§ 21. Mr. WatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he is promoting to improve ferry safety; and if he will make a statement. [30138]
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§ Dr. MawhinneyIn my statement to the House on 5 April, I announced the results of UK research which suggested that the fitting of transverse bulkheads could improve ferry survivability in the event of water invading the vehicle deck. We made this research available to the International Maritime Organisation's panel of experts which was set up following the "Estonia" disaster last September.
As I made clear in my statement, the Government support the thrust of the panel's recommendations and we will press for agreement to their implementation at the International Maritime Organisation's diplomatic conference in November. If satisfactory agreement cannot be reached we shall seek to introduce the necessary standards by other means as quickly as possible.