§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when more rigorous safety checks for roll on/roll off passenger and high-speed ferries operating in UK waters will be introduced. [153355]
§ Mr. HillRegulations implementing Council Directive 1999/35/EC on a system of mandatory surveys for the safe operation of regular roll on/roll off and high speed passenger craft operating a service to or from the UK came into force on 16 February.
The Regulations require Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) surveyors to:
Inspect a vessel's documentation;Verify a vessel's operating company and flag state;Check for the presence of a voyage data recorder (required on all roll on/roll off ferries by January 2003);Survey each vessel once a year, or where the vessel's circumstances have changed;Prevent a vessel from operating if it does not meet stringent EU safety rules; or else require any safety defects to be remedied.These new, tougher safety measures will result in greater safety on all roll on/roll off and high speed passenger ferries operating in UK waters, regardless of which flag they might fly.