Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 March 2010
366 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Transport the number of port state control inspections that have been carried out by officials from his Department on cruise ships visiting our ports in each of the years 2008 and 2009; the way those inspections relate to conditions and hours of work for crew members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12685/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraPort State Control inspections onboard foreign flagged ships in Irish ports are carried out under the auspices of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Port State Control and EU Directives. These inspections are carried out to check for compliance with international law. Ireland continues to work within the Paris MoU and with the other EU Member States to ensure the development of the necessary port state control procedures that will be required in connection with the entry into force of the Maritime Labour Convention. The new Convention sets out clear principles and rights for seafarers. EU Member States are committed to ratifying the new Convention by 31 December 2010 and it is expected to come into force internationally in 2011. The Department's surveyors inspect over 400 foreign flagged ships per year and they detain any ship which poses a safety hazard or which does not comply with the international requirements on living and working arrangements. Of the over 400 annual inspections, 5 cruise ships were inspected in 2008 and 6 cruise ships in 2009.
