DEPARTMENT FOR
TRANSPORT News Release (068) issued by The Government News Network
on 6 May 2008
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