asked Her Majesty's Government:Given that on inspection the tanker
Erika was rejected as unfit for carrying oil safely at sea by two major oil companies, Shell and BP Amoco, but was considered fit for charter by Total Fina, what steps they will take to set tougher standards for the shipment of oil in European Community waters. [HL917]
The Government, with the International Maritime Organisation and other EU member states, are considering what additional measures might help prevent a repetition of the "Erika" incident. If we find that additional regulations are necessary, we will pursue them actively through the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the UN specialist agency responsible for the promotion of maritime safety and the prevention of marine pollution, and the European Union as appropriate.