Ballycastle-Rathlin Ferry and the House of Lords

Written answers

Wednesday, 21 January 2009

What are written answers?

House of Lords

Shipping: Ferry Operators

Lord Laird (Crossbench) | Hansard source

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Maritime and Coastguard Agency this year censured the ferry operator between Ballycastle and Rathlin Island in County Antrim for carrying a fuel tanker along with passengers on the route; and, if so, what form the censure took.

Lord Adonis (Minister of State, Department for Transport; Labour) | Hansard source

On 24 October 2008 marine surveyors from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency issued a formal improvement notice to the MV CANNA requiring the training of its crew in the carriage of dangerous goods and observance of its document of compliance.

I'm told that the transportation of combustion engined vehicles alongside dangerous goods was the breach within the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) code on this occasion, since operators are allowed to carry a restricted number of passengers with such goods. However, the number permitted will vary from operator to operator, since the restriction is company and not vessel specific.

Lord Laird (Crossbench)

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the passenger-carrying boat, the Irish-registered MV True Light, has been awarded a licence by the maritime authorities in the United Kingdom; if not, whether it was refused; if so, when; and for what reason.

Lord Adonis (Minister of State, Department for Transport; Labour)

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has never awarded an operating certificate to the Irish-registered MV "True Light".

When the MV "True Light" applied for a certificate in May 2008 the inspection and certification process by the MCA was stopped when it became clear that the Irish authorities were not prepared to issue an Irish operating certificate for the ship.

The Irish-registered ship requires dual certification to operate in UK territorial waters.