The totals for the deadweight tonnage of the fleet at the end of each of the years 1986-91 were as follows: 1986, 141,926; 1987, 148,529; 1988, 157,007; 1989, 167,708; 1990, 190,319; 1991, 201,024.
The total at the end of 1991 shows an increase of 42 per cent over the end 1986 figure. This reflects, inter alia the impact of the measures introduced by the Government in 1987 to assist fleet development and ensure certain minimum capacity requirements.
The pressing need is for shipping services which provide fast and reliable access to the main European markets which account for more than 70 per cent of our trade. The aim of shipping policy is to ensure that, as far as possible, Ireland's trade routes and needs are catered for efficiently and on an economic and competitive basis. In that regard, there are no proposals to establish a publicly owned shipping company.
The Government have proposed in a detailed submission to the EC Commission that Community Support Framework funding be provided to assist investment in unitised capacity in both the lift on-lift off and roll on-roll off modes and while the Commission response was not positive, discussions with the Commission are continuing.