§ Mr. ProsserTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many times the merchant vessel Rema was inspected under port state control arrangements in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the loss of the vessel. [40350]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonFour port state inspections were carried out on the merchant vessel REMA in the UK in the past five years. An additional five inspections were carried out in other countries within the region of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding in the period since 20 August 1996. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch will be investigating the loss of the REMA on behalf of the Belize Authorities. A report detailing their findings will be published in due course.
§ Mr. ProsserTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what were the minimum certificate of competency requirements for the seafarers on the vessel Rema; what was the issuing authority of those certificates of competency; and if the vessel complied with these on the day of her loss. [40349]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe minimum certificate of competency requirements for the seafarers on the vessel REMA being registered in Belize are stipulated by the International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize in accordance with Regulation V/13(b) of SOLAS. The vessel's Minimum Safe Manning Certificate, issued 10 February 1998, specifies One Master, One First Mate and One Engineer Officer. These were the only personnel required to hold certificates of competency. When the vessel was inspected in February 1998, the certificates of competency were issued by the International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize. It is not possible to say if the vessel complied with the requirements of the Minimum Safe Manning Certificate on the day of her loss.
§ Mr. ProsserTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will provide details of the last port state control inspection of the vessel Rema, listing the areas of deficiency; and what actions were taken by the vessel's owners to remedy the deficiencies. [40354]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe last port State inspection of the vessel REMA in Montrose, UK, on 9 February 1998 resulted in detention of the vessel. It was released on 13 February 1998, after all detainable deficiencies had been rectified.
9W
Deficiencies Action taken by owners Detainable deficiencies Captain unable to produce certificate of competency Rectified No personnel on board able to produce radio certificate Rectified Various navigation charts out of date Rectified Various nautical publications out of date Rectified No fire fighting system in paint locker Rectified Fire hose leaking Rectified No lifeboats or equivalent on board as required by SOLAS 60 Rectified Radio batteries found dry and in need of replacement Rectified
Deficiencies Action taken by owners Other deficiencies 6" of oil in engine room Rectified Waste tank open to atmosphere Rectified No receipt on board for last waste tank discharge—Master informed Not recorded Navigation (NVC) white light not working Rectified Navigation (NUC) white light without appropriate bulb and shade Rectified Lifebuoy light not working Rectified Light out in engine room Rectified Mate's ticket has no STCW endorsement Flag state/consul Informed by MCA MF/HF wire antenna insulation readings very low—lead in insulator to be cleaned. Master instructed to rectify before departure. Not recorded MF/HF wire antenna connector to be re-made. Master instructed to rectify before departure. Not recorded
§ Mr. ProsserTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the minimum manning requirements were for the vessel Rema; and if the ship complied with these on the date of her loss. [40352]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe minimum manning requirement for the vessel REMA, being registered in Belize, is as stipulated by the International Merchant Marine Register of Belize in the vessel's Minimum Safe Manning Certificate. When the vessel was inspected in Montrose in February 1998, the minimum safe manning required by Belize was four and it was noted that there was no Engineer Officer aboard. When this was queried, Belize responded by producing a Minimum Safe Manning Certificate for seven, including an Engineer officer, but the ship had life-saving appliances and accommodation for only five. As this was approximately the manning that could be reasonably expected on a vessel of this size and type, the REMA was released from detention with a crew of five, including an Engineer Officer, on the condition that the discrepancy between the Safe Manning Document and life saving appliance was rectified, by Belize, before departure from the next port after release from detention. Once again we cannot say whether there were five aboard the vessel at the time of her loss.
§ Mr. ProsserTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on how many occasions the vessel Rema was detained following port state control inspections in the past five years; and if he will list the dates of and reasons for the detentions. [40351]
10W
Belize flag vessels detained by United Kingdom: 1993–31 March 1998 Name of vessel Ship type GT Date detained Date released Date Place of detention Reasons for detention Rose General cargo 299 14/7/93 5/8/93 Topsham Manning, fire-fighting and life-saving appliance deficiencies. Eagle Bulk carrier 499 5/1/94 28/1/94 Montrose No certificated master or deck officer on board. Certificates issued by non-recognised authority. Eastwind Supply vessel 110 1/9/94 8/9/94 Grangemouth No loadline certificate. No liferafts, no lifejackets, no certificated mate, inadequate navigation lights, inadequate charts and tide tables.
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe vessel REMA was detained once following port state inspections in the UK in the past five years, and once by another member of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding in the period since 20 August 1996.
Date Reasons for detention 9 February 1998 UK Captain unable to produce certificate of competency No personnel on board able to produce a radio certificate Various navigation charts out of date Various nautical publications out of date No fire fighting system in paint locker Fire hose leaking No lifeboats or equivalent on board as required by SOLAS 60 Radio batteries found dry and in need of replacement Note
All detainable deficiencies were rectified before release on 13 February 1998
Date Areas of deficiencies 14 March 1997 Hull damage impairing seaworthiness Germany Decks cracking Railing cat walks Ventilator air pipes Anchoring devices Musters and drills Minimum safe manning certificates Charts Auxiliary engines Steering gear Certificates of competency
§ Yvette CooperTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if she will publish the report of the investigation into the loss of the 'Rema' vessel by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch. [41000]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe MAIB will be investigating the loss of the REMA on behalf of the Belize authorities. A report detailing their findings will be published in due course.