Written question asked by Gwyneth Dunwoody (Labour) on Thursday, 9 March 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 16 March 2000. It was answered by Keith Hill (Labour) on Thursday, 16 March 2000 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what was the result of the Marine and Coastguard Agency investigation into the safety of lifejackets following the loss of the `Sleipner' ferry.

Answer: Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the result of the Marine and Coastguard Agency investigation into the safety of lifejackets following the loss of the Sleipner ferry. [114528] Mr. Hill: Following the loss of the Sleipner, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) worked in close liaison with the Norwegian and Italian authorities to test the lifejackets used on board the vessel at the time of the accident. MCA contracted the Robert Gordon Institute of Technology in Aberdeen to carry out comprehensive tests of the performance of the lifejacket. These tests were witnessed by the manufacturers, the Classification Societies Bureau Veritas and RINa, as well as the MCA. The tests demonstrated that the lifejacket was unable to meet the International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements. As a result of the tests, Bureau Veritas withdrew the approval of the lifejacket. MCA issued a Press Release drawing attention to UK ship owners that this lifejacket should be replaced on all UK ships.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 346 c326W; 114528
Session: 1999-00
Subjects: Equipment Safety Shipping Testing Maritime and Coastguard Agency Buoyancy aids