Lord Campbell of Croyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are satisfied with the present arrangements for avoiding collisions and wrecked vessels in the English Channel. [HL948]
30WA
§ Lord Macdonald of TradestonThe Government are satisfied with the present arrangements for the routeing of shipping.
Shipping in the English Channel is controlled through a mandatory traffic separation scheme (TSS) jointly administered by the UK and French authorities, with France looking after the north-east lane and the UK the south-west lane. The Channel Navigation Information System (CNIS) based at Dover Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) contributes to the safety of navigation within this area by encouraging vessels to comply with the IMO adopted procedures for vessels navigating within the TSS and collating and providing the latest information to shipping on activities, conditions and navigational irregularities which may affect safe navigation.
With respect to the "Tricolor", which sank on 14 December, the French authorities have marked the wreck with five Cardinal buoys, 600 metres from. the wreck, one of which is fitted with a Racon, an electronic radar echo enhancing device. The French vessel the "Glaive" is on guard duty at the wreck site in addition to the salvage tug "Alphonse Letzer" and the salvage barge "Asian Hercules". Navigational warnings are being issued hourly to ships in the area.