Department for Transport
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Marine Navigation Bill consultation launched
Proposals to improve marine safety in ports and at sea were published today. The Marine Navigation Bill will improve the ability of the Secretary of State, harbour authorities and the General Lighthouse Authorities to manage shipping and allow the better management of wrecks to help to minimise their environmental and financial impact.
Shipping Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said:
"The standards of maritime safety in the UK are high and the professionalism of those who manage our shipping and ports is second to none. Accidents are thankfully rare but when they do happen the consequences can be catastrophic.
"This draft Bill brings together a number of measures to allow the relevant authorities to manage safety better and keep our seas and ports safe.
"I encourage everyone with an interest in this area to look at our proposals and to submit comments so that the Bill fulfils its aims as effectively as possible."
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The draft Bill sets out legislative proposals to:
* allow the ratification of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Convention in the UK so that the Government can compel ship owners to remove wrecks or, if emergency works are carried out by the Government or General Lighthouse Authorities, facilitate recovery of their costs from the ship owner or its insurers;
* enable the Secretary of State to direct a harbour authority which is exercising its functions unsafely;
* give all harbour authorities access to a power to give general directions to shipping;
* allow a Competent Harbour Authority to relinquish its unwanted pilotage powers;
* provide a simple way for the duties of a harbour authority to be extinguished where it no longer serves a useful purpose and to ensure any residual duties are carried out appropriately;
* permit the introduction of compulsory National Occupational Standards for harbourmasters and pilots;
* improve the regulation of pilotage exemption certificates; and
* modernise some of the powers of the General Lighthouse Authorities.
2. The consultation paper on the draft Marine Navigation Bill has been published by the Department for Transport today. It can be found on the DfT's website at http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/marinenavbill
3. The consultation runs until 25 July 2008.
4. The consultation, which will run in parallel with the Parliamentary pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill, seeks views on the proposed measures so that the Bill can be prepared for introduction into Parliament as soon as possible.
Public Enquiries: 020 7944 8300
Department for Transport
Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk
