Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of vessels in British ports or territorial waters whose crews have been on board for more than eleven months; and what steps they are taking to ensure the repatriation of such crew members.

For cruise vessels laid up in the UK, we are aware of 39 seafarers who have now gone over their 11 months. We continue to support operators in regard to repatriation and there are a number of planned repatriation flights over the next four weeks which should see many seafarers returning home. There are a small number of states where repatriation continues to be difficult or not possible and we are working with those States to seek solutions.

In regard to other vessels operating or calling at UK ports, we are not aware of any UK flagged ships in the UK territorial waters with seafarers who have been on board for more than 11 months.

With the exception of cruise vessels, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, as the port state authority, has not been made aware of any seafarers who have been working on board for more than 11 months on non-UK ships.