Shipping: Safety

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what (a) conclusions were reached and (b) recommendations were made by the International Maritime Organisation Sub-Committee on Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargoes and Containers in respect of the safe transit of containers by sea at its meetings on 21 to 25 September 2009; and what steps the Government plans to take in consequence. (301606)

The 14th meeting of the sub-committee on Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargoes and Containers (DSC) considered a range of issues relating to container safety. Of particular note were the decisions reached on harmonized interpretations of the International Convention on Safe Containers (CSC) and on a series of amendments to the guidance associated with the convention. It was also agreed to establish a correspondence group to consider further criteria to identify defects in containers before they represent a safety hazard.

The decisions taken by the DSC are subject to endorsement at the 87th Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) in May 2010. The Government plan to support the outcome of DSC at the MSC and push for their adoption internationally.