Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure P&O Ferries publish safety risk assessments on the vessels operated by the company.

The International Safety Management (ISM) Code requires ship operators, such as P&O Ferries, to assess all identified risks to their ships, personnel and environment and establish appropriate safeguards. This aspect is reviewed during safety management audits both at the ship operators’ offices and on board their ships; any non-conformances identified would need to be rectified.

The port State control regime allows Marine Surveyors from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to inspect foreign-registered ships in UK ports to verify that the condition of the ship and its equipment comply with the requirements of international regulations and that the ship is manned and operated in compliance with these rules. There is no requirement to make these assessments public.