Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the details of the work carried out on a vessel (details supplied) whilst it was docked at Waterford Belview Port, resulting in a delay of approximately seven days before the ship completed loading with cattle and left the port on 2 October 2004 to travel to Lebanon. [3775/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Safety standards for seagoing passenger and cargo vessels are developed and adopted at international level, principally from the Safety Conventions of the International Maritime Organisation and from initiatives at European level.

Under Irish and international law all cargo vessels trading into and out of Irish ports are required to carry the appropriate certification to demonstrate compliance with International Maritime Organisation and International Labour Organisation requirements.

The surveying staff attached to the maritime safety directorate of the Department carry out regular inspections of all vessels, including unannounced checks, to ensure compliance with the relevant conventions and regulations. Where a vessel is found to be non-compliant it is detained until the matter is rectified.

I am advised that the cargo vessel in question, a foreign vessel registered in the Lebanon, was found to be deficient during a port State control inspection in September 2004. During the inspection a total of 38 deficiencies were noted. Of these, 12 were found to be detainable deficiencies. The details of the actual work carried out to remedy the deficiencies is a matter for the vessel owner. The vessel was reinspected on 29 September 2004, where it was found that the deficiencies were remedied and the vessel was released from detention and permitted to proceed on its voyage.

I believe that the monitoring of vessels by regular inspections is proving to be an effective measure in encouraging compliance and implementation of international safety standards.