Asked by: Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with representatives of the (a) Cyprus ship registery, (b) ship management company and (c) ship owner on the sinking of the Cemfjord in the Pentland Firth on 3 January 2015.
Answered by John Hayes
As part of its investigation into this tragic accident, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch has made contact with all the key stakeholders and in particular with the Marine Accident and Incident Investigation Committee of Cyprus, which is providing its support in accordance with the requirements of Directive 2009/18/EC. Interviews and meetings will continue in the coming weeks.
Asked by: Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects the Marine Accident Investigation Branch to produce initial findings from its investigation into the causes of the sinking of the bulk carrier Cemfjord in the Pentland Firth on 3 January 2015.
Answered by John Hayes
In the absence of any survivors of this tragic accident, and with challenging weather and tidal conditions at the wreck site, it is unlikely that the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) will be able to establish the causes and circumstances for some time. The Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents has advised me that a full assessment of why the Cemfjord foundered will not be possible until a survey of the wreck site has been undertaken and analysed.
Asked by: Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how the (a) Northern Lighthouse Board and (b) Maritime and Coastguard Agency responded to the sinking of the Cemfjord in the Pentland Firth on 3 January 2015.
Answered by John Hayes
After the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) received a report of a capsized hull in the Pentland Firth Her Majesty’s Coastguard immediately coordinated a search and rescue (SAR) response. The SAR response included four lifeboats, two SAR helicopters and other vessels in the Pentland Firth area. The emergency towing vessel was sent to mark the position of the capsized ship and to offer expert advice on any salvage effort. Five Coastguard Rescue Teams, based either on Orkney or on the north Scottish coast, assisted in the search.
The Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) sent its lighthouse vessel PHAROS to the area to determine if the wreck was a hazard to navigation and to survey the seabed to locate the CEMFJORD. The wreck was found close to its final reported sinking position at a depth of around 70m, and is not a hazard to shipping.
The MCA also arranged for additional flying of its surveillance aircraft to check that there were no signs of the crew in liferafts.
Asked by: Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many times the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centres at Belfast and Stornoway were staffed at below risk-assessed levels at the same time in 2014.
Answered by John Hayes
Where there are specific issues at a Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), Her Majesty’s Coastguard uses the current long established pairing arrangements between MRCCs. This enables each MRCC to be connected to at least one other MRCC which is available to provide mutual support.
These historic risk assessed watch level assessments at MRCCs err strongly on the side of caution. As each MRCC joins the evolving national network the number of Coastguards at any of the individual centres becomes less significant. The flexibility of the new arrangements means that it is more important to consider the number of Coastguards available on the growing network.
Based on the risk assessment which characterised the previous model, during December 2014 Belfast MRCC was staffed below risk assessed levels on 23 occasions out of 62 shifts and Stornoway was staffed below risk assessed levels on 41 occasions out of 62 shifts.
During 2014 the MRCCs at Belfast and Stornoway were staffed below risk assessed levels at the same time 126 occasions out of 730 shifts during 2014.
I have asked for a fresh appraisal of the relationship between the available levels of resource and need in the light of the benefit of the new structure.
Asked by: Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many times the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre at Stornoway was staffed at below risk-assessed levels in December 2014.
Answered by John Hayes
Where there are specific issues at a Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), Her Majesty’s Coastguard uses the current long established pairing arrangements between MRCCs. This enables each MRCC to be connected to at least one other MRCC which is available to provide mutual support.
These historic risk assessed watch level assessments at MRCCs err strongly on the side of caution. As each MRCC joins the evolving national network the number of Coastguards at any of the individual centres becomes less significant. The flexibility of the new arrangements means that it is more important to consider the number of Coastguards available on the growing network.
Based on the risk assessment which characterised the previous model, during December 2014 Belfast MRCC was staffed below risk assessed levels on 23 occasions out of 62 shifts and Stornoway was staffed below risk assessed levels on 41 occasions out of 62 shifts.
During 2014 the MRCCs at Belfast and Stornoway were staffed below risk assessed levels at the same time 126 occasions out of 730 shifts during 2014.
I have asked for a fresh appraisal of the relationship between the available levels of resource and need in the light of the benefit of the new structure.
Asked by: Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many times the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre at Belfast was staffed at below risk-assessed levels in December 2014.
Answered by John Hayes
Where there are specific issues at a Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), Her Majesty’s Coastguard uses the current long established pairing arrangements between MRCCs. This enables each MRCC to be connected to at least one other MRCC which is available to provide mutual support.
These historic risk assessed watch level assessments at MRCCs err strongly on the side of caution. As each MRCC joins the evolving national network the number of Coastguards at any of the individual centres becomes less significant. The flexibility of the new arrangements means that it is more important to consider the number of Coastguards available on the growing network.
Based on the risk assessment which characterised the previous model, during December 2014 Belfast MRCC was staffed below risk assessed levels on 23 occasions out of 62 shifts and Stornoway was staffed below risk assessed levels on 41 occasions out of 62 shifts.
During 2014 the MRCCs at Belfast and Stornoway were staffed below risk assessed levels at the same time 126 occasions out of 730 shifts during 2014.
I have asked for a fresh appraisal of the relationship between the available levels of resource and need in the light of the benefit of the new structure.
Asked by: Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with Transport Scotland on the proposals on rail in the Smith Commission; and what issues were raised by his Department in those discussions.
Answered by Claire Perry
There have been no discussions between the Department for Transport and Transport Scotland about the proposals on rail in the Smith Commission. Officials across the UK Government departments will be working with the Scottish Government to understand their views on the Smith Agreement.
Asked by: Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many times the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre at Belfast was staffed at below risk-assessed levels in (a) October and (b) November 2014.
Answered by John Hayes
Belfast Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) was staffed below risk assessed levels during:
a) October 2014 – 22 occasions out of 62 shifts
b) November 2014 – 10 occasions out of 60 shifts
Where there are specific issues at a MRCC Her Majesty’s Coastguard is using the current long established pairing arrangements between MRCCs. This enables each MRCC to be connected to at least one other MRCC which is available to provide mutual support.
These historic risk assessed watch level assessments at MRCCs err strongly on the side of caution. As each MRCC joins the evolving national network the number of Coastguards at any of the individual centres becomes less significant. The flexibility of the new arrangements gives a new significance to the number of Coastguards available on the growing network.
Asked by: Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many times the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre at Stornoway was staffed at below risk-assessed levels in (a) October and (b) November 2014.
Answered by John Hayes
Stornoway Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) was staffed below risk assessed levels during:
a) October 2014 – 40 occasions out of 62 shifts
b) November 2014 – 40 occasions out of 60 shifts
Where there are specific issues at a MRCC Her Majesty’s Coastguard is using the current long established pairing arrangements between MRCCs. This enables each MRCC to be connected to at least one other MRCC which is available to provide mutual support.
These historic risk assessed watch level assessments at MRCCs err strongly on the side of caution. As each MRCC joins the evolving national network the number of Coastguards at any of the individual centres becomes less significant. The flexibility of the new arrangements gives a new significance to the number of Coastguards available on the growing network.
Asked by: Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department plans to publish the conclusions of its review of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's survey and inspection capability.
Answered by John Hayes
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency will be implementing internal plans over the next 12 months to match the resources available for the conduct of marine surveying and ship inspection activities to fulfil national and international obligations.
This will involve improving efficiency, targeting activities based on risk, different ways of working to capitalise on technology, and maximising potential income. This is normal management activity to match resources to tasks and will not result in a formal report.