§ Dr. IddonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if she will ban the use of grade A steel for the construction of merchant ships. [47571]
(2) if she will reappraise the use of high tensile steel in the construction of merchant vessels. [47572]
§ Mr. JamiesonI have been asked to reply.
The toughness grades of steel used in shipbuilding are regulated by the International Association of Classification Societies through their unified requirement UR S6. The current version of UR S6 permits limited use of grade A mild steel, as well as grade AH high tensile steel, in structures contributing to overall strength.
This standard limits the use of grades A and AH steels according to their rolled thickness and mean air temperatures in expected area of operation, requiring grades with a higher standard of fracture toughness for high thickness and low temperature.
There are no plans to ban the use of grade A mild steel or to reappraise the use of high tensile steels for merchant ship construction, given the fracture toughness now achieved with grades A and AH.