Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to promote safety on international maritime trade routes.

The UK is an active and committed member of IMO, the international body with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping.

As a contracting Government to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (COLREGs), and other safety related instruments, the UK has implemented regulations that require UK-flagged merchant ships to comply with internationally agreed safety standards when operating on any international route.

The UK shares information and guidance with Red Ensign flagged vessels to support them in implementing adequate and proportionate measures to support safe operations in challenging environments.