§ Mr. Alasdair MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will take steps to implement the recommendation contained in the Donaldson Report relating to guidance given by masters on safety margins relating to bad weather. [20482]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonRecommendation 51(c) of the Report of Lord Donaldson's Inquiry states that the UK Government should seek to ensure that safety margins are respected by seeking, through international bodies, to persuade all shipowners both to issue guidance on safety margins and to monitor regularly Masters' compliance with it. This has been implemented. The International Safety Management (ISM) Code will require shipping companies to develop, implement and maintain a safety management system. Following consultation with industry, the Marine Safety Agency issued a Merchant Shipping Notice in May 1995, detailing voluntary certification under the ISM Code to apply in advance of its mandatory application from 1 July 1998.