Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what regulations and procedures are in place relating to the evacuation of ships designed to carry more than 5,000 passengers and crew, when those ships are too far from land for any air support; and where, and when, the last full-scale trial of such a scenario was undertaken.

All UK passenger ships, such as described in the question, must comply with international requirements as laid down in the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Chapter 5 Regulation 7.

These requirements on the vessel owner include having an evacuation and search and rescue plan, which are logged and available to Her Majesty’s Coastguard and exercised periodically.