§ Mr. MaclennanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it mandatory for ships with hazardous cargoes to give notice of their intention to sail through the Pentland firth, in accordance with changes in the safety of life at sea convention.
§ Mr. NorrisThere is already international agreement that laden vessels should report their intention to transit the Pentland firth. The United Kingdom is taking a leading role in international negotiations which should lead to changes in the safety of life at sea—SOLAS—convention and to the establishment of a legal framework for the mandatory reporting of ship movements.
§ Mr. DevlinTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 23 March,Official Report, column 251, what penalties exist for ships carrying hazardous cargoes that do not use the safe deep water route around the Hebrides.
§ Mr. NorrisThe Department is applying increasing pressure on the owners of ships carrying hazardous cargoes to use the deep water route west of the Hebrides. There is evidence to suggest that this is having a positive effect.
§ Mr. DevlinTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reporting is mandatory for ships carrying hazardous cargoes near environmentally sensitive areas.
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§ Mr. NorrisWhilst there are no requirements for reports to be made at the moment, the Department is applying increasing pressure on shipowners to comply with internationally agreed recommendations, and the United Kingdom is taking a leading role in international negotiations to set in place a legal framework for the mandatory reporting of ship movements.
§ Mr. DevlinTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many ships carrying hazardous cargoes from the United Kingdom via the Hebrides have(a) made use of the safe deep water route via the outer Hebrides and (b) passed through the Minches in the last year.
§ Mr. NorrisThis information is not held in the form requested. I can say, however, that in the last 12 months 113 ships carrying hazardous cargoes have reported their intention to use the Minch to HM Coastguard at Stornoway.
§ Mr. DevlinTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 23 March,Official Report, column 251, what legal force backs the measures in place to keep ships carrying hazardous cargoes away from environmentally sensitive areas.
§ Mr. NorrisRouteing measures around the United Kingdom are in accordance with agreements reached at the International Maritime Organisation. For the most part they are voluntary and are enforced by complaint to the flag state of a transgressing vessel. The United Kingdom is actively engaged in negotiating in the IMO on mandatory routes which can be put in place to protect environmentally sensitive areas.