§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what considerations underlay the decision that there should be no public inquiry into the Marchioness disaster in the immediate aftermath of the disaster; and who was responsible for this decision. [29319]
§ Mr. NorrisThe power to order a formal investigation into a maritime casualty rests with the Secretary of State for Transport. Following the loss of the Marchioness, Transport Ministers of the day decided that the use of the new powers available under the Merchant Shipping Act 1988 were the most appropriate way of establishing the cause of the tragedy and of identifying what lessons could be learnt to avoid a recurrence. The chief inspector of marine accidents ordered an investigation of the incident, 363W the results of which were published as a Marine Accident Investigation Branch report, on 15 August 1991. The report's findings were subsequently endorsed by an inquest jury.