---

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions;Marine Safety Agency

Answer

Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many vessels were subject to a port state inspection at (a) Flotta and (b) Sullom Voe in (i) 1996 and (ii) 1 January to 31 October 1997; and in each case what percentage of the total number of vessels were inspected. [17609] Ms Glenda Jackson: [holding answer 25 November 1997]: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Marine Safety Agency to write to the hon. Member. Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. James Wallace, dated 1 December 1997: The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of vessels subject to port state inspection at (a) Flotta and (b) Sullom Voe in (i) 1996 and (ii) 1 January to 31 October 1997 and, in each case, what percentage of the total number of individual ships visiting the ports were inspected. Port state inspection was carried out in Flotta on one vessel in 1996, and on three vessels in the period 1 January to 31 October 1997. This represents, respectively, one percent, and five percent of the number of individual ships visiting the port. In Sullom Voe, twenty one vessels were inspected in 1996, and seven in the period 1 January to 31 October 1997, which represents sixteen percent and six percent, respectively, of the number of individual ships visiting during those periods. The selection of vessels for inspection takes account of their age, the safety record of the flag of registration, how recently the ship was inspected with Europe and the outcome, and inspection effort is directed to obtain the greatest impact.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

302 c31W; 17609

Session

1997-98

Subjects

Inspections Ports Merchant shipping Shetland Orkney Port state control

Contains statistics

Yes