Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with the International Maritime Organisation on the mandatory firefighting requirements in the Seafarers Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Convention and the fire safety implications of transporting (a) road vehicles and (b) appliances containing lithium-ion batteries by ship.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), continues to participate in International Maritime Organization (IMO) discussions on seafarer training and maritime fire safety.

The UK is also actively engaged in IMO work on the fire safety implications of transporting battery-electric vehicles by ship. Through the IMO Ship Systems and Equipment Sub-Committee, work is underway to develop fire safety measures for vehicle carriers and related detection and monitoring arrangements.

In relation to lithium-ion batteries and equipment containing such batteries carried as cargo, the UK participates in ongoing IMO discussions on amendments to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, which sets the international requirements for the safe carriage of dangerous goods by sea.