HC Deb 26 April 1995 vol 258 cc591-2W
Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the ferries sailing from United Kingdom waters that do not meet the standards set out in SOLAS 90. [19382]

Mr. Norris

In his oral statement to the House on 5 April 1995,Official Report, columns 1753–61, the Secretary of State announced the publication of lists of roll-on roll-off ferries serving the United Kingdom ports. The lists show whether the vessels meet the SOLAS 90 survivability standard or the date by which they need to be modified in accordance with the north-west European ferry stability agreement which applies SOLAS 90 to roll-on roll-off ferries built before 1990. A copy of those lists and an explanatory note were placed in the Library of the House.

Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if it is mandatory for ferry operators to carry out fire evacuation exercises while passengers are on board; and if he will make a statement. [19384]

Mr. Norris

This is an operational matter for the Marine Safety Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from R. M. Bradley to Ms Joan Walley, dated 26 April 1995: The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your question about fire evacuation exercises whilst passengers are on board ferries. Passengers are not required to participate in fire drills unless the ship is engaged on a long international voyage, in which case a muster of the passengers must take place within 24 hours of their embarkation. In addition, all passenger ships on international voyages, including ferries, are subject to requirements that call for a weekly fire drill when the crew receive training and practise the functions that they are expected to carry out in an emergency. In the event of a fire passengers would be alerted using the general emergency alarm system and instructed on the public address system to muster at specified positions in the same way as any other emergency. Instructions are required to be posted in passenger cabins, muster stations and other passenger spaces to inform passengers of their muster station and the essential actions they must take in an emergency.