Navigation Safety (Hansard, 21 July 1997)

§ Ms Glenda Jackson

I have asked the chief executive 0of the Marine Safety Agency to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. Norman A. Godman, dated 21 July 1997: The Deputy Prime Minister has asked me to reply to your Question as to what recent discussions have taken place with Clydeport and other interested parties concerning safe navigation of vessels and off-shore installations on the River Clyde and the Firth of Clyde. This question was referred from the Secretary of state for Scotland to the Deputy Prime Minister as the matter falls within the responsibilities of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. The question of safe navigation on the Clyde was discussed at the meeting of the Strathclyde Sub-Committee of the West of Scotland District Marine Safety Committee at its meeting on 28 February this year. The Sub-Committee meeting was chaired by the Marine Safety Agency's Regional Chief Surveyor for Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Sub-Committee includes representatives of a wide range of interested bodies, including Clydeport Ltd., the Competent Harbour Authority (CHA) for the Clyde, and the Scottish Guild of Pilots. At the meeting there was a very full discussion of the case, put by the representative of the Scottish Guild of Pilots, for compulsory pilotage of all tankers on the Clyde. There was some but not unanimous support for the views put forward on pilotage. However, it was made clear at the meeting that, under the Pilotage Act 1987, the statutory responsibility for this matter lies with Clydeport Ltd in its role as Competent Harbour Authority. The Sub-Committee is a consultative body only, providing a forum for discussion of marine safety issues amongst interested parties. It has no executive or statutory powers itself. We understand that, since the meeting in February, there have been further exchanges between the management of Clydeport Ltd and the Pilots and that an agreed view on the matter has been reached.