from ports in the United Kingdom is already in place. That standard may require the fitting of sponsons or transverse bulkheads on the car deck. further measures will be addressed when the report from the International Maritime Organisation's Panel of Experts investigating ferry safety is received.5. Will the Secretary of State include in Her Majesty's Government submission to the International Maritime Organisations into roll-on roll-off ferries the recommendation that all roll-on roll-off ferries be fitted either with transverse bulkheads on the car deck or sponsons?The results of the United Kingdom research which identified the fitting of sponsons or transverse bulkheads on die car deck as two of the means of increasing the survivability standard or ro-ro passenger ferries have already been submitted to the International Maritime Organisation.