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Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 2 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 8 March 2005. It was answered by David Jamieson (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 March 2005 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Dept for Transport

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the dangerous or harmful cargoes known to have been lost overboard in UK waters since 1st January 1990 which are not thought to have been recovered; if he will list the packages containing dangerous or harmful goods found in UK waters since 1st January 1997, broken down by (a) date, (b) source, (c) nature of the incident giving rise to the deposit of the package in the waters and (d) location; what reporting requirements there are in respect of the loss overboard (a) within UK waters and (b) from UK registered vessels of dangerous or harmful goods. (Further information on 08.03.2005 at 431 c1629W) (Documents in Library Dep 05/423).
Answer

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the dangerous or harmful cargoes known to have been lost overboard in UK waters since 1 January 1990 which are not thought to have been recovered; [220601] (2) if he will list the packages containing dangerous or harmful goods found in UK waters since 1 January 1997, broken down by (a) date, (b) source, (c) nature of the incident giving rise to the deposit of the package in the waters and (d) location; [220602] (3) what reporting requirements there are in respect of the loss overboard (a) within UK waters and (b) from UK registered vessels of dangerous or harmful goods. [220603] Mr. Jamieson: [holding answer 7 March 2005]: Any vessel involved in a pollution event within UK controlled waters as defined by the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution) (Limits) Regulations 1996 must immediately contact Her Majesty's coastguard and report the identity and position of the ship; the port of departure and next port of call; the number of people onboard; the date, time and details of the incident; and a contact point for further information about the cargo. UK ships involved in an incident outside UK controlled waters but within Europe must report to the appropriate state responsible for the geographical area. Data on reported discharges of dangerous or harmful cargoes (including oil) as defined by the internationally agreed Marine Pollution (MARPOL) Convention is collated by the Advisory Committee on Protection of the Sea (ACOPS) on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). ACOPS collects data in addition to that reported to the coastguard. The data available is extensive and diverse, and I am placing copies of the annual ACOPS reports from 1990 into the House Library.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
431 c1629W;431 c1625W; 220601;220602;220603
Session
2004-05
Subjects
Disclosure of information Accidents Hazardous substances Freight Pollution Merchant shipping Shipping Seas and oceans Territorial waters
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk