asked the Minister for the Marine when he last conducted a review into safety aspects of shipping; if he will outline the findings ascertained from any such review; the monitoring which takes place by officers of his Department or otherwise on these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Shipping Safety Review.
32.
A review of the safety aspects of public passenger transport has, in effect, been on-going since 1987 when my predecessor established the ferry safety committee. The committee is chaired by my Department's chief surveyor and includes representatives from both Irish ferry companies. The committee reviews safety procedures and standards on board Irish registered ferries, considers any measures necessary to improve safety and makes recommendations, as appropriate, to the ferry operators and to myself.
The committee meets at least six times each year and its work is on-going. To date the committee has examined the report of the formal inquiry into the Herald of Free Enterprise casualty and has recommended the implementation, where appropriate, of its recommendations here. Regulations governing such matters as the closing of watertight doors, supplementary emergency lighting, closed circuit television surveillance, the weighing of goods vehicles and passenger boarding cards were subsequently made to implement the committee's recommendations. The committee has also examined damage control arrangements and plans shipboard and shorebased management and stability standards in respect of Irish-registered ferries. Its work programme in the short-term includes review of life-saving and fire appliances, fire protection and detection, training and cargo handling and security arrangements.
In addition to conducting specific reviews of safety arrangements on board passenger ferries, the committee also monitors closely developments at international level and particularly those agreed by the International Maritime Organisation, the United Nations agency responsible for safety of life at sea, in order to ensure the smooth and effective implementation of new or revised international requirements governing passenger ferries.
Foreign registered passenger vessels operating from Irish ports are inspected regularly by my survey staff at least every six months, under the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control. The latter is an agreement between the maritime authorities of fourteen European countries aimed at ensuring that ships comply with international safety, pollution prevention and other standards. All deficiencies found during inspection are reported to the Port State Control Computer Centre at St. Malo, France. In addition, vessels may be detained to rectify deficiencies, allowed to proceed to the next port where the deficiencies must be rectified or given 14 days to rectify the deficiencies, depending on their gravity.
Finally, my Department will examine as soon as possible the draft regulations introduced by the UK authorities in the wake of and any subsequent recommendations arising from the report of the formal investigation into the casualty involving the pleasure cruiser Marchioness which took place on 20 August last. Where practicable, I would intend to implement similar initiatives here as part of an on-going programme designed to ensure that Irish registered passenger vessels and those serving Irish ports comply with the highest international safety standards.
The safety aspects of modes of transport other than shipping are a matter for the Minister for Tourism and Transport.