§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the occasions since 1975 when ships have lost dangerous cargoes overboard in(a) United Kingdom waters, (b) the English Channel and (c) the North Sea; what cargo was lost in each case; and what was subsequently recovered. [148594]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Maritime and Coastguard Agency uses data provided by the Advisory Committee on Protection of the Sea (ACOPS) and information is not available in the form requested. However, Coastguard experience suggests that there are around five or six such incidents per year in UK waters. In 2001, for example, the Agency is aware of five incidents in UK waters. There were none in the English Channel and four in the North Sea. In 2002, the Agency is aware of five incidents in UK waters, including one in the English Channel and three in the North Sea.
The majority of the incidents in 2001 and 2002 involved chemical drums/containers washed up on beaches. In cases such as this, he local authority and/or Fire Brigade have arranged for safe disposal.