HC Deb 17 July 2003 vol 409 cc611-2W
Mr. Weir

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what environmental safeguards have been put in place to protect the marine environment from damage due to incidents involving un-crewed ships being transported from the United States to the UK to be broken up; what notification he has received of proposals to bring ships to the UK for this purpose; and what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive on this issue. [125803]

Mr. Jamieson

The UK has had no notification of this proposal but is aware of articles in the press. Officials in the Department for Transport and the Scottish Executive have considered the implications but understand, however, that commercial arrangements for this towage have yet to be confirmed.

If such proposals mature there are conditions that the UK will insist upon to mitigate risks of operations. The passage of such ships under tow would be the object of a risk assessment, with particular regard to the towing vessel suitability and capacity, the type of towage gear and the dimensions and nature of the object to be towed.

In that event the MCA would insist that international requirements were adhered to. They would include interim conditional load line certification and towage certification, linked to classification society and insurance requirements. All would be a clear requirement on the operator before the tow was allowed into the UK Pollution Control Zone (UKPCZ).

Such an assessment would include likely risk of significant pollution. Ships or tows with significant risk would not be allowed in a UKPCZ and the UK has powers to restrict or ban such movements, through intervention.