Written question asked by Lord Berkeley (Labour), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Adonis (Labour) on Tuesday, 1 December 2009.

Shipping: Safety

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have plans to review any duplications that exist with respect to the port marine safety code in the inspection regimes of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the General Lighthouse Authorities.

Answer: Her Majesty's Government do not consider that there is any duplication in inspection regimes between the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the General Lighthouse Authorities. The port marine safety code (the code) does not itself impose inspection requirements on harbour authorities, although it does refer to the existing regimes which are prescribed in statute. The code also refers to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's verification visits, which are designed to check if a harbour authority is complying with the code. These visits include an assessment of whether the port is fulfilling its conservancy responsibilities, and noting the date and conclusions of the most recent inspection report by the General Lighthouse Authority. MCA does not normally inspect aids to navigation as part of its visits.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 174; 715 c33WA
Session: 2009-10
Subjects: Codes of practice Inspections Ports Safety Maritime and Coastguard Agency General Lighthouse Authorities
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk