§ Mr. RuaneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many incidents involving ships clearing out their ballast tanks there have been in(a) British waters and (b) Liverpool Bay in each year over the past 10 years; and how many prosecutions have resulted; [82170]
(2) what action he is taking to prevent ships from clearing out their ballast tanks in British waters. [82173]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonExisting legislation imposes strict controls on the discharge of oily ballast water, which are enforced by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency surveillance aircraft and other means. From 1 August 1999 the NW European waters will be designated a Special Area under International Convention, and all discharges of oil cargo contamination in ballast water will be strictly prohibited. This designated Special Area will include the North Sea and its approaches, the English Channel and its approaches, the Irish Sea and its approaches, the Celtic Sea and the North East Atlantic immediately to the West of Ireland.
There is no requirement for ships to record the take-on or discharge of sea ballast water and there have been no prosecutions resulting from ships clearing out their ballast tanks. The United Kingdom is actively participating in work at the International Maritime Organisation to 300W develop measures to minimise the introduction of unwanted aquatic organisms in ballast water. Pending the outcome of this work, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has published guidance which urges owners to comply with IMO's "Guidelines for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast water to Minimise the Transfer of Harmful Aquatic Organisms and Pathogens".
§ Mr. RuaneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of British ports have facilities for treating ballast from ships. [82174]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonAll ports are required to provide waste reception facilities which are adequate to receive the waste from ships normally using the port. However the discharge of clean ballast water is not controlled by legislation and it is not generally regarded as harmful, unless it has been contaminated by cargo on board an oil tanker. In these circumstances it is then strictly controlled by oil pollution regulations. Some oil terminals do have a local requirement that all ballast from tankers are discharged ashore and their reception facilities may include treatment to remove oil cargo residue. There are no facilities in the UK which are expressly designed for the treatment of clean ballast water.