Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2004
175 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has satisfied himself with the seaworthiness of all shipping passing close to the Irish coast or using Irish ports; if all such vessels are compliant with international safety standards including the availability of qualified crew; the means used to detect those who do not observe the standards set down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5804/04]
View answerSafety standards for seagoing passenger and cargo vessels are developed and adopted at international level, principally from the Safety Conventions of the International Maritime Organisation, IMO, and from initiatives at European Union level. My Department participates in the relevant IMO and EU committees that develop new standards and legislation, and our maritime law is continually updated to ensure that all the resulting EU directives and IMO safety conventions and resolutions are fully implemented.
Under Irish and international law all vessels trading into and out of Irish ports are required to carry the appropriate certification to demonstrate compliance with the requisite international conventions and regulations applicable to ships of their size and type. All vessels are subject to surveys and inspections by their flag states and, under the European Union's port state control system, all vessels using Community ports are liable to inspections by any of the EU states they are visiting. The application of port state control ensures that at any given time a large number of ships operating in Community waters has undergone an inspection by an EU port state control authority.
The enforcement of all regulations, including checking that the crew is suitably qualified, is carried out by the surveying staff attached to the maritime safety directorate of my Department. They inspect vessels to ensure that they are complying with the safety standards laid down. Surveyors assign priority to foreign registered vessels that have had adverse inspection reports elsewhere or which fall into certain targeted categories. When any such vessels are found to be deficient, they are detained until the deficiencies are rectified
During 2003 my Department's surveyors inspected 430 foreign vessels under the port state control system. Of these, 37 vessels were detained for non-compliance with the requisite international marine safety conventions. The surveyors also inspect Irish registered vessels at least annually. Where a vessel is found not to comply then it is issued with a list of deficiencies to be rectified and it will not be permitted to leave port until the deficiencies have been addressed.
The international conventions covered by these inspections include the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, the STCW convention. All crew on board a vessel must have proper certification to ensure that they are suitably trained and can adequately and safely discharge the duties of the positions they hold.
I believe that the monitoring of ships by regular inspections is proving to be an effective measure in encouraging full compliance with international safety standards and that the vast majority of vessels operating into and out of Irish ports and waters are complying with international convention requirements.
