§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his definition is of partial protection in relation to single hull oil tankers; and if he will make a statement. [83002]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe term "partial protection" refers to tankers having wing tanks or double bottoms in protective locations which are not used for the carriage of cargo or operating only with hydrostatically balanced loading. Such tankers do not have full double hulls, the standard required for tankers built since 1996.
§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will press for an immediate ban on single hull oil tankers plying the high seas. [83004]
§ Mr. JamiesonWe support the recent international agreement at the International Maritime Organization, and applied in the EU by Regulation, under which single hull tankers will be phased out in stages up to and no later than 2007. Such tankers must be replaced by tankers with double hulls.