§ Mr. CarmichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 3 December 2003,Official Report, column 66W, on merchant ships, which flags were flown by the merchant ships that did not fly the red ensign; and what percentage of merchant ships chartered by his Department to support allied efforts in the 2003 Iraq war were over (a) 15-years-old, (b) 25-years-old and (c) 30-years-old. [143179]
§ Mr. IngramShips chartered in support of the Iraq campaign which did not fly the Red Ensign were registered under the following national flags: Antigua, Bahamas, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Greece, 843W Italy, Liberia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Netherlands, Panama, Portugal, Spain, St. Vincent, Sweden and Turkey.
Of the vessels chartered, some 59 per cent. were over 15-years-old, some 9 per cent. were over 25-years-old, and approximately 1.5 per cent. were over 30- years-old.
The ships chartered by the Ministry of Defence fulfilled all their obligations.