Cross-Channel Ferries Mr. Tony Lloyd To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list in the Official Report each roll-on/roll-off cross-Channel passenger ferry currently operating out of Dover, its maximum passenger load and the number of occasions on which each ship was inspected by his Department in the last six months without notification; and if he is satisfied that all such ships have been operated with the recommended manning levels. Mr. David Mitchell Roll-on/roll-off cross-Channel passenger ferries currently operating out of Dover.-------------------- |Ferry | -------------------- |European Clearway | -------------------- |European Endeavour| -------------------- |European Trader | -------------------- |Pride of Bruges | -------------------- |Pride of Calais | -------------------- |Pride of Dover | -------------------- |Pride of Kent | -------------------- |Pride of Sandwich | -------------------- |St. Anselm | -------------------- |St. Christopher | -------------------- -------------------------- |Ferry | -------------------------- |Champs Elysees | -------------------------- |Cote D'Azur | -------------------------- |Nord Pas De Calais | -------------------------- |Prince Laurent | -------------------------- |Princess Marie Christine| -------------------------- |Prins Albert | -------------------------- |Prinses Beatrix | -------------------------- |Prinses Marie Esmeralda | -------------------------- |Reine Astrid | -------------------------- |Saint Eloi | -------------------------- Although it is the Department's normal policy to undertake some inspections without prior notification to the owner, no such inspections have been carried out in the past six months on the vessels listed above because of the large number of pre-arranged inspections that have been required. On each occasion that an inspection was carried out the manning level was satisfactory. Mr. Tony Lloyd To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the recommended bridge personnel complement on a roll-on/roll-off cross-Channel ferry. Mr. David Mitchell It is a statutory requirement that the bridge is manned by a duly certificated deck officer at all times when the ship is at sea. A helmsman is also required when the ship is not in automatic steering and must be immediately available to take the wheel. A lookout must be posted during the hours of darkness, during restricted visibility and at any other time when required by the officer of the watch or the master. Mr. Tony Lloyd To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions marine surveyors from his Department have made unannounced inspections of cross-Channel roll-on/roll-off ferries in which they remained aboard the relevant vessel throughout the duration of the Channel crossing. Mr. David Mitchell This information is not readily available. Mr. Tony Lloyd To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give, for each roll-on/roll-off cross-Channel ferry inspected by marine surveyors in the last six months, where notification of intention to inspect the relevant vessel was given to the relevant company prior to inspection, what amount of time elapsed between notification and inspection. Mr. David Mitchell My surveyors made 88 inspections of roll-on/roll-off cross-Channel ferries in the last six months where notification of intention to inspect was given prior to inspection. In general, at least 24 hours notice was given. Mr. Tony Lloyd To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what basis the decision is made either to notify or not to notify a cross-Channel ferry operator of the intention to inspect a roll-on/roll-off ferry. Mr. David Mitchell In general, the operator is notified when the inspection requires some preparatory organisation. Mr. Tony Lloyd To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many inspections by marine surveyors have been carried out on cross-Channel roll-on/roll-off ferries in the last six months; how many of those inspections were carried out without prior notification of the intention to inspect; and if he has any plans to improve current procedures in regard to notification. Mr. David Mitchell A total of 118 inspections have been carried out in the last six months. Thirty inspections were carried out without prior notification. Procedures are continually kept under review. Mr. Tony Lloyd To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the average length of time spent, per inspection, aboard roll-on/roll-off cross-Channel ferries by marine surveyors from his Department over the last six months. Mr. David Mitchell The length of time spent, per inspection, aboard roll-on/roll-off cross-Channel ferries by my marine surveyors over the last six months varied from two surveyor hours to two surveyor days, averaging about one surveyor day. Mr. Tony Lloyd To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what criteria his Department's marine surveyors satisfy themselves during an inspection of a cross-Channel ferry that the manning complement is adequately trained to perform their respective roles. Mr. David Mitchell My marine surveyors satisfy themselves in two ways. A check is made of the qualifications of crew members and a drill of emergency procedures is witnessed during which crew members can be seen performing their duties and can be questioned by the surveyor. Mr. Tony Lloyd To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are taken by his Department to ensure that a roll-on/roll-off cross-Channel ferry's staffing complement recorded during an inspection of the vessel at any one time is wholly representative of that vessel's appropriate manning complement once the inspection has been completed. Mr. David Mitchell It is the Department's experience from subsequent inspections that the manning complement remains as inspected. Mr. Douglas To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give an indication of the progress of research on roll-on/roll-off ferry studies arising from the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster; and if he will give details of the techniques to be employed on such studies. Mr. David Mitchell Progress is continuing to be made under the guidance of the steering committee set up in October last year to administer, assist and advise the Department on the management of the three-year programme of research into ferry design. A copy of that programme has been deposited in the Library.