Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the reasons for their proposal to remove the requirement for on-deck emergency equipment lockers on roll-on roll-off passenger ships, originally specified as a result of the inquiry into the Herald of Free Enterprise ferry disaster; and what is their assessment of the implications of that proposal for safety.

These regulations, which only apply to UK roll-on roll-off passenger ships, were introduced following the HERALD OF FREE ENTERPRISE tragedy in 1987. The proposal to revoke these regulations, which are only applicable to UK ships, is based on a significantly higher level of safety on ships since the tragedy. This is due to the introduction of numerous internationally adopted safety standards such as the International Safety Management Code, SOLAS 90 – an international standard for passenger ship stability, the Stockholm agreement – an international agreement on stability requirements for Ro/Ro Passenger ships; and the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers. The safety equipment on board ships is more accessible under the current regime of international safety standards than previously under the regulations.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s (MCA) consultation on this proposal closed on 10 August. A decision on whether the regulations will be revoked will be made in light of a detailed consideration of all comments received during the consultation, but the MCA considers the proposal to remove the UK statutory requirement would have no significant impact.

UK ships would still carry equipment, similar to that found in the lockers, prescribed by the regulations in other parts of the ship. For example, equipment such as axes and glass breaking hammers are held in the ship’s firefighting lockers and first aid kits are part of the lifeboat inventory.

The equipment in the lockers prescribed by the regulation are only intended for use when the ship is lying on her side in shallow water, almost exactly level, in calm seas. The equipment in the lockers is of no additional benefit in other types of emergency situation, bearing in mind that similar equipment is contained elsewhere on board, and is easily accessible.