Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 October 2004
141 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will make a statement on the decision by an inspector in his Department to delay the embarkation of a ship carrying a cargo of bulls from Waterford for a company (details supplied). [24872/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Irish and international law all cargo vessels trading into and out of Irish ports are required to carry the appropriate certification to demonstrate compliance with International Maritime Organisation and International Labour Organisation requirements. The surveying staff attached to the maritime safety directorate of my Department carry out regular inspections of all vessels, including unannounced checks, to ensure compliance with the relevant conventions and regulations. Where a vessel is found to be non-compliant it is detained until the matter is rectified.
I am advised that this cargo vessel, a foreign vessel registered in the Lebanon, was found to be deficient during a recent port State control inspection. Once the deficiencies were rectified the ship was re-inspected by the same surveyor and was subsequently permitted to proceed on its voyage. I believe that the monitoring of vessels by regular inspections is proving to be an effective measure in encouraging compliance and implementation of the international safety standards.
