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National 099/01
30 May 2001

PROGRESS ON FERRY SAFETY STANDARDS

An updated list showing when individual roll-on roll-off (ro-ro) passenger ferries operating to and from UK ports must meet higher survivability standards was published today by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

Under the Stockholm Agreement of 1996, all ro-ro passenger ferries operating on international voyages to and from ports in north-western Europe and the Baltic Sea must
- meet a high basic survivability design standard (known as SOLAS 90); and

- be able to resist capsize with up to 50 cm of water entering the car deck.

Ferries further away from the new standard must be modified sooner than those already closer to it. New ferries comply automatically with the 1996 standard.


Maurice Storey

 Maurice Storey, Chief Executive of the (MCA) said, "The Stockholm Agreement was a significant step forward in securing higher ferry standards. I believe it is important to ensure that the travelling public is aware of all relevant information on ferry safety. That is why this list is being published today.

"We will continue to publish further lists as the programme of improvement, now well advanced, is completed. I am confident that ferries operating to and from UK ports will comply with the standard according to the scheduled timetable."