Draft Marine Navigation Bill (HC 709-i)Transport Committee 11 Jun 2008 |
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Evidence given by
2.45 Local Government Association: Martin Putman, Port Manager, Portsmouth Commercial Port; UK Major Ports Group: David Snelson CB FNI, Chief Harbour Master Port of London Authority; British Ports Association: Stephen Bracewell, Chairman
3.30 Chamber of Shipping: David Asprey, Head of Policy; Jae Jones, Marine Manager, Hanson Aggregates Marine Ltd; Royal Yachting Association: Gus Lewis, Legal & Government Affairs Manager.
Q89 Mr. Eric Martlew (Carlisle): Just on non-insurance, in your experience have we had any of these non-insured wrecks? Obviously we have got warships which go back some time.
Mr Asprey: There have been in the past although my memory does not recall the names and the circumstances. One of the most common types of ships which could become a wreck and would not fall into the compulsory insurance area would be government-owned ships - not warships necessarily but non-trading ships, survey ships and research ships and those sorts which would not carry insurance, and the owning state may or may not compensate as if it was insured.
Q90 Mr. Eric Martlew (Carlisle): In a case like that the reason you do not carry insurance is because it is cheaper for the government to pay, is it not? Is this not a bit of a red herring? They do not carry insurance because their Treasury will pay. It is a red herring, is it not?
Mr Asprey: It is only a red herring if you could not claim. I do not know what the procedure is for claiming against another state.
Q91 Mr. Eric Martlew (Carlisle): You do not know whether it is a problem or not.
Mr Asprey: I do not expect it to be a problem.
Q92 Mr. Eric Martlew (Carlisle): I do not either.
Mr Asprey: I do not know.
This is an uncorrected transcript of evidence taken in public and reported to the House. The transcript has been placed on the internet on the authority of the Committee. Neither witnesses nor Members have had the opportunity to correct the record. The transcript is not yet an approved formal record of these proceedings.
The full transcript may be read here.
| On behalf of Eric Martlew, 3 Chatsworth Square Carlisle Cumbria CA1 1HB |